The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-30
congressman WhOPOSSeSS
Large Estates.
Public Career of Theodore
Roosevelt of New York.
Senator Lodges Training Con-
gresham Sprague's Wealth.


can do in the public service when they set
about il in the right way Readers OF
these dispatches will remember that the
writer has often advocated tho paying Of
larger salaries To our government officials.
For many of the more important Offices,
especially the administrative offices here
at the national capital, 10 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 10 devote their energies 10
the public service for salaries which afford
only bare subsistence or even less. Since
the Inauguration of President Mckinley u
dozen, or perhaps score, of important an.
pointments have been declined hy 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 believes, quack statesmen. They
think much more Of advertising them.
selves, of parading their names, Of cheap
glory To be won out Of social conquCsts,
than they do of the interests of thc public
or performance of their duties. With this
class of rich men in politics it 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 it. They are willing tc
work their way up, not depending upon
money alone for their Advancement. Hav.
ing reached posts OF influence and respon.
sibility, they ondcavor to do their duty. AS
type Of this sort may mention Theo.
dore Roosevelt. When very young man,
he set out for a public career Having
education, independent means, health,
mental vigor and ability, he dedicated all
these TO the service of the people He was
content iirst TO so 10 the New York legis.
lature, where he soon made his influence
felt in behalf of good government He
was a refornler from the start and he has
been rcformer ever since
Most young men of his family and wealth
advantages choose less laborious careers.
They prefer travel idleness, pleasure 1t
was not so with Mr.. Roosevelt. After
shaking up the rotten municipal govern.
ment of the metropolis for few years be
came TO Washington as IA member Of the
civil service commission. Here he had "A
wider field of labor and usefulness. Here
he made n national reputation. Then be
went TO New York again rs member Of
the metropolitan police commission, and
there he mado another record as a reform.
er. Now Mr. Roosevelt is again back in
Washington, this time as assistant secre.
tary of the navy.
Mr. Roosevelt is "demon for work -
He is one OF the most patriotic ard unsclf-
ish Of Iren. His constant aim is the faith.
ful discharge Of his duties, the rendering
OF genuine service to the cause of good gov
srnment To see him work and plan and
write and talk for the good movements i'm
which he becomes interested is refreshing
In these days of idleness and superilciality
among tho young men who chance TO be
blessed with fortunes.
Senator Lodge.
Another comparatively young man wor.
thy CT mention in this category is Henry
Cabot Lodge, the Junior senator from Mas
sachusetts MIR. Lodge, like Mr. Roose-
welt, Is of an aristocratic family and in
herited wealth. He too. chose public ca
recr, and began at the bottom Ho received
his preliminary training in the Massachu-
setts Legislature. Then he came to con-
gress and was soon able 10 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 hill and i'm securing its pas
sago through congress he put in an amount
OF energy and ability that would have won
him, II devoted 20 the interest of some big
client in an important law case, "A 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 il as "A senator and !
member of the committee on foreign rela- |
tions. This type of rich men in public life |
wins our admiration, even If we cannot al
ways agree with their views upon public |
questions.
Another rich New Englandcr who has |
lately come 20 congress is destined 20 make |
his mark. Charles +. Sprague of Brook |
line, Mass, is the richest man in congress. |
His fortune Is said 10 amount To Sl5,0O0,- |
600 or s20,oo0,00O Mr.. Spraguc, who is |
now 40, concluded when very young man /
that be would like 10 be of some service To
the people. He not only graduated from 1
Harvard, hut took up the study OF law.
realizing that the man who docs not pos
sess u knowledge OF the law is under a
handicap In public life.
Congressman sprngues Rise.
Instead Of trying 70 force his way into
IN office OF great honor, as many rich
innn might have done, MIR Sprague was
,ontcpt to serve IN the Boston city council,
In the stntc house Of representatives, as
member Of the park commission. as state
senator In the last named body he was
chairman of tho committee on mctropoh-
tan afluirs, having TO 90 with the city uf
Boston. In this way MIR. SpraPuo has
equipped himself FOR a public career Of
great usefulness. He Is an authority upon
public works, municipal administration.
lll legislation pertaining 90 business or
executive matters. There is need for
Iust such men In public life, whether 10 is
IN the city councils, state legislatures or
who have the training ana
character, devotion to public good, and
who have 10y the fortunate chance Of being