People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-06-18
A Congressman's Duties.

talned LOT few individuals, (per'
haps no more than were obtained
during Jerry Simpsons term) but
care has been taken each time to
have ii heralded to the people
through the local papers that "Lone
got it." Chester was careful to
write a letter to the recipient each
time and congratulate him on his
success. He may never have turned
his hand to get the pension, or per.
chance, lawyer like, he may have
been in partnership with the claim
attorney and drew a fat commission
from the old soldiers pile, las in.
deed We have heard he was); bu,
the letter always went just the same
and the customary compliment was
given him in the local paper.
Then there was the $4,000 ap-
preparation for irrigation purposes.
| Of course that item would never
have been inserted in the bill il
Long had not been in congress!
These are all the plums We can
recall that Chester has been able to
bring to his constituents. His sal
airy for the two years was $4,000
pretty big attorney fees for so little
accomplished.
Some people have an idea that
such trivial matters are all we send
a congressman to Washington for.
The questions Of political economy
which affect the general welfare of
all the people are left entirely out
of the consideration. Upon these
Questions Long seems to have left
no impress whatever.
The growth Of this sentiment is
very gratifying to the purse proud
powers which are plotting and plan
ing the downfall of our country.
They can easily afford to throw a
sop here and there to appease the
PROFESSIONALLY where the people
themselves are made to pay for it.
No less pretentious a newspaper
than the Wichita Eagle is caught by
such chat. In an editorial on the
subject Tuesday it said:
"If congressman succeeds in get
ting anything for his constituency,
he has no time to fight general meas.
ures or keep a general watch over the
conduct OF the government. The Sew.
enth district when it sends congress.
man to Washington wants him to be
congressman from the Seventh dis
trict and not attempt to change the
constitution, or single. handed and
alone attempt to so manipulate the
great policies of the government that
wheat will increase one dollar and a
half bushel. II Mr.. Simpson could
have changed the price OF wheat that
much, nothing could beat him now
and for life for congress. But it wa:
impossible for him to really benefit
the district by general assaults and
desultOry attacks on the general con.
ditiOn Of things and he wasted time
which he might have used in really
picking up a crumb here and there
for this district"
If a congressman has no time tc
"keep general watch over the con
duct Of the government" will TIT
Eagle pray tell US who basl And i
nobody has, is it any wonder that W,
are in the condition We are, as /;
people, today'
If the sole duty Of congressman
is to merely "get his bill in" for al
he can for his district, why not Jus
employ good shrewd attorney ant
keep him there continuously
Garry this out to its conclusiar
and we have $50 claim attorney
from as many different districts al
at Washington trying to persuad
the government to give them a ie,
political plums for a few individual
in few communities-an organize,
conspiracy of the people agains
themselves.
II this is the end of government
of, by and for the people we do nc
hesitate to declare it a failure.
How much is the average citize
benefited by these "plums"l The
are no doubt quite palatable for tn
individuals who receive them bu
how does that benefit the msssesl
Surely the sovereignty of tn
people has not degenerated to sue
lou ideals Thara 49, .oO..t .