The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-31
WORDS OF WEIGHT
BY MEN OF motto.
Ex-senator INGALLS, Discusses the Health
Of Public Men.
President Frederick N Finney Gives His
Ideas Of Big Railroad sChems-From
Chicago to New York via Cleveland.
Erecial to The SUNDAY CALL.

The lamented and untimely death Of
Senator Plumb in the meridian of his years,
his powers and his usefulness to Kansas
and the country has again called attention
to the always interesting subject Of the
health Of public men as affected by the
necessary conditions Of Congressional and
official life. The frequency of similar cataS-
trophies in the last decade has appeared
more startling because the victims of over
work were men Of whom longevity might
have confidently been predicted. Manning,
Window, Randall, Beck, Burnes and many
others who have fallen possessed extra
ordinary yigor, vitality and endurance BY
the horoscope they were entitled to length
Of days and should have died hereafter.
No doubt the demands upon the time and
strength Of Public men are excessive. and
as constituencies grow and interests multi
ply, must inevitably increase rather than
diminish. 1t concerns the people therefore
TO consider whether they are imposing bur
dens heavier than can be borne or whether
these alarming fatalities are partly due TO
disregard Of obvious laws, TO irregular
habits and causes that might be avoided;
in other words, whether premature deaths
are murder or suicide
With a population of 10000 600 and access
/ 10 iIt Capital 10y StuAb-COdtIt steam DNdl Oh
private conveyance, the public service was
! lelSure.v. Isolated and dignlhed. But with
/ G5.o0000o a railroad system making the
/ journey from tie Pacific to Washington
| paStIme, telegraphS TO every hamlet, fast
mails, the daily press, telephones and spe-
clal deliveries, the post Of an ambitious and
/ successful politician Is no Slnecure.
HOW THE BURDENS INCRFAsE.
Stenocraphy and the typewriter have
/ liGhtpued the toll of official correspondence,
but this labor at best is immense and im-
peratjve. Not to reply promptly TO letter
is the Uup3TdOnable sin, ana many that are
private and confidential must be answered
In autograph. Applicants for pension often
address every member Of their own delega-
ton simultaneously about their claims, aId
sometimes those Of other States as well,
thuS entalIng an enormous aggregate Of
needless work upon the bureau, Is each
must be separately answered. Frequent
errandS AT the department upon matters Of
| patronage, favor and business are indispens-
able. Committees meet regularly. Bills
muSt be examined for report, public Ques-
tons studied. preparation made Tor debate,
the daily sessions attended, newspapers
read. guests entertained, social Obligations
discharged, and time found for recreation,
/ food and rest
Add to this the necessity for constant
vigilance at home, of long and aTduOus cam
/ pagus for reelection. the control Of
primaries and conventions, weeks of stump
| speaking, Misunderstanding and seeing the
boys, and it is evident that the eight-hOuT
law viii not apply 10 legislators and states
men. They roll the stone Of SisyDhus and
turn tie wheel OF IXloH, finding in endless
toll Unceasiug fascination.
STRONG TEMPTATIONS.
But numerous and uHeniiug as those
functions are, with system, order a6sti-
hence and prudent hus baHdiuy Of hours they
can he performed without exhaustion. II IS
nor "uytTWoTk' alone thai kills.
The temptations 10 iTTCgu'srity are strong
! Tie simplest aXlpmS of health are OCCASION
ally dlSr-Es Tdrd, aud nature is "A relentless
creditor. Time which should be given 10
/ sleep is sometimes lent Go CGuyivaitv The
/ pleasures " q luxurious table and a YOlup-
/ jHuu, couch are Spaudt4rfts OF the nerves
/ aad brain. The human body Is an engine
! with $. rage battery capable OF so many
/ Iu'satlJuS, and when is energy is expended.
! whether hy work or waste, that is the end
Death Is not an accident. Il is appointed
/ @ every man 10 die, and when his time
comes Ire goes. The maniac who fires a
( bullet through his diSOrlprad brain dies
subject h the same memorable law as the
peaceful patriarch who paiuleSsly Yields up
! the ghost at tourScOTr, his life going out
/ like a candle that has burned TO lis socket.
The DEGREES Of fate cannot be questioned
/ nor fathomed, bat it often occurs that in the
/ Intellectual effort there IS an irreconcilable
/ difference between the autopsy and the
! epitaph.
DE I,n,>1, Maah5