The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-10
THE PEOPLES COLUMN.
What Qualifications arc Needed In Our
Representatives In Congress.

What Qualifications arc Neoded In Our
Representatives In Congress.
To THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES: The
recently chosen delegates Of this Con-
gressional district have before them the
very serious problem of selecting q
really suitable candidate for Congress,
but many of the voters in this district
gates fully realize this responsibility.
1t Is not now question as to whether
Lynchburg, Salem, Roanoke or any othe r
place shall have tho honor Of being the
residence of the csndidate-what ia
wanted is suitable man regardless of
any petty local jsalousies. The ele ction
before us Is n more than usually mport
ant one for the reason that the recent
exhibitions which the national Repre-.
sentatives and Senators have made of
themselves at Washington has shown to
the country at large that we need dif-
ferent type Of Representatives If the
real interests of the country are to be
cared for in preference to the party pot
house politics and rings.
We have heard too much clsp-trap
talk and empty demagogy recently, and
have looked in vain for evidence Of
business capacity and sound sense in
tue Democratic ranks OF the Senators
and Representatives. In 3 recent maya
zine article it was incidentally noted
that something like seventy per cent.
OF our Legislators arc or were lawyers
ty profession. and there IL good reason
to believe that this is partly the cause
for the shall we say Incompetence"
which has been recently exhibited.
Everything changes as the world pro-
crosses, and the days OF usefulness for
the silver tongued orator who can talk,
amuse. and excite an audience for a
couple OF hours by ringing political
speech without having any knowledge
of the business methods. financial
needs, or the labor difficulties of the
country at large; as we'll u; for tho type
OF legislator known as "successful pras-
tical politician" are waning in those
states that have reached their maturity
aud are not entirely rural.
We need representatives in Congress
of different stamp II those we have
been sending there previously. A
country or small city lawy er's education
and court experience By itself is the
poorest kind of training, IL the ultimate
obi ct is to build up broad knowledge
OF men AND things. We have enough
lawyers at Washington we hsve enough
at least one man who is business man,
who understands finance and trade
thoroughly, and who has been brought
up to work and trade, who has handled
large interests and held positions of
responsibility in connection with large
and important en- terprises, who has had
experience with the laborins Classes
and understands their real needs, and
whose character and integrity are above
suspicion
l. is no time to shout with the
heelers, fight obstinately for local in :
terest or soma Local politician, or finally
slump on some Altgeld or Waite after q
struggle for supremacy between some
petty factions; such Issues are oua Of
place at the presens time ana will
simply disgust thicking people with
our whole poiitic.l organization. II,
however, lawyer with the additional
qualification OF wide business ex-
perience, great aptitude and high per-
sonal character looms up, let US have
him by all means; if not, let us have q
business man.
A SECOND WARD VOTER.
Roanoke, July 9, 1894