The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-04-11
! Congressman 5
influence.
Il Grows ii Proportion . His Length
Of Service.

4 z
washington Evening Star.
Is certainly astonsshing,r re-
Haarkeda member Of the House Of
Representatives, '.howIblind to their
own interests are the constituencies
! ot some representatives. This fact IS
especially borne in upon me about
this time OF the year, when ncmina-
tlonsior the next congress arc being
made.
A congressional representative Is OF
value 10 his constituents in just the
proportion that he can be useful to
them and serve their interests. The
powsrof being useful consist Of these
things; Ability to secure legislation
AFFECTING the local needs OF the people
az his district or section; ability TO
secure department rulings affecting
his constituents and their interests;
ability to secure patronage for his
people from whatever source IL may
Axlst.
ssAiter all, those are THE chief ends
ana aims Of representative. 1t is
assumed that he is patriotic and work
ing for the welfare Of the whole coun-
try, but in these days when there are
So many conflicting interests in legis-
lation,h main duty isto the people
Who elect him. He is public servant,
literally.
"Now the representatives. ability
to dothe things set forth above de-
ponds upon the influence obtained by
long service in Congress. When he
c0mesto congress his abilities will Sc
secure place for him in the line of pro-
motion, but in order to reach the goal
where he can be Of use to his people
he must be retained in his seat.
"Toillustrate, John Doe is elected
TO congress; he is man OF importance
in his section; he lives in the big
white house on the hill and is the
finest lawyer in the county. Perhaps
he has served in the legislature and is
known even in the next district.
Whenhe reaches Washington he finds
he is one Of 357 Others, most OF them
his equal and many of them his super
ior In the qualities which have brought
success in politics.
"Mr. Doe is ambitious TO 60 In the
most influential committee. He wants
to break into national legislation right
away But there are others before
him whose claims must be considered,
men who have been serving for years
in congress, who commenced at the
foot Of the committee list and have
gradually moved up as vacancies oc-
CURED.
$50 whe,, the speaker announces
his appointments, Mr.. Doe finds him
self at the bottom of the list on a
number OF unimpo, tant committees.
He is lucky II he gets on
even afourth rate committee. and no
kind Of chance will heget on first
class committee.
III his constituents are wise, how
ever, and keep him in congress, as
suming, OF course, that he is efficient
and Industrious, within Two or three
terms he will find himself near the top
OF the list. That is because. so many
men are turned but Of congress at the
end Of every session, failing OF re-
nomination by their constituents.
Ultimately. Mr.. Doe finds himself
near the head Of appropriations, Of
ways and means, OF rivers and har-
bors, Of public buildings aud grounds,
Of judiciary claims, or Indian affairs.
or military affairs, or whatever COM
mittee is most closely identified with
his peoples affairs.
Next he becomes chairman. Then
he b, gins to WELD some influence liz
Washington. Heads Of the executive
departments discover that he is On
earth. He has the run Of the White
House and sees his name mentioned
In important conferences OF the rul-
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