Evening star., 1902-08-18
Mercer of Nebraska.

| There is bad feeling between Representa-
| tive Mercer of Nebraska and the Omaha
| Bee, published in his district. Although
| both the representative and the newspaper
are republican in politics the latter is en-
| gagged at present in bitter fight against
| the formers reelection to Congress. In
testimony whereof the Bee the other day
| published this paragraph
''No one blames the people of Washington
| for exhibiting anxiety to have Mercer kept
| in Congress perpetually. He lives in WASH
| ington and has all of his interests there.
| He represents the people of the national
| capital as if he were elected by them. But
| why should the District of Columbia die
| tate to the second Nebraska district whom
| 1t should select it's representative in the
| lower house of Congress?'
| The fact that man serves the District of
| Columbia we'll in Congress is no good rea-
| son for unpopuarity at home. He is sent
| here not merely as the member from a GER
| tain district in certain state, to legislate
| exclusively for that district that state,
| but as member of the national Congress, to
| legislate for the whole country and incident
| ally to serve as a member of the body
| which is given, by the Constitution, lex
| elusive Jurisdiction" over the ten miles
square chosen by the government as a capt.
tai. So every representative or senator as
sumes as part of his duty a fraction of an
interest in the welfare Of the District, and
1t is the Districts good fortune that among
the men in Congress who have shown the
deepest concern in local affairs, in thecourse
of their legislative work. are those who
have stood highest in the national ranks
No Michigan man ever demurred because
Senator Mcmillan was devoting his time
largely to the development of Washington
Rather did Michigan take pride in the fact
that its senior senator was engaged Incl
dentally in such a patriotic, lasting work
No Wisconsin voter feels his interests neg
| lected or in the least degree placed in jeop-
ardy because Representative Babcock of
that state serves Zealously and well as
chairman Of the House District committee
Iowa does not question the activity in Dis
trct legislation OF Mr.. Allison or Mr.. Hep
burn, nor New Hampshire that of Mr. Gal
linger, nor Missouri that Of Mr.. Cowherd.
Mr.. MERGERS interest in the District is
even more broadly national than that of
some others of his colleagues in District
legislation. He is as well chairman of the
committee on public buildings, a body which
has to do with the business of providing the
government with proper outfit Naturally
| there is other single city where this
work centers so largely as Washingto on.
And quite as naturally Mr.. Mercer, being q
| diligent worker, attentive to details and
eager for results, eXertS himself to the ut
| most to secure appropriations for the CAPT
| tai, where they are needed so badly. He Is
| serving the whole people, however. when he
| aids in the process of bringing the public
| building equipment more nearly up to date.
| Nebraska benefits with other states when
ever new public building Is erected in any
| city, and especially when one of the great
| gaps in the governments garb here at
! Washington is filled.
The District has made no moves which
SAVIOR of a dictation of Mr.. MERGERS return
| l. has naturally expressed its appreciation
| of his services. 1t would be more than
| pleased TO him return. 1t will benefit
| more largely, and the country with it, from
| the services of an experienced man than
| from those of a newcomer, who must ac-
| quire the true perspective which only sew
| eral years of service can give to the legis-
! lator. 1t is always distinctly in favor of
| the retention in the field of usefulness of
any member of Congress, republican or
democrat, who has proved it's friend in the
course of his work a member of either
House or Senate.