Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-02-05

ness men of the country apparently do
not as a rule seek political honor, or If
they do they have not the skill or time to
manipulate political wires. AS it is, only
one out of seven of the members of the
next House will be n business man. The
class designated as business men include
manufacturers, merchants, railroad men,
ship owners lumbermen, etc.
Considering how badly the politicians"
are treated in the distribution of political
favOrs, the farmers have small reason
to complain. They stand third on the
list with twenty-three members to their
credit, which shows that in sowing agi-
tation of agrarianism they have reaped
civic honors.
By singular, and not altogether log
zeal coincidence, the bankers and the
iOurnGli,ts are tied for fourth place
each mastering twenty-one members.
This may or may not be taken as an in
dication that in popular esteem directors
of finances and molders of public Opin-
ion stand on an equality. But there is
a kind of compromising justice in the dis
tinction conferred upon journalists. Jour
nalists have made so many public men
that it is no more than right that public
men should be made of journalists. One
of the most noted of the journalists in
the House, Il man who is really journal
list and not merely incidentally connected
with the press, is the Hon. Amos Cum
mings of New York. The entire Maine
delegation in the last Congress were
journalists, and Senator Hale of the
same State owns a newspaper.
A long distance behind the journalists
and bankers come the eight politicians al
ready referred to, but physicians to the
number of seven press the politicians
close for fifth place. The school teach
ers are. only one point behind the doctors,
and form a class OF six members. Five
miners make good their claim for seventh
place, while two ministers are supposed
to he enough t. give the lump the neces-
Sary religious leayen.
at the bottom of the list solitary ac-
tor appears upon the stage of action in
the role of Il Congressman. If "all the
worlds a stage. aud men and women are
but actors on it," the foregoing classifi-
cation of pursuits may be wrong, but
only one member of Congress consents to
be designated solely as a member of the
dramatic profession. Let us hope that
this solitary representative is fired by
noble ambition to elevate the stage"
upon which he will strut for a brief pc
riod.
Returning to the journalistic class it is
remarkable how many men in public life,
especially from New England, are or
have been more or less intimately assoc
ciated with the press. OF course in the
diplomatic and consular service the num-
Der is legion but fair proportion of our
national elective offices have been filled
by men who have devoted considerable
attention TO journalism.
James g. Blaine was one of the illus
trious examples. Blaine was one of the
editors and proprietors of the kennebec
Journal. and with all his public cares he
never lost his interest in active journal
istic work and not only kept closely in
touch with the direction of the papers
policy, but frequently contributed TO its
columns. -
Congressman Burleigh also has been
connected with the Kennebec Journal for
years.
Senator Joseph Hawley of Connecticut
is one of the proprietOrS and editors of
the Hartford Courant, and yields 4 IA
Gle and powerful pen. and no small part
of the political influence Of the popular
Senator is welded through his newspa-
per.
The late Congressman Nelson Dingley
was editor Of the Lewiston (AIe.) Jour
nal for many years and was notable ex-
ample Of man who could be an indefati-
gable public servant and capable news
paper man At the same time.
The list Of journalistic public men
might be extended 10 include many nota-
bic names. for in these days the power Of
the press is 50 fully recognized that very
many statesmen and politicians are ea ger
10 aSStxiate themselves with the edito-
rial management Of newspapers. Yet II
is Il significant fact that men who are
editors in the broad sense rarely Ill cleo
tive Offices For one thing these men
have neither time nor inclination 10 push
their personal fortunes in the political
field. finding more c0uSeniGl work in the
editorial harness, and profeTring the ex-
eCcjSe OF The power OF making ana IN
less Of prestige Involved In surrender OF
the imae-Sonal power in order 10 achieve
personal political ambition. 4 second
reason fer the editors lack OF popular
support for Office Is that lie makes too
many enemies. II he is a live editor with
opinions and fearloSSness in expressing
them lie sn,agonizes powerful influences
without making himself soil witt Is
sets-s.