The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-07
SERVING PRIVATE INTERESTS.

IefeStS.
Taking this extract from the proceed
ings OF the South Carolina House Of
Representatives as a text, the Columbia
State breaches one of the most timely
and able lay sermons of the new cen
fury. 1t says that Mr. Cosgrove's rea-
son comes like voice from the dim
and half forgotten pasta time in
the history of South Carolina when
such scruples We're freely entertained
and observed when members of the
General Assembly of this State who
sought the respect of their friends and
the trust of their constituents never
voted on Questions in which they had
direct financial interest. But that was
a long time ago
The State calls Mr.. Cosgrove AN old
fashioned legislator and wonders that
his fellow members did not rise up and
laugh at him as a survival of the fossil
age of South Carolina politics" and
adds:
I'VE have changed all that. Instead
of seeking. election to the Legislature
for the honor and the public service
of membership; instead of Withholding
vote lest self-interest direct it; in
stead of spreading on the minutes that
he is to be affected in pocket by the
result and therefore will not be sus-
pected of promoting personal ends with
the power given him by the people,
the legislator of the beginning Of the
twentieth century often, too often,
conducts himself oppositely. He seeks
election for the money there is in it
for the per diem if he is needy and
professional; for the professional
fees and profits there are in it if he is
gentleman of the bar and present
or prospective corporation attorney
He comes to the Legislature not TO rep
resent impartially the will of his con-
stituents of his own clear conception
of the interests of the people, but to
represent some corporation whose at
torney he is or whose attorney he hopes
to make himself by service. He not
only on issues between his corpora
ton and the people who elect him,
votes the wishes of the former but he
devotes himself increasingly to making
other votes for that corporations he
is true representative of an aggrega-
ton of capital. but a false representa-
tive Of the voters who choose him to
voice their will and promote their in
terests.
1--WE do not say that this is the one
type of the professional man who comes
to the capital to make laws and mar
laws in the halls of legislation: but we
say that it is type which is unfortu-
nately all too common and which must
be changed if we are to have the high
est interests OF the public faithfully
served We shall not be so discour-
teous as to assert that in these later
DAYS our legislative bodies are divided
between the foxes and the geese. but
we do affirm that there are too many
of each in each hou9e of the General
Assembly There are professional
members possessing trained intelli-
gence. and professional members whose
devotion to corporation fees does not
take precedence of their devotion to
the public trusts committed to them.
But what determines issues in legis-
lative body is 1.-The balance of power,
and whether that balance OF power De
tipped by foxes or geese, the result is
eually unfortunate.
The condition portrayed 50 powerfully
by the State is getting to be too true
everywhere. not only in Congress where
il is notorious. but as well in State
Legislatures. 1t is cancer that is eat
ing out the best life of the Republic.
How shall this be changed?'' asks the
State. and admits that it is "a hard
problem to settle satisfactorily, and
closes with these observations that
ought to impress every thoughtful man:
Legal brains and skill in active use
are paid by those able to pay for them
( the corDorations-and when the people
make their requisition for such brains
and skill they are likely to be accom-
modated out of the fund already accu-
mulated BY the railroads factories ana
banks. Must they then content them
selves with incompetents? They have
at times done so in the past, but this
is not to be commended as a policy.
The case is a difcult one, and APP
parently it can be solved only by a
|
who are competent to make laws. Ii
| they are not in the Legislature and are
| not trying TO get there they should be
sought out and made TO stand as cam
didates. sacrificing something, though
! they may. in order to serve the pub
! lie If they are in the General Assem-
! bly, the people should scrutinize their
records with great care and determine
from their votes and speeches whether
they will &c to trust with positions OF
such supreme public importance. III
any case just medium should be
sought between the demagogic incon-
! petent ana the shrewd agent of capital
1--WE are not usually pessimistic, hu'
we confess that the prospect of secur-
ing the right sort of Legislature is moi
| inspiring and will not grow better unit
| something like CONSUMPTION is used tc
secure Representatives both capable anc
faithful Mr.. Cosgrove's action has
| given us the text for protest We have
long had III mind against the practice
of promoting purely personal Interests
! by legislative votes We have looked
in vain for able and unselsh service
where moEey interests we're involved
| Analyze. as we may almost any i'm
portant contest in the Legislature ano
we find it a conflict Of selfishness il