The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-05
TT DOES NOT PAY
To Go Into Politics to Make Your Liv-
ing Says John Z. Wright.


Politics has made more fools in Kan
sas than any other one cause which can
be assigned to processes which produce
results of that character" was the
somewhat startling statement made by
John K. Wright of Junction City to-
day.
Mr.. Wright is a veteran Kansas Re
publican.
Kansas has always been unusually
prominent among the political states"
he continued. "IngaIls said this is the
political storm center, and I agree with
him. We have many men who depend
almost solely upon politics for a means
of livelihood and there are few among
them all who have managed to accumu-
late more than enough for the actual
necessities of life. OF course there are
exceptions to all rules, but the business
of politics is mighty Improbable as
well as disagreeable. Too many men
have made the mistake of going into
campaign for the sake of getting one
Office.
They succeed in that, but think not
of the future. When they find them
selves out of that particular job, eth
er by reason of the defeat of their par
ty at the polls or other causes, they
hate to go back to hard work and dis
like to resume the pursuit which they
abandoned to take soft place at
good salary, working for the govern
ment. The consequences are that while
waiting for something without much
work and good pay to turn up, they en-
stances, actual privation.
This is why I say politics makes
fools of men.
1.-THE first time I was elected to the
legislature, I was as proud as a boy
could be. The second time came to
Topeka, expected men to take OF their
hats to me. 1 thought that if there was
anything on earth that did not know,
It was yet to be discovered or learned.
With these self-assuranceS began my
second term in the house. Something
occurred to me one afternoon during
debate. I don't remember what 1t was,
but it brought to my mind the thought
that perhaps was not the whole thing.
/ considered the matter very carefully.
Then I came to the conclusion that L
had better not fly too high for the pres
ent, and L hauled in some of my sails.
When first came to the legislature L
sold out grocery store in Junction
City. When I went back saw no OPP
portunity to reopen, and did not know
exactly what to do. Finally bought a
livery stable, and the people-some of
them 1 mean-were very much surpr1S-
ed that member of the legislature
should engage in keeping q livery sta
BILE.
''They were still more surprised when
they saw me leading horses out, and
after tying them up to q post, devote
my spare muscle to working a curry
comb and brush. That kind of business
helped me. I got out of the notion that
1 was a statesman, born with great
political destiny, and have been getting
along pretty comfortably since that
time.
''Speaking of the legislature" contin-
ued Mr. Wright, Il have an idea on this
subject which believe is a good one
1t is a fact admitted by everybody that
new members of the legislature are Oft
en- at a loss to know exactly what to do
when important measures about which
they are not fully informed, come up
for consideration. Why would 1t not be
a good plan to divide the session Say,
have a 80 day session in December, be-
ginning probably in November; then
che session?
This would give the new members an
opportunity to learn the ways OF the
body during the first 80 days and then
they would be able during the recess to
consider and think over the proposed
laws and be permitted also to make up
their minds freely and without the
baleful Influences of the lobby.