Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-03-06
NUMBE 40.

tigate them" This is a fact. II the
people resolved upon having general
cleaning up, such stencil would arise
from misappropriated funds and dis
reputable legislation, disinfectants
would double in price within a week.
Occasionally it happens that an un-
sophisticated farmer who has spent
the best years of his life in tilling the
soil and attending to his own business,
has the audacity to ask why 1t is that
nearly all men in public life are law
yers and capitalists. His neighbor,
who has perhaps devoted more time to
the study Of those questions affecting
public welfare, and has arrived at that
point wherein he does not know as
much about 1t as when he began, an
swers: SO that enacted laws may be
legally constructed" This seems plaus-
ible, though after turning the answer
over to see the under side, our litter
ate farmer scratches his head several
times to get his mind in proper work.
Ing order, concluding it very queer that
only those of his class come under the
ban, while the rascals all escape the
meshes of it.
according to history, it has always
oeen a disadvantage to be poor, and
tIine does not seem to Lav5 improved
'he prospects. Added 10 that, ii aD-
pears how to be dishonorable to be
III that delightful condition. When a
mans position Is fixed, mis- ability
gauged. and his fitness for places of
trust scheduled ny the amount of mon
ey he can command, as events seem to
prove is the edict proclaimed in our
present way of doing things. surely the
inllienlum approaches nigh.
rake tor instance the election of a
united State senator. The first con-
slderation by those having the selec-
ton, is the size of the candidates. bsr-
rel, and the exact diameter of the bung.
ihls satisfactory, the one making the
best exhibit is awarded the prize. To
the novice this preliminary examina-
tion would suggest corruption. Far
from 1T. This mode Of procedure deter
mines degree Of forethougat in our
Legislators, worthy of a better cause,
and in perfect keeping with the adj
vanced age in which we exist In short,
II settles beforehand many pcrplexities
winch, under any other plan, conplica-
tlons would inevitably follow.
1t relieves the recipient of legislative
honor of great concern. He is not LA
BILE to become al inmate CT the poor
house just when his services arc needed
to save his bleeding country.
His family will be able to entertain
in a manner becoming to their station:
while. if one of his daughters should
marry duke tho latter will ne certain
of living
He can attend poker parties with i'm
| punity, feeling secure that if the other
fellow held too many aces, causing him
to go broke, the hall of legislation is
full of lobbyists who desire protection
to their pet measures and are willing
to buy reserved seats.
He is in position where the stock
markets can be looked after, and where,
If he sees an opportunity of Ijpvasting
a few thousands, drawing ost double
or treble the amount, can do So. thus
removing the temptation to speculate
among his constituency.
He is enabled to study the tariff
question in all its bearings. and assist
in shaping legislation so as to be ac-
ceptable to himself and colleagues,
thus relieving the minds of the labor
ing class from further worry on that
score
While he is fluent speaker his con-
ception of the duty he owes his country
induces him to do nothing that would
obstruct necessary legislation; so in
stead of spending three or four days at
time to deliver a scathing rebuke to
the people for tramplIng on pluto
cracy's corns, he has it printed in the
Congressional Record. It's easier to do
that, and aside from the saving OF ply
s1cal exertion, while 1t is being scat
tered broadcast, he can go home, repair
his fences for another term, getting
| back to Washington in ample time to
draw his salary.
There is another point in his favor.
His exalted position renders 1t abso-
lutely impossible to notice any of the
common people; those who by their
franchise made it possible to attain the
position he now holds. This limits tho
| circle of his acquaintance; curtaiIs his
correspondence, so that d private Sec
retary, and stenographer, paid from
the public treasury, is sufficient, say-
| ing the country many dollars that
would have been expended annually
for extra clerks, If he condescended to
notice anyone beneath him.
1t is no wonder that high officials
are not selected from the common
ranks. The strain consequent of evad-
ing the law, and dodging interviews
from a long-suffering people, is too
much to any but those who have made
it business. 1t requires tact to mako
it profitable.-A. c. Huffman, in Chi
cago Express.