The age-herald., 1901-06-30

Blank finds that some of these measures are not to the interest of his constituent cy; or as a man of independent thought, he conscientiously believes they will not be beneficial to the country. He cells on the Cabinet officers to secure his friends appointment. He is met with pleasant words, and is told that his friend seems to be we'll endorsed, but that the mat ter cannot be determined at present.
 MT. Blank is then asked what he thinks in regard to the administration measures. The member of the Cabinet Is greatly astonished that he cannot sup port the administration, and asks him to read somebody's report, and consider 1t from the standpoint of a party man, etc. After he has made his fourth or fifth call, with the same result, he will begin to hear from his friend who tells him that Congressmen from adjacent districts have received appointments, and that the people at home cannot under stand why he cannot do something for his district. The question that he has now to decide is whether he shall sub init to become tool in the hands of the administration secure the offices, and drift with the party tides, or whether he shall be a representative of the people, determining for himself what best con serves their interest and meets the de- mands of justice and right. To do this he must return to face angry friends, and must meet the opposition of an un- friendly administration. Within the last four years I have seen at least two men of great ability retire from public life rather than surrender their own individ- uality; being unwilling to remain and contend against hostile administration. When the Porto Rican bill was first re- ported to the House, over thirty mem- bers of the administration party de- clared themselves against it; but as the debate progressed it was understood by all that the administration whip was being brought into use to bring the re- calcitrants into line. One of the original opponents had the courage to announce openly that he had changed his views because the President had requested him to do so. And, on the final vote, only eight had the courage to support their original convictions.
 I do not wish to be understood, from what I have said above as contending that the present administration alone is responsible for this state of affairs. It has existed with all parties and all ad- ministrations almost since the beginning of the government. All that I contend is that from decade to decade it has grown worse instead of better.
 If the Democratic party has stood for one thing more than another, 1t has been for policy of opposition to a permanent increase of the standing army; yet l have seen the solid phalanx of the oppo- sition in the House of Representatives broken in the passage of an army bill, by the distribution of patronage. When the cry for place is heard from the edi- tors son, the bankers son, the lawyers g son. the farmers son-in truth, every body's son--the guardian of the liberties of the people, the keeper of the public treasury must, indeed, be bold man. The bill providing for the holding of an International Exposition at St. Louis and that creating Spanish War Claims Commission were passed, after being at first defeated, by making the Commis- sion non-partisan. so that the advocates of the bills secured a number of candi- dates for the places from almost every State, to work on their home delega- tions. The fact that a member of Con- gross Is regarded as the means through