The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-08
SEATTLE, THURSDAY, AUG. s.
INSPECT THE COUNTRY.

Congressman-electH eatwoie, OF Minnie
sofa. talks plain common sense when he
SAYS Federal officers should travel more
I'm the West The majority of the men
who IegisIate for the country KNOW little
about II. except by report. The most of
them travel infreauently. and their views
as to the necessities of far~away sections
are narrow and circumscribed. con-
gresham who represents rural district
and who puts in his time looking after a
few postmasters and pensioners. with
now and then a little department work.
has no conception of the magnitude Of the
country and is not qualified TO give to
many important matters the considera-
ton To which they are entitled.
While many OF our public men have in
recent years taken upon themselves the
duty OF .'seeing the country" the great
majority get their ideas of the peoples
wants second hand. Very few of our
senators and representatives have come
west of the Mississippi river and in the
minds of many OF them this country is
still what 1t used 10 he in the old geog-
raphles-the great American desert. Even
as great a man as Daniel Webster de-
elared that the Pacific slope was ahso-
luteiy worthless and not worth holding.
That was because he had never seen ii
and knew nothing of its possibilities.
Men who represent conservative slow
going communities In New England are
apt to Judge our growth with their own
ana estimate our needs by the necessities
of the uuieS neighhorhoods they hail from.
Southern congressman especially have the
eradest notions of our country. rhe only
travel they indulge In is from their dis
fricts TO Washington City, with possibly
a run TO New York once a year. Their
horizon rarely extends north Of Mason
and nixon's line. and they do not realize
there IS a great active. throbbing life be-
yond the sphere ifs which they live Sec
rotary Herbert IS about the only South
erner OF note who has visited this section.
and IN progressive ideas he is generally
conceded to be away I'm advance Of most
of his colleagues from the land Of corn
and cotton.
1t Is Impossible 90 vote intelligently
upon a measure unless one knows some
thing about II. and those know tho most
about IL who have been ION the ground"
a man whose only travelling is TO aud
from his "deestriet' and the national
capital Is as well prepared 20 vote on a
measure affecting the Siberian railroad
as upon the Lake Washington canal bill.
end probably thinks opening the Puyallup
Indian reservation I'm Washington and
the Mojsve in Arizona questions OF equal
Importance.
II IS not until one has Travelled over
our land that he can realize its magain-
cence or appreciate the responsibility Of
ieSislatlng FOR its people. Already there
has been too slight an inspection OF :he
farther West. and consequently an ignor-
Ing of tie needs created BY its rapid ad-
vanoement ana growing Importance.
Those who have visited the Pacific coast
have Invariably expressed surprise az the
evidences they meet Of substantial pro-
gress and prosperity. IN many cases Il
Is more or less OF revelation. and they
return better prepared % leKiSIate for -
and more inclined 20 listen TO our h..heSts
II our national legislators will follow
Mr.. Hestwole's advice aud travel more
they viii become more useful public ser
wants. and be in a better position 10 nav
intelligent attention 10 the wants Of see
lions they have visited.