Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-22

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nckle thing. It demands that its ia
vorities shall have the pomp and cir
cumstances of greatness, yet it visits
with swift retribution the foolish
onfcial who appears to feel that the
ONCE which the voters gave him ele-
Yates him above them. 1t wishes its
servants to dominate, be firm, run
things themselves and have backbone"
but 1t declaims violently against the
boss In politics. It delights in success.
nut delights also In pulling down the
mighty from their seats. 1t condemns
the corruption which debases the voter,
but stands loyalty by the man who is
responsible for political immortality IL
he thereby serves the ends 1t wishes to
see attained. The personal relations Of
the newly elected official in the days
Following his election brings out all
these traits. People fiatter him, and
pick trifiing flaws in his conduct. They
wish him to succeed and rise to greater
heights, but the people Of the home
precinct are almost proverbially hard
70 please and often turn against a man
without apparent cause while the
whole country is ready to honor his
fearless and able course. It's the old
story OF the prophet without honor"
There Is delight, too, apparently. in
showing the newly elected man that
mis- neighbors are in no way awed by
MS rise to power, and there is an un-
conscious emphasis upon the familiar
names they have called him by when
they now address him. There shall
be no political aristocracy in this
neighborhood," they tell him more
plainly than in words.
The preparations for the winter are
quite sure to include at Least visit of
the family to the capital The wife
and near relatives delight in the pro-
spect of social advantages and the
meeting with well-known officials on a
plane of social equality. They may
learn later that political society is of
all society the most unsatisfactory.
that politicians are little inclined to
bring their families into very close
relations with those of other politicians.
that the exclusive circles are not en-
tered merely by presenting a certificate
of election, and that even governors
and Presidents have knocked in vain
at the front doors of the real social
leaders Of the State and nation. But to
the officer-elect the present is full of
social promise and the future seems
secure. Boarding house keepers begin
sending letters describing rooms and
board which are quite expensive
enough to prove satisfactory. Even
some of the most conservative hotels
send Identified appounoo,r,oct, 80 sAa:,
existence and location. All are dispro-
portionately high in their charges, for
the session is the harvest time for
those who serve this changing army of
the parties and they are ready to profit
by the golden stream that flows toward
the pockets of all who sit in the seats
of the mighty.
With these letters come copies Of bills
which enthusiastic reformers are
spending time and money to get before
the Legislature. Marked copies of
newspapers begin to arrive, some care
full lobbyists seeking to get a hearing
in advance of their opponents. Letters
come from prominent party leaders in
the State requesting interviews before
definite decision is reached upon
some bill or appointment. The profess
sional parasite of candidates appears
with his bill, which he declares is rea-
sonable and just, for services, unin-
vited indeed but vitality necessary, to
success, and a few members of the
party drop in for a friendly chat upon
coming events. The local Office seeker
Is always on hand. A minor position
at the capitol will do nicely; il he can
not have the seven-thousand-a-y
made dOor-keeper or messenger. The
humble woman or man, seeking pardon
for some relative in the reformatory, is
quite certain to add an element of sad
ness to thoughts Of the position.
On the street the weak jokes con-
corning political wrongdoing are con-
stantly cracked. He is assured that he
will be rich in short time and hidden
to be as honest as he can, since no Of
flee holder is really upright. Church
subscription papers from all denOmina-
tiOns are brought to his door, and con-
tributions for the military company.
the firemen's ball, the labor union
dance and the private charity of neigh
bors must be given in a generous spirit.
In the midst of these comes the sOlv-
ing of few ethical problems. Free
use of telephones, telegraphs, street
cars, railroad trains, sleeping cars, and
even gas and electric lights are among
the things sometimes offered to the
successful candidate. Stock in mining
companies, oil-well enterprises. build.
ing and loan associations. water COM
panies, and other ventures, having
usually paper capital and paper as
sets, are rendered in change for the
use of name or influence.
Soon the few weeks of waiting are
past. The rising statesman quietly
starts on the journey he will never for
get, the trip to the capital as a repre-
sentative of the people. His past life
seems to drop behind him as the train
rolls on. Into a whirling storm Of OPP
posing forces he is to go and upon
trifles light as air and resolutions and
endurance that try the last fibre of his
nature will the result depend. He goes
like a prince to his palace and arrives
to find himself mere atom amid hum
dreds. He finds his hotel filled with a
crowd who talk little that is interesting
to a normal mind and drink a great
deal of liquor without perceptible in
convenience. He sees that the Satan