Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-30

unOuBntleSS cry tnat IL we COukQ only nave
more business men in politics who could
manage public affairs as we manage private
business all would be well. The presence
OF business men in politics cannot be too
earnestly desired, and we have far too few
or them. But the theory that public bust
ness must be conducted like private bust
ness Is dangerous, because 1t is impossible,
and 1t Is impossible for the simple reason
that public business Is not private, but ex-
lists under public conditions
The corollary of the proposition about
managing public business as one would
manage private business Is that the sue
cess1ul business man must be able at once
to conduct public affairs because he has
succeeded in widely different occupations
entirely private and largely or wholly his
own We have all seen many examples of
into public life with loud acclaim and who,
acting on the theory that success in private
business made all further information for
the conduct Of public business needless,
nave passed out Of public life quiet and I'M
remarked wondering very much why they
had failed. The reason really Is not far
to seek. They failed in public life because
they had omitted that qualification which
tney would have said was the primary con-
dition of their private success-because in
q word they had not taken the trouble to
learn their new business, They had been
unable to understand that the conduct of
public business requires education training,
knowledge-in short, that it must be learned
like any other trade. profession or calling.
Mr. McMillan's clear strong sense and
firm grasp of realities made any such de-
lusdve error impossible to him. He set him
SELF to learn the conduct of public affairs
and the merits of public questions as he had
addressed himself to all other problems and
tasks in life. In this frame of mind all his
previous training, all his experience all his
knowledge OF men and affairs became a
powerful aid instead of q hindrance which
checked him or a screen which shut out a
just perception Of the new tasks before him
and the new conditions around him.
A Far-seeing Legislator.
I'm this way he became master both of
the task and the conditions. Thus he rose
to be sound and far-seeing legislator q
trusted counselor and a sagacious adviser,
as moderate as he was wise in judgment
both of men and measure. Indeed his
mastery of his subject and his surroundings
grew to be so complete that although with
an undue modesty he shrank from debate
and from speechmaking, he was thorough
ly able to manage a contested bill and steer
it through all the besetting dangers to the
haven of enactment, a feat appreciated in
this chamber, but involving an amount Of
Skill temper and ability little understood
outside the Capitol. In his own special field
he became an absolute authority, and he
may fairly be said to have governed this
District for many years. With large views
he looked far into the future, and that fu-
ture will count James Mcmillan as among
the chief benefactors of the nations capital
city.
But behind his ability and his industry
so thoroughly shown in his work here and
In its results was a fine character and a
nature at once strong and gentle. Thera
were no secrets in his life, no hidden record
which he feared would leap to life Under
the kindly manner, the genial good nature
and the sympathetic humor was rigid hon
esty in act and purpose, high-mindeG de-
votion to duty and unbending patriotism.
Modest and quiet always he was neverthe-
less ever firm and courageous
Such were his many fine qualities. such
his abilities, such his service and his dis
tinction as a public man who was an
honor to our public life. But there was
yet another side, not that of the public
servant or the able senator immersed in
toll and strife and anxiety, but that Of the
man. He was good friend, loyal, gener-
GUS and helpful. Once admitted to his
friendship. one would willingly have lost
1T. He was too reserved to practice any OF
the arts Of popularity, but few men were
more beloved than he; fewer still Of such
marked ability and decided character were
1t might always be said Of him that he
still in his right hand carried gentle peace
to silence envious tongues
we here make record of his public serv-
ices here today bear testimony to his high
place in the public life of our time and to
his many public virtues. All this Is for
those who come after us, in order that they
may rightly judge. But for ourselves-for
us who knew hin1-the public utterance
which speaks to the world the sincere
words OF respect and praise is not the
deepest feeling of our hearts. We turn
there and find the simple grief, old as man.
kind and, alas, ever new, for a dear friend
who has passed out Of our lives and who
had the unconscious power, better than
much art and many abilities, of winning
and holding, not only the love Of those
nearest him, but the answering affection
of all with whom he strove and labored, or
sorrowed and rejoiced, in the daily round
of life"