The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-01-09
Are Our Lawmakers Deteriorating ?
1ir

Are Our Lawmakers DeteriOratlng ?
From Topics of the Time in The Century Maga-
zine.
Students of Democracy in all parts of the
world have been giving much attention dur
ing recent years to the quality of modern
legislators Not only in this country, but
in all parliamentary countries, the work Of
legislation has been passing out of the
hands of the kind of men who controlled
it fifty years ago. 1t was formerly in the
hands of men who were truly the repre-
sentatives of the intelligence, morality, and
property Of the land; for their standing in
their respective communities was OF the
best In the early American State legis
latures it was the country squire, the pros
porous farmer, the leading man in the
town, who was sent to the legislature. Hc
legislated there for the best interests Of the
community which had sent him. Being
man of property himself, he guarded
jealously the interests of property, and
thus legislated in the interest of public
order, wise economy, and the general wei
fare From the cities leading business
men and lawyers were sent who, actuated
by similar Influences and motives, legislated
in the same direction.
In course of time the rural constitu-
encies have diminished in Importance and
changed in character. The cities have ad-
yanced to predominating influence, and
their political and nominating machinery
has passed into the hands of men who too
often represent the lowest, rather than the
best, elements of the community. The
professional politician, the man who gets
his living out of politics, has penetrated
everywhere Instead of being a man who
has won his way 60 prominence by success
in business or agriculture or in profes-
sional career, he is more likely to be a man
who has failed in private life and has gone
into politics as an easier way to get living
The consequence is that the work of
| legislation, in many instances has passed
out of the hands of the men who own the
property which makes up the wealth of
the State, and into the hands of those
who have little OF none Of that wealth.
In other words, those who have nothing
are legislating for those who have all. 1t
must be exceptional if men who have no
property to be taxed are wise and discrimi-
mating about the ways in which taxes are
! levied Too often man who has no prop
erty of his own is eager to attack the prop
erty of other people, either with the hope
of perqonal benefit, or with the belief that
he can thus gain favor with the ignorant or
the disorderly elements of the population.
But the man of property in legislative
body who is an obstacle to legislation in
the obvious interest of the people is quite
as Objectionable as the adventurer who
uses his legislative position for selfish or
demagogic ends. In fact, the successful
mar" is far from being the only one cap
able of legislating for the whole people.
1t is intelligence and character that are
needed, be the legislator as rich as Crosus
or as poor as church mouse.
The growing power of political machines
and bosses has contributed materially to
the decline in the quality of Legislators
1t has come to be more and more the prac-
tice each year for the boss or the political
machine to select the men who are to be
the party's candidates for the legislature.
The first condition of such choice is that
the man shall obey orders. As only men
of inferior character will consent to accept
this condition the result is that few really
capable Legislators are chosen. A nomi-
nation is often given to a man who is In
financial difficulties, with the expectation
on his part that he can turn it to such profit
as to rid himself of his burdens In the
large cities he often pays an assessment
for the privilege of the nomination, and
reaches the legislature with the expectation
of recouping himself out of his opportunities
as lawmaker.
The consequences of this change in the
quality of Legislators are familiar to all OBJ
servers. Not only have the men of bust
ness, of professional eminence, of high
character, in all walks of life separated
themselves from the work of making laws,
but the interests which they would prop
erly represent in the halls of legislation
have in some cases adopted the practice of
obtaining by purchase the Legislation which
they desire.
The remedy for this condition of affairs
is obvious, and has been applied in many
States. 1t has happened repeatedly that
when a legislature became so bad that its
doings were intolerable, its successor has
contained men of higher and more useful
character The people have recognized
that the fault lay in their own Indifference
or negligence, and have exerted themselves
to secure the nomination and election OF
better men. This can be done in every
State if the people will arouse themselves
to their duty in the matter. The great
cities, with their ignorant and their de.
PRAYED voters are the most difficult fields
in which to work; but there is not one OF
these in which the honest and intelligent
people cannot triumph by uniting and max
ing the necessary effort. Popular goyorn
ment cannot be trusted to take care Of it
self. Respectable citizens cannot neglec
their public duties, decline to take an ac
tive part in politics or to hold public office
and expect their government to be intelll
gent and honest. If they do not taxi
charge Of their public affairs, the othel
elements of the population will take charg
of them, and having obtained possession
will administer them in their own way.
Heating the HOllse