Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-17
OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW
Mrit,en for tho Times Ropubllca

There is a rather curious condition
in this worlds affairs, that is shown
by the prominence certain men and
women acquire, this is all the more no.
] ticeable when one has personal ac-
quaintance, with these prominent in
dividuals. Perhaps as good an Illus
tration in congressional circles as can
be mentioned is that of Senator Mason,
/ familiarly known as Bill. No man sue
ceeds in keeping himself before the
public to a great extent, than Billy
Mason" Probably no man, ii we are
to believe those familiar with affairs in
! Washington, has more friends, personal
| friends than Billy Mason. And yet
what does Billy" amount to? We are
| told that in one county in Illinois, the
republican are going to work hard for
his denomination. Why is it that this
very ordinary man is enabled to secure
the peIs onal admiration and political
! friendship of so many hard headed
! business. They must know the man.
They must realize that Illinois has 3d.
600 more capable public men than Billy.
and yet there is more than an even
i chance of his denomination. All this is
written without malice. Billy is only a
| type for this scribe.
| Now to get closer. Probably there is
! in your town neighbor a newspaper
/ man, that is as much of mystery to
you. How he ever got started, why he
hasn't been squelched, why the COM
munity patronizes him, and more
strange why he has so much political
| influence is a conundrum.i Or take. the
case of Preacher Emptyhead. Why
do the good people of Saxhorne pay
him $500 year and free use of a
parsonage, when you know, and they
know, better mentally equipped men
are preaching for 5000. There's Or.
| Sawbones you wouldn't have him to
doctor a sick cat" But just the same
the doctor has a big practice. and is
called into consultation with physi-
he does And yet the public or your
self are very much deceived in the
man.
/ And you've noticed the case of Law
yer Code. He is actually making more
money than some lawyers who have
twice the amount of his legal knowl-
edge and ability. He's bully with
witnesses, a coward before his equals,
has an unsavory reputation personally
and none at all In the matter of hon.
esty. Still he's getting there and is
talking of himself for judge. Probably
will be elected in the near future.
Doctor lawyer, merchant, prince
Surely the merchant lives in your town,
who is a mystery to his customers and
the travelling man. Has been burned
OUT twice, has failed three times. has
even now to pay cash before he can get
any goods. But isn't he doing business
Hasn't he a big trade? Do any of the
good Christian people of your town re-
| fuse to trade, with Lazarson when they
can buy half pound more of sugar
| for a dollar.
The writer is almost sorry he used
the name of Senator Mason as the OBJ
lject lesson, for in Billy there is no
guile. His worst enemies never accuse
| him Of anything worse than common-
placenesss. Some of the other allu-
sions include men, with traits of ras-
| cality. Why do such men succeed, is
the question. Simply because of their
cheek, their effrontery. There's al
ways some at the top" So there, and
ways some at the top" So there is and
and crowds the others off the ladder.
Human nature on the average appar-
entity likes to be bullied. Or else the
really capable are too indolent to fight
such men with their own weapons. But
remarks some one, water finds it's level.
1t is only temporary success that
crowns the efforts of this pushing,
bullying, crowding kind of "a citizen. In
the long run. true merit is appreciated
and rewarded. True If the "long run
exceeds the ordinary life of man. But
the species perpetuates itself. This
class, this kind of men, will be found
clowding to the front in a hundred
years from now, as they were a hun
dred years ago. They will be found
crowding your Sahildrens children off
the sidewalks. Their slogan will be
then as now, Nothing succeeds like
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