The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-08

sends out much more government 'litera-
ture' to his district than is sent out by
the urban congressman. Thousands of
I residents of the great cities do not know
! the number of their district or who their
! congressman is; in the country every
! farmer has more or less of personal
! acquaintance with his congressman most
| ly through the receipt of packages of
| seeds and tariff speeches. The country
| districts, as result of this familiar
I quaintance with their congressman, keep
them in Washington long enough for
them to work up positinons in the legis-
Iative organizations when they have some
power The cities, passing around the
honor as a reward to members of poll
teal machines, are practically not re-
! presented. No man is allowed to remain
{ long enough. even if he has ability and
it must be admitted that in majority of
instances the city member is no match
for his rural colleagues in education
or native talent The best intelligence of
cities is not represented by the men who
are picked out By the politicians TO como
to congress-, while in the rural districts
a nomination is still something OF
prize The salary and allowances seem
more nearly adequate to the rural aspir-
ant for fame than for the successful
urban lawyer or business man. Fnis
under representation of the Greac cities
shows itself when currency reform and
similar issues come TO the front; the
strongholds Of business do not possess the
strongholds of legislation.
In it's columns of political notes one Of
the local newspapers describes a little
trouble that the administration is having
in Oregon. which is so illustrative of an
important tendency of American politics,
that it cannot be too often emphasized.
1t seems that President Roosevelt and
Secretary Hitchcock have looked forward
hopefully to the expiration of the term
of one Bartlett the register of the land
offie at La Grande in Oregon. because
they are not satisfied with his record.
When it came time to appoint his success
sor the two Oregon senators selected
man named Knowles. In looking up his
qualifications. Secretary Hitchcock found
them so lacking and the character OF
his support so questionable. that he re-
fused TO accept the man. President
Roosevelt. acting on the findings of Mr..
Hitchcock. informed the Oregon senators
politely that he could not see his way
clear to appoint Knowles although their
endorsement of some Ctber candidate
whom he could accept would be promptly
honored The Oregon senators were quick
in retortIng that if knowles could not be
appointed they had no one else TO propose
and this still leaves the Objectionable
Bartlett in office The case is awaiting
settlement
The constitution of the United States
provides that the president shall noml-
nate. and by and with the advice and con-
sent of the senate. shall appoint ambas-
sailors. other public ministers and con-
suls judges of the supreme court and all
other officers of the United States, whose
appointments are not herein otherwise
provided for and which shall be establi-
shed by law" The plain intent of these
words is that the president shall select
federal officeholders and that the senate
In its more deliberate way shall pass
upon their fitness, confirming those who
are qualified and rejecting all the others.
The senator in fact. dominates the man
for the federal offices for his states
quota and the president confirms, or toll
crates such of these selections as his
conscience allows.
This Oregon experience is not an I'M
usual one That state is in control of
the Mitchell organization, TO which the
recently elected junior senator belongs.
Mitchell selects one Of his serviceable
lieutenants for register of the land Of
flee at La Grande. The administration
says that it will accept any such appoin-
tee who approxiinates to the standards
which it sets up. The trouble will doubt
less be compromised in this instance
But the president may some time get
tired of holding out against unfit sena-
torial nominations for the federal offices.
even though the reputation of his admin