River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-07-14
Rotation in Office.


legislation in this country, and the
chief source of this evil is to be found
in the application of the principle of
rotation in office TO legislative posi-
lions. Law-making is subtle science
and a fine art, the most difficult task
of all in the complex and complicated
process of government. The most fin
, ished product of modern civilization
| is wise and successful lawmaker.
He is, or ought to be. the skilled work
man of politics par erceiLence.
These delicate functions we entrust
to our wisest and best men! Far from
it, The majority of the men who make
our laws are petty local politicians
whose ambitions must be satisfied in
some way, but who do not possess in
fuence enough to obtain any of the
offices that "pay." This ignorant
crowd are then let loose upon society
and invested with power to tinker
with institutions and principles and to
smbody their whims and vagaries in
statutes which the people are com.
PEELED to obey, if such mongrel laws
are not so completely meaningless
that their enforcement cannot be seri.
Ously attempted. Bad legislation is
the main curse of all modern democ-
racies. as it must be as long the power
of law-making is exercised by the pc.
litical roustabouts of society, by set
of men whose igorance is only matched
by their monumental lack of expert
ence. This applies with especial force
to our state legislation; but, as every
body knows. the lower house of Con-
gress also contains large percentage
of men who are entirely unfit for their
duties, and who serve their constitu.
ents and their country best by doing
nothing at all except to draw their
salaries.
Instead of letting legislative offices
90 round and thus placing the power
of legislation i'll the hands of inexpe.
rienced and incompetent men, good
men should be returned as long as
they are willing TO serve, or at least
SO long as the other party is willing
to permit them to serve. 1t is the
old heads and experienced hands rath.
er than new blood which are needed
more than anything else in our legis.
lative halls. The shifting fortunes of
parties result in a more than sufli.
cient supply of the new blood that is
needed. But when a man has reached
the point where he can become really
useful as legislator, by reason of ac-
quired experience and familiarity with
the work, he is put under the thumb
screws of the principle of rotation in
office, and told to give way to new
and untrisd man.
n. p. Haugen is a case in point. He
has served the same district for three
consecutive terms In Congress, and is
understood to be willing to accept the
congressional nomination this fall in
his new district which is made up
largely of the counties forming the
old eighth district. Technically con-
sidered, his nomination would not be
a denomination; but the people are
requested to look at the substance of
the thing and to send some other man,
for the very reason that Haugen has
served long enough to acquire thor
ough familiarity with congressi onal
routine and the work of national law
making. 1t is possible, at least it is
to be hoped that the good sense of the
people will assert itself in this in
stance. Haugen's record as member
of the lower house is one of brilliant,
solid ability. In the great battle with
the southern brigadiers he has stood
firm as rock against which the waves
of fury dash in vain. His contribu.
lions to the great tariff discussions in
the house rank with the best efforts of
the ablest members of the house. lie
possesses what may be termed 'leg.
islative temper" in an eminent degree,
and is endowed with all the essential
qualities of useful and wise law
maker-wide information, a studi-
Gus mind, native conservatism, well
grounded convictions upon public
questions. and liberal supply of prac-
teal common sense. 1t was not a
political accident that he alone was
saved out of the general wreck in Wis.
consin two years ago.
All the strong, leading men in Con-
gress have had the good fortune to
serve constituents who returned them
term after term, not only as reward
for efficient service but as a matter of
duty to the community and the coun-
try. No man has become really useful
to the country as legislator unless he
has been permitted to acquire expert.
ence by continuous services. 1t could
| IOL Ut OlHclNAoc. OlCCu uduOo CdlllOl
possibly make good laws. As law is
the result of accumulated experience of
ages, so law-making is pre-eminently
a work of experience. Men who have
demonstrated fitness for legislative
work should be returned as long as
they are willing to serve. Mp. Hau.
gen should be returned this fall be-
cause his career in Congress proves
him to be man possessed of uncom-
mon ability and wisdom as a law
maker.-SkdRdindren.
L
A circular from the secretary of the
Wisconsin State Agricultural Society
states that the contracts for improve
ments necessary to put the new State
Fair Park in fine shape for the Fair of
1892. and that work is being pushed
rapidly. AS result the association