St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-07-26
DUTY OF THE PEOPLE
They Should Look Closely Into Rec
ords of Congressman.
In No other Way Can the Nation Sc
cure an Absolutely Pure and
Equitable Administration
of Public Affairs.
Especial Washington Letter.

Especial washington LetleI.J
THE people of this government are
proud of their government, but
they know very little about it.
The public schools ought to give IN
structions concerning municipal, coun-
tv. state and federal governments. AS
it is, even the school teachers them
selves know very little concerning the
government; and not more than one
tenth of them could even tell you how
member of the national senate is
elected.
Not only are the people in compare
tive ignorance about their govern
ment; but, strange as it may SEEM
the average member OF the mouse OF
representatives knows very little ABOUT
national legislation. The people are
careless, and. to be plain about 1T, they
are shamefully careless, about the Sc
lection of their congressman and other
office holders. On this account the
government for many years has been
partly in the hands Of politicians who
care nothing for the people. but seek
only their own glory and enrichment.
In your own congressional district
YOU do not know 20 men who are per-
sonally acquainted with your member
of congress, unless you happen TO
mingle with politicians, and the aver
age readers of newspapers will not be
found mixing with politicians. In gov
eminent of the people, by the people
and for the people every citizen ought
to know all about his government. and
all bout the man or men who seek Off
cial position. If every citizen would
take such an interest in public affairs
as he ought to do our government
would be purer, and it would be more
economical. The people have no idea
how many millions of dollars are taken
from them in taxation and expended
recklessly. 1t is their own fault when
they are over-governed, because they
are unmindful of their duty to them
selves. by being careless concerning the
details of government.
When you hear man making
fervid stump speech on the questions
of the day. just bear in mind that the
average public speaker is looking for
dupes. and that he wants you to be
one of his victims. He is making
speeches, not for his health, nor solely
for the good of his country. He is do
ing it for his own benefit, and he ex-
poets you to support him on account
of his gift of Cab" That will be
new way of looking at it, to some read
ers; but it is a gospel truth. The
writer has been associated with poll
ticians for more than quarter of
century. and as the years have gone
gliding into history his regard for pro-
fessional politicians has grown less and
less; because of increasing acquaint-
ance with their motives and their man.
ner of living.
When you elect member of congress
you give him a position paying $4,000
year, for two years. Naturally, you
expect him to work hard for that big
salary. but the average congressman
does not work at all. The government
gives him private secretary, with
salary of 500 month; and the pri-
vate secretary does all of the neces-
sary work. The congressman signs
letters to his constituents which the
Driyate secretary has written and tina