Arizona daily citizen., 1901-06-11
SENATOR DEPEW ON OFFICE
HOLDING.

Senator Depew, of New York, gave
the students of the University of Penn
syfvania some sound advice on the sub
isct of officeholding in an address deliv
cred at that institution a week ago to-
day. The Senator began life in ar
humble way. He was young man o.
brains, industry and grit, and by shee,
force of ability worked his way up to the
top OF the ladder. He is, therefore, well
equipped to act as counselor for young
men who are about to start life. The
advice which he gave to the students oil
Pennsylvania University in his Phila-
de!phia address was eminently practi
cal, and it has the additional virtue Of
emanating from a man who has prac.
ticed what he breaches.
When Senator Depew left college after
graduating he had, to quote his own Ian.
guage, emo money. no friends who were
able TO assist him, and the world looked
eingularly dark and unpromising." He
determined to seek Government employ
ment and went to Washington to ask for
clerkship in one of the departments.
A Cabinet Minister to whom he applied
offered to obtain a position for him, but
added, "lf ] do, your career is closed"
Then this Cabinet Minister told him
what would probably be the affect of
ofiiceholding upon young man. "You
will" he said, "become more and more
dependent upon your salary; you will
more and more lose initiative, and more
and more fear to let go the certainty you
have until your energy and ambition
win be sapped so that you can never be
anything but Government employe."
Mr. Depew had good Judgment even at
this early period in his life. He decided
mot to become an officeholder, but to
make his way through life by his own
efforts. He secured employment as a
teacher at q modest remuneration,
studied law In his leisure moments, went
through the preliminary stages of his
professional career, as many other young
men have done, with few clients, small
pay and many privations, but in the
end achieved extraordinary success.
Such q man is an adviser whom all
yonng men can respect and trust. Mr..
Depew believes that II he had accepted
. cierkship he would be to this day. un.
less be had been removed for political
reasons, q clerk in the Treasury Depart
ment. Instead OF that he endured pri-
vation for time, achieved success as a
lawyer, became railroad president, and
Il now rounding ont his career as United
States Senator because he can afford to
hold Office, having made a fortune and
being In no way dependent upon office.
holding, Mr.. Depew maintains that
every man, young or old, should be
apolitici@n" in the sense OF taking an
inteeeat in public affairs. But, he says.
Tho greatast misfortune that can happen
q y young map who has only character
And education and no capital is to ac-
eept Office. The position may seem to
IN m attractive one, and its rewards
iaseer u the beginning than those which
c0ms from regular employment in pri-
sGis cApacity. But. as an offset, there
y asither permanency, despite civil SER
- fegulations nor is advancement
lssd soleiy upon merit. The young
nnan Who starts lie as an officeholder
aftsr years Of service, find himself
&isnaiGssd npon some pretext. His dnt-
~ hAve united him, as the New York
EenAt0x says, III enter the race for liy-
fnr ecaase he has not the trained abil-
ll nscsesasy ior success In any OF the
I'm cIassas Of life. "My sad
ssiencss,, says the Senator,
81 orink 30 thirty years in which
esn pfactically In public life,
n IN iii once, have been to try
osns Ianding piace for men Of
hllity md nsefulnsss whom some
Il oyItacs hays thrown out at q
glSeir Ave- wtsn nothing can
@ ri thsii u do.''
n psnmised his hearers q
= q east tall I, I, md. judging by
sxtlxsts from his address,
q ss esrsied o1t hin promise
~ hs sesson 81 the year is
thousands ofyoung
T. Y \ W. their studies III the
M universities Ia this |
them have not pre-
. M : profession 81 for
oibly sorns 81 them
NV holdink III q tempor-
ls ! lIyine, Once III
Il 4 IA ~ VI NJ tsnptsd to