Iron County register., 1900-02-01
NUMBER 80.
Let En- Alone.

| EuttOT aegtSteF-1n ne recent pOIltLCdl
furry in Dunklin county where the
Democratic cohorts were reused from
their fresides and set going in a fac
tional fight while the ice still lay on
| the placid bosom of the lake in the
public square of Kenrett. aud the bull
frog reposed in a fathom of mud in
Little River Swamp deep in his mid
winter sleep,-this uutimely disturb
ance of the political pool by the mighty
| leviations of Dunklin county. moves
| me to make some reflections on the
political situation in Southeast Mis-
souri, that think are worth considera-
ton, and to make suggestion that !
think will not fall on unheeding ears.
Some years ago l reached the con-
clusion that the development of public
ism in Southeast Missouri, and conse-
quently the retardation of her interests,
lay in the fact that a man had no
sooner reached a point in her party
councils, or had been elevated to an
Office of trust and responsibility, than
forces were set to work to undermine,
drag down, and retire to the ranks the
man thus honored before he had reach
ed the maturity of his powers. This
has been especially true of representa-
tives in the national legislature, while
also applying to state and local offices.
Ia the Fourteenth Congressional dis
trict, when / went into it in 1889. j.
P. Walker was its representative, and,
while not a brilliant man, was repre-
senting his district in very creditable
manner and gaining in his influence in
Congress with every additional year
that he served. But war was made on
Walker and he went down in the fierce
struggle, surrendering his life and his
office both as result of the effort to
do his duty by his constituents in
Washington, and at the same time to
look after the campaign in the district.
Then came Marsh Arnold, man of
brilliant natural qualities, who was
allowed to serve two terms and was
retired to make way for - what's
his-nameP Now Vandiyer has had
term and half and just as he is get
ting acquainted with the Chairman of
his Committee and the House is learn
ing that he halls from Kennett and not
Kalamazoo, up start the candidates
from Birds Point to Bald Knob. with
fire in their eyes, tomahawks in their
belts, and noble ambitions pulsing in
their manly bosoms to go to Congress
and send garden seeds to their worthy
constituents of the XIVth Congress
sional district. The 18th district has
not been so subject to change in its
representative as the 14th, but the
Democratic nomination has usually
been secured, except in Robb's case
last fall, as the result of hard strug-
gle in which wounds were made that
time has often failed to heal. In the
case of one state officer, Southeast Mis-
souri, has made one conspicuous de-
parture from the rule of frequent
change in her office-holders and has
honored Major James M. Seibert with
term after term of Office at the State |
Va ifo1 hos cha led n
doing. for Seibert has reflected quite
as much credit on Southeast Missouri |
by his official career, as his native |
section of the State has shown favor to |
him. Life tenure of Office by law or
usage / do not believe to be a good |
thing either for people or office-hold- |
ers. On the other hand too frequent |
rotation in Office is no remedy for this |
evil. There is golden mean between |
these two extremes that / believe may |
be discovered and adhered to with |
great relief to the people in the way |
of allaying incessant office-seeking, |
and at the same time securing the SER
vices of experienced and capable pub |
lie servants. Restricting the question |
for the present to that of representa- |
tion in the National legislature. Mis- |
souri, has been sending to the Senate
for quarter of century Francis M. |
Cockrell and George G. Vest, each of |
W hom in his own particular way has |
made record by his public services |
that commands the respect of this en-
tire country. Now the term of a SEN
ator is six years. or three times that |
of a member of the House. A new |
Senator must make the acquaintance
of only eighty-nine of his colleagues,
while member of the House must get
with three hundred and !
other members before he
can begin to influence them by that
contact which is the import
ant force now relied on to carry
measure through the lower house of
Congress. Now If it Is desirable to
return Senator for two terms, equal |
to six terms of member OF the House, |
why is it not desirable to return a |
to Congress until his |
service equals at least one term OF a |
United States Senator, or six yearsp