The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-16
Congressman Scott Talks of a
Seat in Congress.
Attractiveness Has Increased
Ten Fold in Few Years.
IS INTERESTING.
Questions Before Lawmakers of
Momentous Importance.
Now a Position of Power and
Responsibility.

washington, Jan. 15.-Representative
Charles f Scott thinks that the at
Effectiveness of a seat in congress has
increased ten-fold during the last few
years. or since the United States be
came a world power. So long as con-
gress dealt only with questions Of a
domestic nature, a seat in the house OF
representative did not particularly ap-
peal to him, but since the country has
started upon a world career with
world interests, he thinks the privilege
of serving in the national legislature is
a very great one
Il find the service here exceedingly
tnteresting," said this Kansas editor
today much more so indeed than I
expected 1 would before I came here.
Ny only legislative experience prior to
my election to congress had been as a
member of the Kansas senate, and
had found SO little to interest me in
that work, and so many tedious hours,
that 1 was really reluctant 10 come
here, fearing that this work would be
lust as much more tireSOme as 1t would
be longer and more continuous. This
anticipation, however, has not been IN
the least degree realized. In the first
place, it is interesting to meet and be-
come acquainted with representative
men from every state and territory IN
the Union. 1 do not know any other
way by which one may inform hlm-
self so fully and so accurately touch
ing the industrial development, the
business interests and the public senti-
rnent Of all parts Of the country as by
conversation with the men who are
personally familiar with all these mat
ters.
IN the second place. and chiefly, the
questions which come before congress
in these days are of such vast and
momentOus importance that any man
with a taste for public affairs may We'll
count 1t a high privilege to have part
in their determination. snail De Sldd
as long as I live, for example, that L
was a member of the congress which
framed a code of laws for the people of
the Philippine islands. Ten millions OIL
people and their descendants doubtless
to the most remote generations will be
governed by these laws in substantial
" the form into which they were ham
mered by the Fifty-seventh congress,
and it is certainly a great thing to
have had even a small part in shaping
the destinies of a race. I speak OF this
particular matter because it marks an
epoch in the history of our country
And we are likely to have good many
questions, if not of the same character,
vet certainly approaching an equal de-
gree of Importance.
Il presume that membership in con
gress has always been interesting, but
it certainly must be much more so now
by reason of the prominence as a world
power into which the United States ha:
been thrust by the events of the las
six years. For this parliament has tt
consider hencefOrth, not only the effec
of it's enactments upon this government
and its people, but to greater or les;
degree upon every other civilized ma
ton on the face of the globe. An i'm
mediate illustration of this is found il
he Ipc-feIo f0rlrr if9e 0f1f IF ba Dan
anna question, for all the great power
have a stake almost equal to our owl
in the result of whatever action w
may take touching affairs in the 18th
mus. On the other hand, we are watch
ing with an interest certainly as acut
as that Of any power except the TIVE
Immediately concerned the issue of tn
negotiations now pending between Rus
STA and Japan. Just at this moment
seems possible that war may be avert
ed. but whether it is or not, the United
States cannot regard with indifference
what is transpiring in the far east.
is no secret that a great many of on
statesmen are regarding with consider
able uneaslness what appears to be
deliberate violation by Russia of tn
rights which we have secured in Man
churia by virtue of our treaties witt
China, and it is certainly not beyon,
the bounds of possibility that the con
gress of the United States may hav
occasion before long to discuss tn
question as to what we are going to d
ABOUT 1t. As long as such DOSSibiIjtie
are impending-and that means prac
dcally as long as the United State
maintains the rank which it now hold
as great world power-to be a mem
Der OF either house of this congress
will furnish not only a most absorbin
entertainment but will be at the sam
time position of power and responsi
biity which any American citizen ma
Well feel hOnored to hold"
How
are dead was aptly Illustrated at tn
White House reception the other night.
said Victor Murdoch. the Wichita cor
gresham, in conversation with som
Irlenu me other day. I've were in tn
long line which was filing mast III
president, at the rate of one step abor
every fifteen minutes, when somebody
attention was attracted to one of tn