The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-12-27
MIR PApGErr IN CONGRESS.

During Mr. Padgett's candidacy for
Congress, strange enough TO say. his
reputation for ability and oratory- as
it could not be measured up to-was
used against him. His enemies said
"Oh, yes, he will blow off a sky
scraper occasionally, and the pages of
the Congressional Record will be cram
med with his wonderful flights of ora
tory hurled at the galleries. But what
Will all that amount to? Congress has
already talked the country to death.
What we want is a hustler A man who
knows the ropes and how to pull them.
One who can do so II ing for his dis
trict and find jobs for some of the
boys. -
Expressions to this effect were used
as stock argument against him, and
they had their influence; they made
votes againt him; we doubt not there
were hundreds of men in the district
influenced more or less by just such
talk. But, if we read the signs
Alright, they have proven to Mr.
Padgett blessing in disguise. They
have pnt him upon his mettle, and by
his record he will refute them.
He took his seat last March, and he
has accomplished more for his district,
in the same length of time, than any
man who ever represented it. He is
paying as little attention to the Phil
ippine Islands and more attention to
the Seventh congressional district of
Tennessee, than any man in Congress.
He is leaving Admiral Schley's coun-
Padgett, looks after the affairs of those
who sent him. He has hurled no dem
agogy at the galleries; he has not
spoken once to Congess. but he has
spoken many times and effectively tC
the heads of departments, about the
only place in Washington where man
can get hold of a rope that is worth
pulling.
He has already found places fol nine
of the boys, who carry the nine
rural delivery routes already estab.
lished in this county, and Uncle San
pays them an aggregate salary of be
tween four and five thousand dollars
a year That much new" money
coming into the county every year, ant
all Of it spent right here at home.
This week he received an Ordel
from the Superintendent of the Rura
Free Delivery, placing Maury county
as a whole under the rural free deliver,
system. There are only ten other Con
gressmen in the United States VIII,
have accomplished that for their dis
tricts. There is only one other Con
gresham in this State Mr.. Brownlow
who has done as much for his district
This order will secure places fo
few more of "the boys, and wi
bring few more thousand dollars c
new money every year into Maur
county
These Jobs for the boys" are wort
1 more to Maury county than hundre
jobs that would take them to Washing
ton or to the Philippines. Jobs ava
from here take men and money ava
r from here, while these jobs brin
money and give employment. at HON,
! Jobs away from here give service an
: conveniences to others; these jobs j.;
a home give service and convenience
r and great service and convenient
: it is-to the people of Maury count.
We are sometimes accused of beir
t Mr.. Padgetts champion. - We a.
e not. We simply decline to believe a
: that his enemies say of him, and pref
! to judge him fairly and impartial
< by the record he has made and
p! making for himself.
; He is doing good work for his distric
q No Congressman has ever done bette