Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-02-08

ness men Of the country apparently do
not as 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 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-threc members to their
credit, which shows that in sowing agi-
tation Of agrarianism they have reaped
civic honors.
By 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 IN 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 compensating 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, 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 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 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 leaven.
At the bottom of the list a solitary ac-
tor appears upon the stage of action in
the role of Congressman. If 'all the
worlds stage, and 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 a
noble ambition to elevate the stage"
upon which he will strut for a brief ne.
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 asso-
ciatcd with the press. Or course in the
diplomatic and consular service the num-
ber is legion; but Il 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 proprietofs of the Kennebee
Journal, and with all his public cares he
never lost his interest in active journal.
istic work and not only kent closely in
touch with the direction of the papers
policy. but frequently contributed to its
columns.
The late Congressman Nelson Dineley
was editor of the Lewiston (Me.) Jour
nal for many years and was notable ex-
ample Of a man who could be an indefati-
gable public servant and capable news
paper man ut the same time.