Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-08-04

Sique-FOpular Electlon OF OnAVeu
States Senators Far Distant
BY AN EX-SPEAKER OF A STATE
LEGISLATURE
Copyright, 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles)
Young men should be barred from
the legislature. mo man under 35
years of age should be eligible to the
office of state senator or representa-
tive. I would put the minimum age
limit at 35 years because in my expert
ence of several terms as a member
have seen many young men ruined
physically, morally and financially be-
fore they had rounded up their first
session. More often than I care to
remember precocious lads of u to %
years, gifted with the powers of ora
tory which gave them the local fame
which lifted them into the general as
sembly have come to the state cap
ital, high-minded, enthusiastic, earn
est youngsters, and three short months
after have gone back to their homes
gamblers, rakes or drunkards.
If the whole truth were known the
country would be shocked at the pro-
portions of the young members of gen.
eral assemblies who were ruined by
their first taste of public life.
When man has arrived at his thir-
ty-fifth milestone his character is
formed. He has reached a certain
stability of good or bad character
which tends to preserve his poise, The
influences for good or evil would moi
affect him as they do those of young
err and more plastic years.
Yet age does not always keep a mar
from going to the dogs by way of 6
state legislature. have in mind {
venerable farmer who was sent to thu
legislature from one of the best coun
try districts in the state. He wal
over 70 years old, He belonged to thu
class which is lifted to the pinnacle
whenever vote-hunting spell-bindeI
seeks the suffrages of the agricultur
ists-the sturdy tillers of the soil
the backbone of the nation"
This aged legislator had led a quiet
satisfied, honest life up to the hou
when the devil put it into some one
head to nominate him for the legisla
ture. He easily won the election an
when the general assembly met ap
peared in the hall true picture o
the typical prosperous farmer.
He was honesty, pressed down an
running over. The most impudent an
brazen boodler SHE'D when he ar
peared. For a month he went hi
peaceful way-a decent, respectabl
and law-abiding citizen
One evening he fell in with a con
vivial member from a metropolta
district and-so it appeared after
tasted whisky cocktail for the frs
time in his long life. He and the cor
vival city man became chummy an
it soon reached our ears that the oil
farmer was playing poker and winnin
right along. That session lasted fou
and half months, and before it ad
journed sine die the old man ha
gambled away his last acre, had be
come confirmed drunkard and W
had to make up purse to pay hi
board bill and send him to a son i
another state.
have cited his because 1t was a
unusual case. But it serves to indicat
in slight degree the tendency of tn
e-burdened legislator who fine
the hours hanging heavy on his hand
The real work in legislature is dor
by few men-the great majority {
those elected to make the laws do Ii
tie but attend the daily sessions an
vote. The sessions consume but fe
hours each day. The rest of the tin
is leisure for most of the members.
To many this yacation-like exper
ence, for time, is pleasant novelt
Rut soon the novelty wears off ~