Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-03-02
CLERICAL FORCE OUT DOWN.
The Missouri House Cuts on Sixty.
Nine Of Its Employees State
Capital News From Capt.
@. i. Allen.

JEFFERSON 0ITH, Mo-, Feb. 2l.-Thl
House got on Its high horse on Thurs
day last and wildly rode down 80 OF ii
employees. Then there was q weep
ing and a waiIing andaloto Of Iamanta'
tlcns, mingled with curses, long, loud
and deep. Ever since the House wa
organized in January last, ther.
has been complaint that thu
clerical force and the doorkeeper'l
force were too large--that there were
many incompetent men on thes,
forcesj and two or three times ar
effort has been made TO reduce the
number Of employees, but the effortI
resulted In failure until last Thursday
when resolution, offered by Mr.
Delzell, Of Webster, cutting down the
number Of employees Of the House 80,
passed by vote OF 80 to 50. How
many are left, ! am net able to say;
but there are q sufioient number,
guess. Whether asour humble SER
vant's" head will fall into the basket
or not remains to be seen.
There are a large number OF good
people who are practically uniformed
as TO the modus operdndi OF carrying
on q government like that Of the State
OF Missouri. They give far too little
attention to public affairs. The fact
is, they are so much absorbed in their
own private affairs that they do not
fnd time to read up on State politics.
They leave all such matters to the
Legislature thinking believing and
hoping that In some way these very
important matters win be properly
taken care OF.
u Is quile common and by many
considered quite popular to abuse
politicians--to denounce them as un-
worthy OF the confidence of the peo-
Pile. So many politicians have brought
shame to their people by betraying
the trusts confided to them and by
doing highly improper and In some
instances very dishonorabIe acts, that
q large number of our best people
have lost sight of the fact that poll
ticians are needed, yea, are absolutely
necessary. No government can be
had without them-all forms of gov
ernment demand their services.
That all may realize the truth of
this assertion, let Us fix upon def
milton OF the term "politics" and the
term "politician." The best and
briefest definition Of "politics" is
"public affalrs'-that which relates to
the state, nation, county or city, as
the case may be. A "politician" is
one who gives attention to and studies
'public affairs,n who can explain
these ''public affairs" ]" who can formu-
late policy looking toward the bet
terment of the condition of the people
who advocates that which he verify
believes viii promote the welfare
and who opposes that which will do
the people, or any one class of them,
positive wrong or iniury-who in all
his efforts win lay aside self and self
interest and look only to the public
good.
Again, one who takes part in carry
ing on the government must Of neces-
sity be politician for the time he 10
so engaged. He is not only poll
tlcian, but he stands in the first class
and In the front rank OF politicians,
for the very simple reason that he is
actually engaged In the business Of
administering public affairs. The In
dividual who devotes his time, talent
and energies to the study of the pub
lie affairs OF his State, who seeks TO
Lift them to the high plane OF honesty,
dignity and impartiality deserves the
respect of his people, regardless OF
the political party to which he may
attach himself. O. T. ALIEN.