The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-21
Congressional Letter Writing.

How far may a congressman go In
using his official privileges for political
ends?
This question in political ethics has
been raised to trouble some OF our
Minnesota members. It may be some
thing Of an issue in the second district
where several newspapers have been
criticising Congressman McCleary's
personal letter" campaigning.
II. J. Miller, editor Of the Luverne
Herald, has taken it up in a vigorous
editorial. He holds that a congress-
mans time is paid for by the public,
and should be devoted to serving his
constituents. Further, says Mr.. Mil
Ter, he should not use the services of a
secretary paid by the government, and
burden the mails at public expense,
"for the double purpose Of deceiving
the voter and thereby entrenching
himself more securely in the conf
dence of the public"
Mr.. Miller is a prospective candi-
date for congress himself, and the ar
ticle indicates line of attack which
he may employ against the present
t1ce he complains Of has done much to
make Mr.. McCleary's name house
hold word In his district, and has
given him an advantage In a primary
election contest, SO it is natural that
the congressman's rival should object
to it.
Mr.. Miller takes advanced ground,
perhaps, but he gives us something
worth thinking about. Many abuses
have grown up in our public service
by general tolerance. Some Of them,
clearly illegal, have been abolished by
the antigraft movements Of the past
year. Others have all the sanction OF
law, but our quickened public con-
science has begun to question their
morality.
Law and custom have given con-
gressmen certain privileges, on the
ground that they will add to his use
fulness. He distributes garden seeds
and speeches, and also government
publications of interest and value. His
personal letters are carried free, or
the supposition that they relate tc
public business. A moderate use o.
these privileges cannot be complained
Of. It is when their use is multiplied
and constituents are flooded with let
ters and favors of various kinds, tina
the practice takes on political look
1t Is very hard to draw the line be
tween proper and improper uses, blu
1t is for the congressman himself t.
draw the line, in the first place. If h
right to protest.
It is not such q bad idea for tn
congressman to write to his constit
uents, even If he does it sometimes 70
selfish motives, and has to make occa
sions for his letters. No representa-
tive can get too close to the people fo
whom he votes and works. The ten
dency is the other way. In the Wash
ington atmosphere a member is apt
forget the point Of view taken by tn
voters at home, and to get out {
touch with them. If a personal lette
campaign brings him closer to til
people, so much the better. But tn
letter writing should not be all frol
Washington. The constituent ougl
to answer his congressman's letter
and tell him what he thinks of GU
rent questions. If he disagrees wit
his representative, he can take the OF
portunity to say so. If the man
home wantsfree lumber, tariff revisio
reciprocity, land law. reform, or h;
decisive views on such questions,
ought to give the member at Wasl
ington the benefit Of them. No dou
most congressman would be glad
get such light on home sentiment.
Letter writing can be carried to e
tremes, and no doubt has been in son
cases. 1t is hardly worth while for
congressman to write his constituent
mere compliments Of the day. AS
rule, tho, the voter can tell when he
being worked, and it will not har
either the congressman or the consti
uent to correspond.
The Globe and the governor do not SET