Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-05-01
RICH MEMBERS.
Congressman Who Financially
Need Worry But Little.
The Public Career Of Theodore Roose.
veIt--Senator Lodges Training.
Chas. r. sprasue Of BrookIihe. Mass, Rich
est Man in Congress.

est Man in Congress.
Washington, April 30.--(SpeciaD we
are having in Washington nowadays sew
eral notable examples Of what rich men
can do in the public service when they set
about it in the right way. Readers OF
these dispatches will remember that the
writer has often advocated the paying OF
larver salaries to our government officials.
For many of the more important offices,
especially the administrative offices here
at the national capital, it is sometimes
difficult to get men of first class ability.
These who are ambitious and pushing and
who have not as yet made their fortunes
are unwilling to devote their energies to
the public service for salaries which afford
onlv n bare subsistence, or even less. Since
the Inauguration of President Mckinley
dozen, or perhaps score, OF Important aP-
pointments have been declined by men
who felt they could not afford the honor.
There are two classes of rich men who
NO into public life. One of these types we
are quite too familiar with. They are
men who literally buy their way into ofhce
Tor the honor Of the thing They may have
080 10 prtllIulUlTy tIdihihS Va NNNS.'S--
fitting them for public life. After getting
into Office they are really adventures,
make believes, 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 1t Is impossi-
BILE to have any sympathy.
Theodore Roosevelt.
The other class are men who, possessing
independent means, deliberately choose a
public career and prepare themselves con-
scieptiously for it. They are willing to-
work their way up, not depending upon
money alone for their advancement. Hav-
ing reached posts Of influence and respon-
ability, they endeavor to do their duty. As
& type Of this sort may mention Theo-
Aore Roosevelt When a very young man,
he Get out for a public career. Having
6ducation, independent means, health,
siental vigor and ability, he dedicated all
1hese to the service of the people. He was
content first to 60 to the New York legis-
lature, where he soon made his influence
telt In behalf Of good government. He
was reformer from the start, and he has
bean reformer ever since.
Most young men Of his family and wealth
advantages choose less laborious careers.
They prefer travel, idleness, pleasure. II
yras not 70 with Mr.. Roosevelt. After
shaking up the rotten municipal govern
ment Of the metropolis for q few years he
came to Washington az member Of the
oigil service commission. Here he had al
wider field OF labor and usefulness. Here
he made n national reputation. Then be
went TO New York again aa member OF
She metropolitan police commission, and
there he made another record as reform
q. Now MIR. Roosevelt is again back In
Washington, this tirne as assistant secre-
tAry Of the navy.
Mr.. Roosevelt Ia "demon for work. "
He Is one Of the most patriotic and unself-
5sh OF men. His constant aim is the faith
full discharge Of his duties. the rendering
of genuine service to the cause of good gov
ernment. To see him work and plan and
write and talk for the good movements i'll
which he becomes interested is refreshing
In these days of idleness and superficiality
among the young men who chance to be
blessed with fortunes.
Senator Lodge.
Another comparatively young man wor-
thy Of mention in this category is Henry
Cabot Lodge the junior senator from Mas
sachusetts. Mr.. Lodge, like Mr.. Roose-l
welt, is of an aristocratic family and In
herited wealth. He, too, chose public ca
xeer, and began ut the bottom. lie received
his preliminary training In the Massachu-
sets legislature. Then he came to con-
gress and was soon able to take high
place there. Now he is in the senate, where
he is one of the most influential and able
members. Mr.. Lodge is an earnest stu
dent, hard worker In preparation of the
Immigration bill and in securing its pas
sage through congress he put in an amount
OF energy and ability that would have won
him, II devoted to the interest of some big
client In an important law case, u fee many
times years senatorial salary. When the
Cuban and Spanish question became crit
ical, Mr.. Lodge Travelled in Europe for the
express purpose of fitting himself for in
telligent handling of it as u senator and
member Of the committee on foreign rela-
tions. This type Of rich men in public life
wins our admiration, even il we cannot al
ways agree with their views upon public
questions.
= Another rich New Englander who has
knAeAy CUIne 10 cOuRrees IL UcsUlntu W Iuohc
hiA mark Charles f. Sprague Of Brook
linJ, Mass, is the richest man in congress
His fortune Ia said to amount to SID, ,000,-
00O. or sec, 900, 900. 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 pos
aess q knowledge Of the law is under a
handicap In public life.
Congressman Sprague's Rise.
Instead OF trying to force his way into
N Office OF great honor, as many rich
man might have done, Mr.. Sprague was
content to serve in the Boston city council,
On the state house Of representatives, as q
snember Of the park commission. as state
senator. In the last named body he WAS
chairman Of the committee on metropoli
tan affairs. having to do with the city Of
Boston. In this way Mr.. Sprague has
equipped himself for a public career Of
great usefulness. He 10 an authority upon
public works, municipal administration
all legislation pertaining to business OF
executive matters. There Is a need fol
5ust such men in public life, whether 1t II
IN the city councils, state legislatures OF