Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-02-06
Law We 9
PURSUITS IN CONGRESS.

ness men of the country apparently d,
not as a rule seek political honor, or IL
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 a business man. The
class designated as business men include
manufacturers, merchants, railroad zen,
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 % tneir
credit, which shows that in SOW ing agi-
tation OF agrarianism they hay, ped
civic honors.
BY a singular, and not altogether log
ical coincidence, the bankers and the
journalists 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 inolders OF public opin-
ion stand on an equality. But there is
kind Of compensating justice in the dis
tinetion conferred upon journalists. Jour
nalists have made SO many public men
men should be made OF journalists. One
of the most noted of tho journalists in
the House, a mau who is really a 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 newspaper.
4 long distance behind the journalists
AMI bankers come the eight politicians nj
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 be enough to give the lump the neces-
sary religious lcaven.
At the bottom Of the list q solitary ac-
tor appears upon the stage OF action in
the role of a Congressman. If all the
worlds stage, aud men and women are
but actors on il the foregoing classif-
cation Of pursuits may be wrong, but
only ope member Of Congress consents to
be designated solely as member Of the
this solitary representative is fired by a
noble ambition 10 elevate the stage"
upon which he will strut for n BRIEF Pc
riod.
Returning to the journalistic class il 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 IL legion; but fair proportion Of our
national elective Offices have been filed
By men who have devoted considerable
attention to journalism.
Senator Joseph Hawley Of Connecticut
Is one Of the proprietors and editors OF
the Hartford C0urant and wields IA
ellie and powerful pen, and no small part
of the political influence Of the popular
Senator is welded through his newspa.
, per
The list Of journal site public men
might be extended to iGslude many n0ta.
bic names. for 10 these days the power OF
the press il 50 fuliy recognized that very
many statesmen and politicians are eager
TO associate themselves with the editS.
rial management Of newspaT ers Yet il
Is a significant fact that me- who are
editors il the broad sense rarely fill cleo
tive offices. For one thing these men
have neither time nor inclination 10 push
their personal fortunes iii the political
field. finding more congeuial work In the
editorial harness. and prefeYring the ex-
/ ercige Of the power Of making and un-
making other mems regulations 20 the
| loss Of prestige involved in surrender Of
1 the impersonai power in order 10 achieve
/ personal political ambition. A second
reason for the editors lack ~ popular
support for office is that he makes too
many enemies. IL he is live editor with
opinions and fearlessuess in expressing
them be sntagonizes powerful influences
without making himself solid with the
| voters.