The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-08
SAUCE FOR THE GANDER.

hOmely saws that hold the wisdom men
have gathered from experience.
1.-THE doctor should take his own
medicine" and practice what you
preach" are other expressions Of the
same wisdom. There are certain
ganders in congress commencing sauce
for the geese out Of it who have no
relish for the sauce when offered to
themselves. They are doctors who
would refuse to tax the medicine
they are so quick to prescribe to others.
They are preachers who do not prac-
tice their own precepts. With the
bluntness of that common sense which
is the saving element Of the race, men
characterize those who thus dodge
their own logic as humbugs, quacks
and fakes. The gander which will not
take the sauce he recommends to the
goose is set down as a fraud, and
with justice
The point of these observations lies
in their application. Let US make it.
Gamblers Grosvenor, Tawney, Eddy ct
al. prescribed for the geese who
would also serve the public at stated
salaries single term at the crib, If
ganders and geese ever feed at cribs.
Public service is an honor and recon-
pense to be passed around as rapidly as
possible. AS the places to be filled are
grossly insufficient to permit all a.
chance in them, there should be the
shortest stay in them allowed those
who get in. They should move in and
out rapidly so as to permit a
brief enjoyment Of the emoluments
and distinction to the greatest
possible number Even with the
utmost celebrity of change the
great mass will never be able to get
to the pie-counter. but must stand back
and gaze with envious eyes and raven
ing stomachs at those fortunate enough
to get a place. The geese who
get places are to be those who have
aided the gander in getting. his place.
This is 1.-THE Grosvenor- Tawney idea.
1t is the old Marcy idea redivivus.
1t is the idea Dunnell practiced on so
persistently and successfully for years
in Tawney's district, until at last the |
unfed geese rose in their might and
drove the gander away from his feed
ing trough.
Now let the sauce be given to these
ganders and they be made to take If.
Hold their noses until they have to
open their mouths and then force their |
Jalap down their own threats. There is |
no line of divine marking that separates
representative from mail carrier or
a deputy collector or clerk. Each oc-
cupies a place at the public table to
which every other man has equal
right. Each has just as much right to
continuous sitting as the other and
not whit more. If the nation is bet
ter served by having mail carrier
move out and give place to another
would-be carrier after a brief term.
then it would be equally well served bv
having the representative drop back
into the undistinguished mass at the
expiration of his term. If, owing to
the difference in salaries and dignity of
place, five years is enough for depart
ment clerk, then two years is enough
for a representative. In fact the pro-
portion of population to representatives
and clerks would make two years rath- |
f1Noy fIn
to under this theory Of rotation in Of
ffce but as an amendment to the con-
st.tution would be necessary to short
en- that term, its excess only makes
policy for representatives.
Try to apply this to the Tawneys
and Eddys and Fletchers and hear
them squawk. No gander, parting under
compulsion with his feathers, would
protest more stoutly What would be
their very first reason in protest? Why,
that it takes one term of two years to
enable representative to learn the
ropes to know how to do things in
congress- to be able to be Of any serv-
Ice to his constituents. His useful. |
ness. they would assure the geese in |
creases exactly in the ratio of the
number of his terms Of service. They
would point to the states that keen
their representatives in congress term
after term for confirmation of the wis
dom Of returning them even during tha |
term Of their natural lives. They
would esteem it monstrous sacrifice
of public interest to turn a repre-
sentative out of office just as he had he
come sufficiently versed in parliament
tary procedure to be able to accom-
plish something. And. truth to tell
they would be right. But if thew are
right why Is 1t not equally right to re-
tain those in subordinate places who |
have also learned how to serve the pub-
lie? What differentiates a representa-
tive from clerk in the departmentsq
In their respective spheres is not each
g. public servant In whom the public |
has only the interest that comes from |
being We'll and efficiently served? And
Il the clerk should be made to give |
way to an unlearned and unframed |
man at the end Of his term, why not |
/ L