The age-herald., 1902-04-27
JUDGE MEN BY WHAT
 THEY ACCOMPLISH

he will repay"
 We arc told in Holy Writ, and ft is equally true of the politician, for in these days of advanced scientific methods and great intelligence among the mass es. the people judge mar by the re- suits he acconplishes and not by what he professes or what he promises to do. We people have been fed on barren and empty promises so lcng that we cannot be deceived by the alluring olap-trap of the demagogne or tho entertaining prom ises of the willy and designing politician 1 A mans footprints in the sand of time" | must be made upon merit and real gen uine worth. the more in these days than in those through we have just passed in Alabama, and we lcok more to deeds than 70 professions Of those who are honored with public station. A mans success In his own business affairs has been found to be the safest criterion in the selection of a public servant, for it is an old and trite saying that "a man l who cannot manage bis own affairs Is not fit to transact the public business" Ard upon that standard the people are going to judge those who are in public l office.
 These reflections are suggested by the l osreer of the young and able representa- tive from the Fifth Congre ssional Dis l trict of Alabama, the Hon. Chas W. 1 Thompson, Of Macon. With only short record as politician. having served one | term in the State Senate. he has come up | to tho full met sure of the expectations | of his friends, Gnd from December to the present lime has grown upon the coun- l try and his constituents and has proved | fal of xuIsi iall 6kai Ia l derful grasp of the duties of the position l and the remarkable tact and judgment be mas displayed In the midst of giants | has marked him as me man of all others for the place and he has surprised and
 delighted his most ranguinc admirers
 and challenged the admiration of his most ardent opponents Before Congress met last December he had found time in
 the midst of his large and n1ultitudinous business cares and pressing demands to
 acquaint himself with the needs and | wishes of his constituents, to inform himself upon the most important and | pressing affairs of state, and when he went to Washington to take his seat in Congress, he vas thoroughly equipped and ready for the fray, and from that day to this he has not ceased or rested in bis fixed purpose and well defined de- | termination to secure for his people 1 these things that would do the most | good and aid the mo st in the material progress and development of tho section which he most loved and was devoted to with all the fervor and ardor of an ac- l tive and vigorous young manhood. In l the short time since Congress convened 1 he has kept good every promise made in | the canvass for his nomination and has | made a record of which he has cause to be proud and for which his people are show ering upon him the plaudits. well done. thou good and faithful ser vant'' Of his record. he invites the most scrutinizirg criticism and upon it he is willing to stand or fall. Uron the result he is sure to stand for he has ac- complsned In a short time much more than any other representative from Ala bama or any other State.
 Although being without experience in the National Legislature, his abilities were at onoe recognized and he was placed upon the Committee on War Claims and Expenditures in the Navy De- partment, and the manner in which he has discharged his duties has excited | Inc praise of his colleagues in these | Committees and attracted the attention | of the whole House and of the country He has given his whole time and atten-
 tien to the public business and has at-
 tended every committee meeting and
 voted upon every question of import
 
 acted upon, and in the halls of leglsla-
 tion righteous and wise counsel has fol- | lowed in his wake, and with bright in- | tellect and absorbent mind, thoughts diamond pointed, thoughts In all his
 words and wisdom in his thoughts-as he grows in service he increases in knowl- edge and grows in usefulness, and has quickly developed into one of the fore | most national legislators. He readily gresps the questions at issue-salNes his | thirst for surrounding greatness and has developed into one of the first and fore most members on the floor of the House | MT. Thompson has been an active, ag- l gressive business Representative from the start and the metnodical and sys- temattc rules which have governed him in his own business have been adopted in his intercourse and communication with his constituents, and he not only answers promptly Ill letters of inquiry. but does his utmost to grant every req sonable request, and while not engaged in the House is at work in the different departments looking after the affairs of his people. It Is sad of General Wheeler that he was the agent of every citizen in his district, and so it may be said of Colonel 1'hompson-he devotes his whole time to his constituents and no request Is too small or insignificant to receive bis zealous and energetic attention.
 The question of a free rural delivery postal system. ip his district has received bis most earnest and careful study and 1 he has become convinced that it will prove Of great benefit to the great rssses of the people of the rural dis triot. He has already succeeded in se- curing ten routes which will be put on at once and he hopes to get fifty more before this session Of Congress ends. This will bring the malls daily to the | homes of the 1armer and will not only | be great convent snce but a great time | saver. The inauguration of free deliv- | cry in the Fifth District will prove an innovation but no surprise to the people | who know and appreciate the indefati- | gatle energy and Intiring persistency of their member of Congress. His speech | on the free delivery of mails in the rural | districts shows much research and great l familiarity with the subject and was not | cnly attentively listened to, but ire quently applauded by his colleagues. and msBy of them have come to consider the question and will go to work at once | to secure 1t for their constituents: thus Colonel Thompson has not only succeed ed in doing great benefit to his people. but indiI ectly to the masses in other | sections. When the farmers of the Fifth district get their mail delivered nf fhAtr