The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-02-13
ABOUT CONGRESS-
MEN.

MEN.
The COMMONWEALTH has time and
again advocated change in our cleo
lions. We contend that our election
are too frequent: and We have many
reasons fol thinking SO but we contlne
the matter for the present to one only.
and that is as it concerns our congress-
Our contention has been that under
oar system OF biennial elections con-
gresham scarcely learns what bis
.l,t,es are before he must commence
t., look after his interes: for new cleo
uon. Thus his mind Is kept on his
own personal affairs much OF his time,
il ha wishes to be reelected-and most
=; them do--and he does not have the
freedom to study the problems OF the
:: .tion and the work of the nationa'
council.
The same principle is we'll discussed
from another view, point lii the follow
ing from the Charlotte Observer:
The Concord Tribune has an excel
lat editorial arguing the wisdom OF
eiectlng good men to Congress and keep
i:.g them there. Banks, it says, do
rot elect new cashiers at every meet
i.g of the stockholders, nor do large
corporations Dust their employees every
ear or two. It cites instances OF
State? which have become influential
in Washington by reason OF the length
ci service o. their Senators and Repres-
entatlves, and points out the mistake
hat North Carolina makes in this
matter. mo man." it says, truly,
::can become great and useful and
measure up to the requirements OF the
office 1t he must spend all his time
trying to hold bis seat instead OF study
ing the questions before the people and
tie needs of the country.
Vance ard Ransom gave us great SER
vice. They were powers in the Senate
AID a credit to the State. Henderson
!, as one of the most useful members
The State ever had In Congressman
| Ahy? He was there long enough to
he Of service, to inform himself"
Our North Carolina people have re.
= ,rded the public service as thing en-
t:rely dlferen: from private employ
mens. For party services, because be
needs the place." or for soma other
reason apart from tha public good they
give man two, or maybe three, terms
il the House, and then, without any
reference to his usefulness, promise OF
usefulness CIR hopeless worthlessness
disp!ace him for another man who II
pat in for the same reason, or similar
one, that he was. Few abdicate willing.
ly; each hopes to make himself an ex-
cepiion to the rule of change; conse-
q.ently he IS running all the time. He
does not secure his first election until
he begins running for the second ; ana
when the second one is accomplished
he straightway begins laying pipe fol-
i::e third term, ana if he succeeds, as
| he rarely ever does, TOR the fourth.
| The result is tina; his mind is constant
Iy fixed upon his individual fortunes
and his efforts objected TO Fronting
hem, and he has 40 time for thought
Of the large public questions to which
it is the duty of :: Congressman to give
study and If lie is bird cf passage
rs our Representatives usually are
serving two Or three terms and then
:cilred, he has no opportunity,
no matter what may be bis
capacity, to form close or valuable
acquaintancesh,ps or to serve bis con.
/ s;ltuency In the many Ways in which
/ Representative can serve it, in bod,
aud in city where so much goes b,
zenioritY.:; -
/ Our people would do themselves .
service If they would mend their, way
in this matter. They would fare much
batter in Washington II, when they
have chosen good Senators, or Repre-
tatiyes, they would hold on to them
Certainly when, as sometimes happens
they elect nobodies, they cannot bow
them out too early.