Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-05-16

Dess Politics Pay : Yeuns Naai

Does politics pay young mani Il
depends on ones idea Of "psy." In
other words 1t resolves itself into the
old question, what constitutes sue.
cessP Mems ideas Of success are
widely different. With one man
perhaps most meD-the accumulation
Of wealth 10 success; with another q
good name or reputation.
10 financial way it is rather un-
common for men to make money out
Of politics. Campaign assessments,
hotel bills, good fellowship, loans to
needy friends, forced contributions to
many different projects, soon eat up
the salary Of man who holds polit-
ical job, and leaves him "high and
dry" when the political wheel Of for
tune makes revolution which "turns
the rascals out"
And because Of that political wheel
Of fortune andgits uuscheduled' but
nevertheless certain revolutions, as a
rule it does not pay young man to
follow politics as a profession. Many
OF our successful business men got
their start in life by politics, but
most Of those who received lasting
benefit from political "liit" are
those who had discretion enough to
quit while they were still in the lead.
There is an education to be gained by
taking hand in politics which can.
not otherwise be acquired, but the
great majority Of men are no more
adapted for successful politicians
than they are for lawyers or invent
ors. While failures are more COM
mon than successes think the com.
mon cause Of failures lies in the fact
that most young men do not carefully
consider what they are adapted for.
The failures among those who follow
their true bent are comparatively few.
On broader grounds, however, does
it pay young man to participate in
political affairsp 1t certainly does.
1t pays young man to be good cit
izen, and that he cannot be unless be
takes an active and intelligent inter.
est in the public affairs Of bis city,
his county, bis state and his country.
Nor am | speaking in generalities
when say this. The young man
who assumes a position, backed by his
Judgment and his conscience, will be
q positive force in bis community,
and will have "to be reckoned with"
as the politicians say. How this
would result II every young man IN.
dertook it is not necessary to inquire,
for it may be safely relied on that
every young man will do nothing Of
the sort.
Whether it "pays" or not, young
man owes it as an obligation to the
public to take an interest in affairs,
and to discharge bis duty to society,
even at some sacrifice to himself. The
question then, in my judgment, ad-
mits Of double answer Politics as
a profession does not pay even those
who are moderately successful, unless
they use it as a means to an end--as
a step toward some Legitimate good
outside Of politics. Politics merely
as an introduction to broader views
Of life and for the cultivation Of pub
lie spirit does pay, not in dollars and
cents, but in making a young man
influential in his community, and Civ.
ing him respectable standing before
the public.
There is one satisfaction about po-
litical success that is more gratifying
to me than any other, and that is the
opportunity to help others. This
great big world is not such an unset
fish place after all, and there is some
thing more to life than continual
strife for seli-aggrandizement. 1t
will often happen that man lin pol
itics can do something for his friends.
We even strengthen our own hands
when we help build up others, and 1t
is pleasant after. thought to have
given another man start, either in
politics or business for the disinter.
ested motive Of seeing him succeed.
FRANK Z. GRIMES,
State Treasurer.
One OF Tom McNeal's new fables.
Thera waa a Kanaaa man who was in