The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-03-16
LAURENs. $. c.. Mar. 10, 1904.
About LEGISLATORS.


Is a lawyer fit to be a member of the
South Carolina Legislature? We ask
this ques ion because once i'm q while
some man seriously suggests that law
yers should not be allowed to particip-
ate In making laws. There are a few
excellent p:ople left, even in Laurens
county, who are suspicious of lawyers.
There are very few, which speaks
well for the general average OF the
county's common sense.
The ADVERTISER Is Indifferent
whether the legislature be made up Of
bankers, mill hands, doctors, preach
ers, farmers or printers, provided they
be men of intelligence and honesty.
What Laurens needs to dodge is in
capables. We should avoid choosing
men solely because they are good aud
nice. Neither should they be picked
merely because they have brains. A
mixture OF ~common-sense, training to
do things well and common honesty is
what the country wantsin Legislators
and what the State wants.
Concerning lawyers, IA years OF ex-
perience In running a newspaper in
Laurens tells us that lawyers are better
average payers OF debts than any other
profession or calling except bankers.
we further observe that no lawyers
have made fortunes in this town and
that most of them are comparatively
poor. We know of farmers in this
county who have made twice as much
In the same tina as the most successful
lawyer here has made.
When a successful lawyer of standing
asks to go to the legislature, the people
should be thankful. If the people elect
him, he is under no obligations to
them, farther than to do his duty. The
balance is on the other side. When a
good lawyer, trained and educated and
honest as the average man, goes to the
Legislature he must d. SO at a consid-
cradle sacrifice to his business inter-
ests. This is true of other men as we'll
as lawvers but more especially of law
yer5. When q first class man OF any
profession or business offers FIR a legis-
Iative office, the voter wh) thinks he
is cocferring a great favor by putting
In q ballot for him is u fool. The OBJ
legation is on the part OF the candi-
date who gives the voter the chance to
favor himself. Lawyers are fitted for
law-making. The legislature would bs
an unwieldy and helpless body without
them.
The trouble with the country is that
the best lawyers, best farmers and best
business men will not ''run for the Leg
~islature." Take for example, an ex-
ceptiona'ly able, practical and schol-
arly newspaper man, such as William
d.. Wallace of Newbsrry. Does he want
to trot over Newberry county with the
manner of a man begging somebo 1y to
do him ftvors in order to go to the leg
lslature? The position he ho DIS, hat
OF q newspaper man OF recognized
ability and influence, Is NOR. de irable
than that of state senator from New
berry. 1t is really a bigger position
than any state office below the govern
orship and to hold a state office might
make him a smaller man than he is.
Nth the exception of the great lead
,crs OF congress, the editorshtp Of a
Newspaper of general circulation and
Importance is distinctly a higher posi-
Won In every way than membership in
hat body. W. merely mention these
sames iTf ely. The same thing
H6
30 as to the hes. men in
ons. The people are
strong, able AID honest
to serve them. Few such