The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-03
RICH MEN IN CONGRESS
The Public Career Of Theodore
Roosevelt.
SENATOR LODGES TRAINING.
Congressman sprague and His Enormous
wesith-ropular Prejudice Against Rich
Men In Public Iife-Jast Dues 60 the
worthy-Notahle Examples.


is IN the right way Readers OF these dis
patches will remember that the writer has
often advocated the paying Of larger sala-
rics 10 our Government officials. For many
Of the more important offices, especially
the administrative offices here at the ma
I tional capital, IL is sometimes difficult 10
get men of first class ability. Men who are
| ambitious and pushing and who have not
as vet made their fortunes are unwilling to
devote their energies TO the public service
for salaries which afford only bare sub.
sistence. or even less. Since the Inaugural
ton Of President Mckinley dozen or per.
hapS score of important appointments
have been declined by men who felt they
could not afford the honor.
There are two classes of rich men who go
into public life. One of these types we are
quite too familiar with. They are men
who literally buy their way into office for
the honor of the thing. They may have
had no preliminary training or education
fitting them for public life. After getting
into office they are really Adventures,
make believers, quack statesmen. They
think much more of advertising them.
selves, of parading their names, of cheap
glory To be won out of social conquests,
than they do of the interests OF the public
or performance of their duties With this
class of rich men in politics il is impossi
BILE TO have any sympathy.
Theodore Roosevelt.
The other class are men who, possessing
independent means, deliberately choose
public career and prepare themselves con-
scientiously for il. They are willing TO
money alone for their Advancement Hav.
ing reached posts of influence and respon.
sibility, they endeavor to do their duty. AS
type of this sort l may mention Theo.
dore Roosevelt. When very young man,
he set out for public career. Having edu.
cation, independent means, health, mental
yigor and ability, he dedicated all these TO
the service of the people He was content
first to go to the New York legislature,
where he soon made his influence felt in
behalf of good government. He was a re-
former from the start, and he has been u
relOrmer ever since.
Most young men of his family and |
wealth advantages choose less laborous |
careers. They prefer travel idleness, pleas. |
ure 1t was not so with Mr.. Roosevelt |
After shaking up the rotten municipal |
years he came TO Washington as a member |
of the civil service commission. Here he |
had wider field of labor and usefulness.
Here he made IA national reputation. Then |
he went to New York again asss, member |
of the metropolitan police commission,
and there he made another record as re. |
former. Now Mr.. Roosevelt Is again back |
in Washington, this time as assistant sec.
rotary of the navy.
Mr.. Roosevelt is "demon for work. "
He is one of the most patriotic and un.
selfish of men. His constant aim is the |
faithful discharge of his duties, the rem.
dering of genuine service TO the cause of |
good government. To see him work and |
plan and write and talk for the good |
movements in which he becomes interested |
Is refreshing in these days of idleness and |
superflciality among the young men who |
chance to be blessed with fortunes
senator Lodge.
Another comparatively young man
worthy of mention in this category is
Henry Cabot Lodge, the junior senator
from Massachusetts Mr.. Lodge, like Mr. |
Roosevelt, is of an aristocratic family |
and inherited wealth. He, too, chose |
public career, and began at the bottom |
He received his preliminary training in |
the Massachusetts, legislature Then he
came to congress and was soon able to take |
a high place there Now he Is in the sen.
ate, where he Is one of the most influential
and able members. Mr.. Lodge is an ear. |
nest student, "a hard worker. In the prepa-
ration of the immigration bill and in secur.
Ing its passage through congress he put in
an amount of energy and ability that
hnU xx-1VN Ia Il.
terests of some big client in an important
law case, fee many times years sena-
torial salary. When the Cuban and Span.
ish question became critical, Mr.. Lodge
Travelled in Europe for the express purpose
of fitting himself for intelligent handling
of it as u senator and member of the com.
mittee on foreign relations. This type of
rich men in public life wins our admira.
ton, even if we cannot always agree with
their views upon public questions.
Another rich New Englander who has
lately come to congress is destined to make
bis mark. Charles f. Sprague of Brook.
line, Mass, is the richest man in congress
His fortune Is said TO amount to SIS, 600.
900 or SEQ, 100000. Mr.. Sprague who is
now 40, concluded when very young man
that he would like to be of some service TO
the people. He not only graduated from
Harvard, but took up the study of law.
realizing that the man who does not nos. |
sess knowledge of the law Is under n
handicap in public life
Congressman Sprague's Rise.
Instead of trying to force his way into
an Office of great honor, as many rich
man might have done, Mr. Sprapue was
content TO serve in the Boston city council
In the state house of representatives. as a
member of the park commission. as
state senator. In the last named BODY he
was chairman of the committee on metro. !
politan affairs, having to do with the citv |
OF Boston. In this way Mr.. Sprague has
equipped himself for public career of
great usefulness. He is an authority upon |
public works, municipal administration.
I'LL legislation pertaining TO business or |
executive matters. There is a need for |
Just such men in public life, whether n is |
In city councils state legislatures or con.
gress-men who have the training and |
character, devotion to public good and
who have by the fortunate chance of being |
possessed of independent means been raised
above the danger Of speculative invest. |
ment or other selfish acknowledgements