Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-12-30
A Suggestion.

Our State Senator, we fear, Will De
unable to carry out all of the various
he began with such avidity.
At the first of the session it looked as
though he might be able to accomplish
3 great deal, more in fact than is usu-
ally accomplished by one person. He
no opportunity to escape him
to lay before the Senate the several
matters of import upon which he was
bending his energies, and SO mindful
OF his constituency and the needs OF
the Commonwealth was he, that he
thrice obtained the floor on the first
day of the session and presented his
reforms and his views. and since that
day has been constantly in the breach.
This is said to be little unusual for a
new member, but it demonstrates zeal,
a characteristic which is highly essen
tial in reformer. No laggard on faint
heart ever made Roadway in a great
cause, no timid person ever broke
down the barriers which SO often op
pose the advance of philanthropic
ideas and wise craftsmanship. Such
qualities are essential in these
days when there seems to be q
disposition in legislative bodies
to put a martingale or holding
back slap, as it were, on new mem
bers, and thus often deprive the
country of their ideas, and their con-
stituents especially of the results fcr
which they were especially chosen
And it also sometimes happens that
when they who seek reputation them
selves see a fellow being about to
snatch a few of the laurels which they
themselves had hoped to gather, they
grow envious and begin at once te
impede his progress. and block his on
ward march to fame, and especially il
this so when they know the aspiran'
| is about to take the entire wreath
Now here is where the trouble comel
| in and leads us to fear that there ma!
be that same human nature in oul
! Legislative body which has Been fount
in man since the earliest period Of hi
existence, and il this be SO. there i
grave danger of it asserting itsel
against our senator, and working no
his down fall. of course, but grea
reduction in those matters of retrench
ment and reform which are essentia
to our well being and which he ha
incubated in the past, and which or
portunity has now been given him t
change from chaos. to a living con
crete. We therefore suggest tina
probably our senator would do we
not to cause envious eyes to turn o.
him to steadily, or dra Y SO holly th
fire of those other aspiring members
upon his column of attack. by too fire
lQuent appearance on the floor. w
suggest modestly, that instead Of max
ing three speeches day, that for
/ while at least until he has becom
complete master of the situation, h
confine himself to only two, any wa
flor the next fifteen or twenty days c
the session, and then if he finds it
absolutely necessary he can add ONT
, or when very urgent two more. Thi
5 will allay to some extent the appreheI
r sion which is now growing in the cour
3 ty, that other members seeing hi
: good work may crave the right to spea
t some themselves, and thus possibl
: cause the senate to have its tim
] wasted by windy orators, or ''scattel
i, bang" haranguers, who will tire tn
3 public, and for aught we know proven
, needed legislation. This is only SUI
. gestion which is thrown out for wha
1t is worth, as we take the liberty (
some times doing.