Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-06-21
DYING IN A POLICE STATION.

he never availed himself of the pkiY-
ilege of going upon the floor of IRE
house. On the contrary, whenever ce
wanted to see a congressman, he re-
manned outside the door and sent in
his card, as any plain citizen must do.
By this course he always maintained
the respect of the statesmen and his
self-respect, and also possessed consid-
cradle influence. After he was elect
ed to the senate he rigidly declined
to accept retainers from any of his
old clients. But men of such broad
gauge and high principle are not
numerous.
Not less than 200 ex-members of
congress and eX-members of the cab
met or assistant secretaries and other
eX-officials are striving to live here on
such meager tees as they can pick up.
One of them was reared in Iowa, was
a good politician, popular with all
Iowa men; went to Nebraska, was
elected to congress, served two terms,
and then located here as claim
agent. He presumed that he would
have the backing of the congressional
delegations of two states, but he has
the backing and aid of neither one.
If he had gone back to Iowa or Ne
braska he might have succeeded as a
lawyer, for he is a good one, and he
would have been highly respected.
One of the worst cases is that of an
assistant secretary of a great depart
ment, who fell in love with his type
writer, obtained a divorce from his
wife coyertly and sneakingly, and
married the handsome viper. He was
a great lawyer, but he is now brief
less barrister and claim agent, creep
ing through this segment of the world
with the look of a sneak upon his
face. Nobody respects him, and sure
1y he has no self-respect.
Another one died here not long ago;
died in a station house; died drunk.
He had not been wholly sober for al
most two years. He had three daugh-
tiers, and for them he secured posi-
tions in the government departments.
The senators and representatives from
his state had no respect for him, but
they pitied the girls. Their father
had been a strong man, an excellent
lawyer, and a great campaign orator.
They supported him until he died.
After the conclusion of his last term
in the house of representatives he
could have returned to his home and
been successful and honorable. He
remained here, failed in his business
aspirations, went from bad to worse,
and his death was a relief to himself
and to those who loved him.
One great trouble with these ex-
statesmen is that they lack reserve
lively easy. The salary is ample and
is regularly paid. When man has
long been accustomed to receiving
$500 per month, and that income is
completely cut off, he begins to real
ize what cold, cruel and heartless
world he is living in. The pay of
congressman goes right on, whether
he works or not. But as private
citizen he must have employment, and
must work hard to earn that much
money. Few men possess the reserved
power to grapple with the world I'M
der such changed conditions. The ma
jority of them realize this when it is
too late.
Men who have lived in comparative
ease do not realize that life is war
fare, and that victory or defeat de-
ponds upon the reserved power and
courage of each combatant. At the
bar, in the pulpit, in business, in the
senate, in all fields of human activity,
he only organizes and compels vic
tory who has back of him the steady
tramp of the army of the reserve.
Many time and oft his enemies fell
before Napoleon when the terrible re-
served power of the ''Old Guard" ap-
peared to roll back exultant legions.
The ex-statesmen could find no
worse place than Washington for
their abiding places, no meaner field
in which to fight the battle of life.
Those who do possess superior abil-
tiles and reserved forces do not settle
here. They go back to their homes
and complete their careers in the
midst of those who have respected and
honored them. SMITH D. FRX.