The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-08-10
YOUTH IN OFFICE.

The Los Angeles Express, while in
much agreeing, has taken issue with the
RECORD-UNIoN as to the following state.
ment from our columns:
The case of Assemblyman Laugenour fur
| nlShes mourntuI example OF the demoriliza
| ton OF politics upon immature men. 1t is q
| very remarkable fact that III the selection Of
! Assem- blymen very inferior material is con
| sdered available and especially is this true
! OF the younger clement sent to the Legis-
| lature. A political career tries the manhood
! off man more than any other profession
upon which he may enter, The excitement
OF d campaign, the intimate association of the
| saloon with politics, and the temptations
| which beset the legislator, are things which
| should not be incurred except at a period OF
mature manhood. = mans character should
| be well formed before he enters politics in the
| pursuit Of any official station.
| An observation extending over q period OF
| thirty years has confirmed US in the opinion
thatit is a great mistake for any man under
| the age OF so to become a candidate for the
| Legislature. Youth is vulnerable to the Chi
cauery, the cunning and the flattery of the
/ lobbyist To have been the youngest mem
! Der ever elected to the California Legislature
| is a very vain boast We do not recall q
single instance where the Assem- blyman IN
! der 30 years of age has distinguished himself
in after life, or VINO enjoyed an enviable pub
lie career. TIE reason for this is unmstak-
able Character IN state OF formation
| should be Kept as far away as possible from
| flattery, from the egotism, from the demogog-
ism and the lobby influence which beset the
| average legislator. Only weli-formed char
acier completely rounded and soliditied, is tit
/ for a legislative career.
| We should hail with delight constitl,-
| tional amendment making ineligible tor the
position of AsSemblyman all those VINO have
| not attained the age of 30-Or for the Office of
| State Senator all those who have not at
| tanned the age of 4 o years.
The contention of the Express is that
| there were men in the last Legislature of
who were grandfathers, who made no bet
ter records than the young men who then
or since have gone wrong. The Express
also holds that as Clay went to the Senate
before he was so. as Washington was a
commander at q, as Jefferson wrote the
Declaration at 80, and Lincoln was
legislator at %, 1t is not proven that youth
is dangerous in legislative positions. It
is added that some men mature early and
some not at all, and by implication we
draw the conclusion that age is not the
test of ability in the opinion of our CON-
tenn porary.
Nor has the RECoRD-UNIoN commended
that it is, Or ever was. What we do claim
is that extreme youth is in danger in
official position; that while age is not an
absolute guarantee OF either wisdom.
efficiency or moral steadiness, youth is
more liable to the allurements which lead
astray, and is far less likely to give the
State good service than experience, and
experience in the common run of things
is the concomitant of age.
That some OF our foremost men entered
public life at very early age proves only
the exceptions. With just as much
reason we might claim the case of Chan
cellor Kent establishes a rule, since he
wrote his famous commentaries after he
was disqualified by reason of age from
holding place upon the bench.
What the RECORD UNION asserted as
the result of its observation was, that po-
litioal life Is demoralizing to immature
men. That this is true we do not think
that our respected contemporary will for
a moment deny. Now 1t is simply the
truth to which every man is witness,
that youth is immaturity in ten thousand
cases for every one in which there is at a
tender age any manifestation of notable
wisdom. If it is true that political ca
reer tries manhood. and the Express is not
prepared to controvert the premise. then
it follows that the experienced man as a
rule is the best fitted for the trial.
That is about all that there is in the
case in hand. Laugenour was and is i'm
mature. He was out of place in the
Legislature because he was not ballasted
by experience and age. That this is not
true of all young men in public life the
RECORD has not commended, but
that it is true of many and most young
men we unhesitatingly affirm. and we
land has greater admiration for young
manhood, or takes keener interest aud
delight in the strength. courage and
promise of youth. But this admiration
for young manhood does not blind US to
the dangers that beset it in public place,
nor render US insensible to the duty to
the State that demands for it's councils
wisdom born of experience and years.
That the people in experience and age
chosen do not always secure ability and
steadiness proves nothing more than
this, that the people do not always or
frequently choose wisely and well.