Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-03
HOW TO BE ASENAT0R
The Path Pointed Out by Leading
Members of the Upper House.
LUCK is AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.
Sherman and Farwell Advise Taking .
Part in Local Politics.
STUDY OF THE PROBLEM OF STATE

10 several OF the most sbingulsneu men-
bers of the United States Senate, represent
ing widely divergent sections of our country.
1 recently propounded the question, IF
young man has an ambition to become
United States Senator, what course shall he
pursue to realize it?" To this query have
received the following answers:
FRANK FERN.
Senator John P. Jones, of Nevada, be-
lieves in luck as one of the factors. Here is
his letter:
II am great believer in luck. To 1t
largely attribute my success in life. had
brother who was greatly my superior In
natural ability, yet he could never make
money while I have made good deal.
Getting into the United States Senate is just
as likely to be largely matter of luck as is
anything else. We are all creatures OF cir
cumstances. a man may possess all the
ability possible in Ger tain line, and If cir
cumstances do not give him an opportunity
he can never display that ability. That
there is a great deal In luck Is proven by the
fact that while many men fail utterly in one
locality, they remove to another place, fall
in with a new set of associates and succeed.
The world is not vet on plane where all
men of equal ability can succeed equally
we'll. Some men succeed by what is vuIgarly
called gall and other qualities not admira-
Bile.
'But beside luck another great factor in
success is to preserve ones integrity un-
blemlshed throughout life, and the young
man who wants to be United States Sena-
tor or to hold any other position of trust
L. l. ~
thing to be able to look everybody in the
face. When a man can go to bed and vote
for himself he is always in the majority. If
you want to be Senator never write or say
anything you need ever be ashamed Of If
blackmailer threatens you with the publica-
ton of one of your letters, as such
scoundrel recently did me, be able to say to
him, as did, You are entirely welcome to
publish any letter ever wrote"
INTENSE STUDY AND WORK.
Senator Orrville 81. Platt, of Connecti-
cut, writes as follows:
"In reply to your question would say
first of all that young man had better not
have such an ambition, as he will only be
disappointed if he achieves it, because tine
lie of United States Senator is one of
hard work, which is never understood. If
young man simply desires to obtain the
place for any credit or honor that may per-
tain to it, and that fills his ambition, with
out regard to what he may achieve as a
Senator, that is one thing; but the Senate
is much like the old-time school-di-
vided into classes. If man is to get
in the first class and sit on the first bench,
he has got to do it by intense study and
work. and whatever class he may be in he
only goes up one because of some SUI
10 m o n sa FRY
and subjects of legislation embrace the
widest range and require the widest in
formation, and to act intelligently Senator
must know something about every subject.
The wider his knowledge the more useful
he becomes Add to this that he Is expected
to be the agent of everyone in his State
who has business in Wsshington-legisla-
tive, political or commercial-and you get
glimpse of what Senator must be to estab-
lish successful reputation.
'Second-If, in spite of my advice, any
Young man will persist in cherishing the
ambition you name, his whole lite should be
a study of political af1airs. The Senatorship
NAV be thrust on him; it may come as the
result of wealth which follows business
enterprise, but the clean and honorable road
to it is through study Of public affairs and
the capacity to impress the people in his
State with the idea that he possesses a
thorough knowledge of them, and will be
their true representative.
sThird-His idea of politics should be q
Iotty one His motive for devotion to politi-
cal life should be that he may render service
to the people rather than to accomplish per-
sonal success. Few men will ever reach the
Senate as the result of talent for political
manipulation, and these who thus succeed
will be Senatorial nonentities rather than
al 1aoderao -
MANY ROADS TO THE SENATE.
Senator Eugene Hale, of Maine, has this
to say:
"Senatorships come to men in q hundred
different ways. The section of country in
which man locates may have great deal
to do with his receiving the honor. The
choice of profession or avocation may have
much to do with it. Formerly the pathway
to public life seemed to be through the pro-
fession of the law. Senators and Repre-
sentatives were largely members of the bar.
This is not now nearly so much the case. I
do not believe that young man could Sc
cure his election to the Senate by manipu-
lation. The members OF the Senate
are the leading men in their States
either the leading lawyers, physicians, manu-
facturers or merchants. They are men who
would naturally be leaders in any sphere of
lie. If man succeeds in his profession or
calling, whatever it may be, by ability and
industry, and attains high character for
honor and integrity, he will win the conf
dence Of his neighbors. As he grows older
his influence will widen, and IT he seems
the best and most available man for the
Senate his State will place him there
whether he be a lawyer, merchant or manu-
facturer. Senators, as a rule. are men OF
high character, and their election to the
Senate is generally the result of merit.
think it great misfortune to young man
for him to dabble in politics, and if he start
in life with the fixed ambition and determl-
nation to become United States Senator,
his neighbors will find it out and it will
only make him ridiculous.
A LUCKY MAN TALKS.
Thomas c. Power, one of the Senators
from the new State of Montana, like Senator
Jones, is believer in luck. Here is his
answer:
''If Young man started in life with the
fixed determination of being United States
Senator the chances are SO in 100 that he
never would be. But there are certain
things he could do and certain others that
he should avoid, the performance or the
avoidance OF which would tend to the ac-
complishment of his wish, just as they
would influence his success in the accom-
plishment of any other worthy purpose.
First of all he must be moderate
in all things, avoiding excesses
of any and every kind. Personal
popularity might have great influence in
securing an election to the Senatorshlp as to
any other Office, but too much of it might
injure mau-especially young man. 1t
might make him so conceited as to destroy
his usefulness, or it might lead him into dis
sipation. Some men are popular by nature.
rrha,r ara rnnuInr hanansa thew cannot helm