The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-03-18
The Kind of Stuff We Make Congressman Out OF

The Kind of Stuff We Make congressman Out OF
Editor Representative.
When we consider the personality of
the houses of congress of the present
and of recent years, it is not surprising
that the people of the United States are
becoming, day by day, more hopelessly
mixed on the question of where we are
at as to both our domestic condition
and foreign relations
For the senate, riches seem to be the
chief qualification in many instances.
The present generation takes no pride in
the men who occupy the places which
were once adorned by the Websters.
Clays, Bentons, Calhouns. It looks at
times as though the senate of today were
but the Washington headquarters of va
rious corporations and trusts, with in
dividual senators as agents of their re-
spective owners.
AS to the house, the people would
scarcely be surprised to find it one day,
in frenzy of patriotic love, declaring
war against the inhabitants of the planet
Mars, and the next refusing to pass a law
which would benefit the people, lest
harm should come to the interests of
certain gentlemen of persuasive" char
acter and generous" instincts.
There is truth in the following remarks
OF Mr.. Henry Muir, which appeared some
time ago in McClure's Magazine. Speak
ing of the International Telegraph Blu
reau and of telegraph systems generally,
Mr.. Muir says:
cat the head of this vast system of
telegraphs, land and sea, is some of the
finest scientific, organizing and admins
trative ability in the world Sir John
Fender at the head of the Eastern and
Eastern Extension companies, Sir James
Anderson, Nielsen of Norway, Thomas T.
Eckert of America, Arten Pacha of Egypt.
DR.. ROthen, director of the International
Bureau, Mr.. w. H. Preece, chief engineer
of the British service, are but types of the
ability which is engaged in various ways
in completing and directing the system
almost invaribly these men possess
the broadcast culture, the largest knowl-
edge of the world They show, no class
of men better, how. at the present mo-
ment of the worlds history her biggest
men are in commercial and industrial un-
dertakings; that there the finest diploma
cy, the greatest ideas, the best states
manShip are at work.
What howl would go up from the
owners of these various systems, if it
were proposed to supplant Sir James An
derson, Thomas T. Eckert, Arten Pacha
and the others, with men, let us say
from the shining lights composing the
present Minnesota delegation in con-
gress.
The science of government, even of
small communities, is most intricate
one; and yet we trust the government of
a great nation to men, to many of whom
we would hesitate to confide ordinary
private interests.
The man who announces himself as
candidate or allows himself to be made
a candidate for nomination as senator or
representative, should be studied by the
voters as to his qualifications, with at
least as much care as would be devoted
by an orchestra leader to the selection
of members of his orchestra.
1t is apparent that the congressional
or senatorial candidate, as often happens,
has no other qualification than a large
voice, and the capability of roaring out
platitudes about the American eagle, at
Fourth of July picnics. His impudence
should be rebuked and he should be
laughed back to private life to learn mod
esty, and, If possible, acquire little wis
dom. Or else he should be looked upon
as q harmless lunatic, as was the man