Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-04-21
a Washington Letter.
Washington, d. c., April IS, 1904


Mr.. Editor: -
At this distance il would appear
that while there may be some conten-
ton in the republican convention that
couvenes in Sioux Falls on the 18th OF
next month as to who should be selected
10 occupy the gubernatorial chair for
rhe ensuing two years, no disposition is
manifest TO wage war upon the present
members of congrs SIS. This condition
is certainly gratifying to your cores
pondenr, and l belive must be to every
one who is familiar with conditions
here and aware of the patriotic efforts
our delegation is making in the inter
est of the state, 1t is also a fact that
but a few have accomplished so much
in SO short a space of time to ertitle
them TO the confidence of their people
as the delegation from South Dakota,
which a glance at the congressional
records will substantially prove. There
are two distinct causes for this phenom-
enal success that has attended the
efforts Of the delegation: One is the
marked ability of the members; the
other the cooperative methods that
they have uniformly employed in all
matters pertaining TO interests of the
state. 1t is too often the case that
some member or members become
DESTROYS of outstripping others and with
tins hope in view are tempted to resort
to sly and u~nderhaaded methods that
not u~nfrequently results ia disaster o
only to themselves but to the whole
contingent. But fortunately no such
conditions exist in the delegation from
Sonth Dakota aud particularly is this
true of the members in the lower house.
The interests of one are alike the inter
ests of the other, and so closely are they
allied in their work in all matters per-
tanning To Interests of the state that
reference TO the journal often becomes
necessary to ascertain which was the
original promoter Of the measure, as
both are equally anxious and active
when the matter comes up for final
action without apparently any thought
of who is to get the credit or the blame
for the result.
Mr.. Martin is an able attorney, we'll
up in the practice, having been employed
in the profession from early manhood,
while Mr.. Burke has not only a good
practical knowledge of the principals of
law but is a thorough business man and
a parliamentarian Of no mean order,
an1 thus together they constitute a
strong Legislative team, qualified to
meet their competitors on the floor or.
in committee upon any proposition in
which they have a special interest.
Another point that should not be lost
sight of is the value of experience and
prestige. Congressional work is a
science that is learned only by time and
practice and but little can really be
expected of a new member. He must
first learn the rules and general
methods of procedure to some extent
before he dares make an attempt to
accomplish work upon the floor, or, if he
does, he is practically sure to make a
show of himself and does not care to
make a second attempt, for som time
at least. So that experience is capital
in this as well as any other line of
business, and when once acquired
should not be carelessly thrown away,
at least without some good reason.
Prestige also has an important value,
being the natural result of long, con-
t%inuous service, which is the only
means open to any n r. reach the
heads of important committees. The
effect is that those states that are for
%tunate enough or wise enough to retain
the same membership for a long term
of years are as a rule not only the most
successful i'll acquiring favorable legis-
%lation, but also get most of the lucrative
appointive positions for their consti-
%tuents. So it is at this m many
of the older members can count their
appointees by the score, while new
members have not a single man to their
credit outside of their private sec
retaries.
Mr.. Burke is now serving his third
and Mr.. Martin his second term and
are becoming very well versed in the
science of legislation aud are well up
on committees. To drop them and
send down new men would be like dis
charging a good, faithful and exper-
fenced clerk, putting in his place an
inexperienced man at the same wages
or like ~diseharging a first class man
from a ball team and taking in one
without experience, but could only take
a position as an Indifferent fielder and
liable and almost sure to muf the ball
at the critical m and lose the
game. No, U boys are playing great
ball and eligible to enter the league
team and it is certainly wisdom on the
part of the people to retain them.
Very truly yours,
@. w. Stafford.