The record-union., 1896-09-28
A STORY WITH A MORAL.

In recent issue Of the New York
Tribune there is graphically told the
story Of the trials and handicap Of
new Congressman. It is quite too long
to repeat here, but some of its points
may well be referred to. The recital is
by one who has experienced all that Is
related, and who likewise has been long
a keen observer at the National Cap
ftal.
The novice who goes to the House
enters with the illusion that he Is to
I'LL a large place and occupy a fore
most position IN public eye. His con-
stituency Is very likely to entertain the
same views. But both are usually des-
tined to disappointment. They soon
realize that no matter how important
the man at home. in Washington he
must represent unusual genuine force
to command attention, and that force
must be powerful far more than is
generally manifest at home
1t Is not enough that he represents
ideas; he must have some Of the ma
tive elements Of leadership or he will
find himself ignored In the House. It
is not enough to be boy Wonder
that he represents a constituency of
10000 or 10000 voters. or that he has
been a local agitator.
To voice the opinions Of a constitu-
ency and gain for its views a hearing,
he must be conscious of the task be-
fore him and not inflated with the idea
that all he has to do is to open his
mouth and witness the standing still
of the nation to hear him. After the
excitement Of the first week In organ
izing has passed, he will awake to the
fact that q notwithstanding process Is
going on. and that he Is only one of
a crowd; that his individual Importance
and his authority do not assert them
selves as he expected. AT this point
there Is danger Of disgust and disap-
pointment sinking him to level from
which he does not rally.
Very early he begins to realize that
he Is only a private in the ranks, and
low down at that He is relegated to
an obscure committee that meets per-
haps once a year; he finds himself
inextricably entangled in the meshes Of
parliamentary practice with which he
is unfamiliar; he discovers that he
lacks the experience and the knowl-
edge Of Congressional practice to ad-
vance his cherished measures. much
less TO retard those which he is com
missioned to oppose, or that he hon
estly believes to be impoltic and bad.
The ways Of the flibusters confuse
him utterly; the dreamy routine Of
weary him, and are not Misunderstood
by him. the art Of catching the Speak
er's eye' IS something Of which he has
not the slightest, or, at best, has only
the vaguest idea
Again, TO call UP a bill and get meas
ures In place" with a view to far fu-
turtles is a thing that is Greek to him.
or If he knows what should be done.
the endeavor to do it more times than
otherwise Is wrecked on rocks of whose
hiding he never dreamed. He begins to
understand that he Is a small ana un
important part of complicated whole:
that OF Legislative and party machinery
he is indeed but nut on a bolt or less
important than that The article con-
cludes In these words:
The average new member soon dis
covers that he is but an inert and
powerless unit in a body supposedly of
legislative equals, but in reality gov
erned by the most rigid system of Sc
niority and unequal privileges If. in
deed, at the end of his first session the
average novice in politics can point to
q single chance to take part in an inn
portant debate. to single noteworthy
triumph before committee. to a single
local bill passed or a single local ap-
preparation secured, he will count him
SELF wsu repaid for the obscurity and