Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-26
Reflector Supplement.
The Young Man in Politics.

E"c--'H, ma appeared IN tEe iast Sun
d issue. II is characteristically
bright, entertaining and thoughtful
SPACE forbids reprint of the entire
article. Having cited a long list OF
eminent men of history whose life
work was performed before they
reached the meridian Of life he touches
the young man of this age and this
state as follows:
l do not intend to inveigh against the
old men in politics, nor do care to in
sist upon what seems to be the logic of
the foregoing statements, viz: That,
generally speaking, the young men are
better equipped for public positions
than are old men. My theme is, the
young man in politics. My position is
that, since he has shown himself capa-
Die Of filling acceptably any position in
all other vacations of life, the charge
of being young man should not be
pleaded against him in politics, but in
that, as in every other field of labor,
merit alone should be the standard by
which he shall be measured. But if
the young man is as capable as the old.
why is itthat the latter are able to con-
troll the politics of our country, and
hold on to the positionsf Can the rea-
son be assigned wholly TO popular
prejudice against trusting young men?
think not. Another, and perhaps a
greater, reason for this condition of
things is TO be found in the fact that
when man once secures position lie
unites his strength with others who
hold office, and these combinations,
coupled with patronage, often enables
the office holder to perpetuate himself
IN power. TO illustrate: Suppose a
congressman or a senator desires a re-
election land that is not violent sup
p0Sition,l if it be the former, he has Il
full company of men distributed over
the district, drawing salaries III the ag-
SAF Sdt' VI hiOlC IlldIl SOO,OOO pei Slll-
hum. The first political duty of these
meu is to help re-elect their patron. 1t
is Just lis if the congressman had en-
pluyed these men, and paid them from
lis own pocket. Then he is backed by
ali the federal patronage in the district,
uuler the control of two senators, ard
these forces are not infreQuently aided |
10y certain state officers, SO that an in
cumbent las a great advantage over an |
aspiring opponent. If it is senator |
who seeks reelection, all the forces |
have named ytl to his standard besides |
n vast army of federal appOintees, who |
might be termed appOintees at large;
these have been chosen by the senator
with special view for their ability in
aiding him to he reelected. This one
is prUhibitioniSt, that one is All anti
pruhibi;;onist; this one is a sinner, that
one is saint; this one has powerful
Influence with the churches, that ore
Stands i'll with the boys. To show how
congressman and senators stand to-
gether, take the appointment of Hon.
Thomas Ryan to Mexico. There is not
a fairly well Informed man in the To-
peka district. that does not know Mr..
r. Az VAS serving his last term in con-
or s.. He had promised to quit in
1884, but Blaine got beaten; he prom
ised with more emphasis to quit in
1886; lie rpdoILbled his promise again
in 1888, and added, if Harrison did get
beaten, he would quit. anyway. lie
had been hOnOred by seven consecutive
elections, and yet one of the United
States senators, speaking to a young
man who desired position, said, I'VE
owe our first allegiance to Tom Ryan"
Whatsho could nyyoung man haye
against such combination? 1t is per-
haps fair TO say that the delegates seek :
to explain this appointment upon the
grounds that the president preferred i
or ex-cOngressmen for such '
places. Cannot the young men of Kan 7
Jas furnish the president with LIST of t
suitable names year from now? a
The right of the young man in politics
S to lave voice in saying what shall v
,e done. lie should be consulted and D
as equal in integrity and d
Ibility to those more advanced in year
md better intrenched in power ard a
'osition. There should be in Kansas b
'olitics, no ''small circle, " no bosses n
10 gang there should be the fullest il
nd freest discussion of all political n
ubjectS above board and In the bread h
ight of day, and although 1 6rmly v
eiieve that nine men out of every ten il
rho hold Office are the worse off for it, Il
till it is human nature to aspire for N
official hOnOrs aud position. The IL
Dung men in politics should have al
air share of the ''loaves and ishes."