Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-01-10


C'Mr. Speaker. cannot keep my seat.~
surprising that Gen. Grosvenor should
be doing'his part in congress TO make
the law unpopular"
That is supposition; but to one ex-
perienced in the ways of politicians it
does not seem to be an improba bleview
of the actualities of the situation. Gen.
Grosvenor is one of the best men in con-
gress, and President Mckinley is one of
the purest men ever known in public
life. Both of these are politicians. and
yet both of them come fully up TO the
measure of true craftsmanship. There
is nothing partisan in the true admins
tration of the civil service law. People
everywhere, however. are divided in
their views concerning the manner and
method of it's proper enforcement.
The debate of this question incites the
thought heretofore expressed in this
column of correspondence; that is, are
not the offices made too tempting by
the large salaries attached to them?
There is reason for everything in this
world, and there must be some reason
for this terrific clamor for the spoils of
office.
But it is perfectly natural. after all.
If John Doe gets nomination to con-
gress, and his success is largely due to
the political management of Richard
Roe, it is only natural that Richard
Roe should expect some sort of reward.
When John Doe comes to congress he
gets q salary of $4,000 per annum, and
that looks pretty big at home. Never
theless, the cost of living in Washing
ton. according to the style expected of
congressman, is very great, and the
congressman cannot afford to pay
money to Richard Roe for having stood
by him in the past, and for standing by
him in the future. But Richard Roe
wants his reward, and he applies for Of
flee. Of course the congressman ought
to do something for him. if he can.
That sums up the original cause of
office-seeking, but it does not suggest
the cure. The plain people of our coun-
try will in their own way and in their
own time settle this question once for
all and take it out of the realm of dis
cussion.
The fate Of this much-discussed law
may be settled in the debating societies
of the country. Let the young men take
it up. discuss it, argue it and reach con-
clusions concerning it. There is no
more fruitful theme to-day before the
people. 1t will be found that the young
men in all of our cities and villages have
views; and when they make study of
the subject. ascertain all of the facts,
take particular interest in the theme
and reach conclusions. they will be
about right. Then, when political cam
paigns are fought, they will instruct
their representatives what to do, and it
will be done. Many public question
has thus been settled in the debating
societies long before the statesmen were
able to reach conclusions thereon. They
usually obey popular opinion as soon as
it crystallizes so that they cannot. mis-
take it.
1t has been the care of the narrator
of this story to refrain from express
sions of opinion. This is merely a mar
ration of facts as they appear 10 one
who is closely observing public men and
public affairs. The reader will not
reach the conclusion that all men in
congress are insincere, OR that a najori-
| ~ of them are not in earnest in their
ngressionaluttera Nevertheless
it is true that on this subject, and on
many other subjects. speeches are made
as Congressman Sunset Cox once said
''for home consumption"
BY that be meant that many speeches
are made here. not for the purpose ot
affecting legislation. but for the pur
pose of having the people at home read
the speeches and consider what great
men they have sent to the national CAPT
tai to represent them. With this under
standing. the people who read corgrcs
sional debates will give them sucl
weight as they deserve.
SMITH D. FRY.