The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-11-29
THE YOUNG MAN IN POLITICS
Milwaukee Executive Declares That
the Young Man Has a Perfect Right
to Enter Politics and That Any
Man that Votes May Hold Office

II
church. Tuesday night, and he de1iv-
Tered noteworthy address before the
club, speaking on his favorite sub
ject: 1.-The Young Man in Politics. {"
! Mayor Becker was given very cor
dial recep tion in Kenosha ard crowd
of more than rs of the leading people
OF the city listened to his address,
the Boys Brigade of the church
attending in body. He spoke
with dignity and force and
several times during his speech he
was interrupted by prolonged APP
plause. Mayor Becker said in part:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men:-There are great opportunities
in the world for the young man in all
the walks of life, but I believe that
none offers a greater inducement than
that which have chosen, and which
| am happy to say has been chosen by
many thousands of other young men.
To be in public life as an official
necessitates the study of politics in
it's many phases,
| believe a young man who adopts a
political career should have some nat
ural qualifications.
There is plenty Of room atthe very
front Of public life for the young man
of capacity.
To succeed he must have a code
containing principles, the first of
which must be honesty.
~
should do so from sense of duty to
his country with a willingness to be
misunderstood and presented.
A wave seems to be sweeping over
the country demanding certain
changes in the system of government
of both cities, states and the nation,
that require vigorous, youthful man
hood.
Our honored President Roosevelt
entered the political arena almost as
soon as he took his degree at the uni-
versity. And how he has advanced!
What a wonderful record he has made,
as we might say, the most wonderful
of the age! He could not have ac-
comp1ished the great things he has
accomplished had he begun his politi-
cal career at his present age. He
would have lacked his early training
in minor Offices. He would have
failed to comprehend the necessities
Of many emergencies that he has been
compelled to meet.
The world is full of good men and
of goodness. Men are of the greatest
importance today, and I believe that
the young man is by no means the
least of his kind.
want to give the young man con-
templating public career a few
words of advice, based upon my own
experience Of nearly five years of
public Office.
| Make up your mind to be honest
and fair, both in business and in pol
itics. Work nine-tenths of the time,
ard when occasion requires, work the
other tenth. You can enjoy yourself
with hard work if you will but think
so. Work is the best thing for every
young man; idleness is the greatest
evil and breeds dishonesty and cor
ruption.
| Make up your mind, when you ac-
cept public trust, that you repre-
sent all the people, not only those
who have by their votes chosen you
as such but those who have opposed
you and who, perhaps, misunder-
stand you and your purposes.
Do not, under any circumstances,
allow prejudice to swerve you from
your best judgment. Have platform
short and pointed. Be sure it is right
and stand upon it to the end. Do not
make it complicated or verbose, for if
you do, your planks will break and
you will find yourself in trouble. Do
not readily take sides in controver-
sizes. Think fast and try to be quick
in your responses in emergencies.
Conservatism is not entirely disease,
and should not be SO regarded by en-
thusiastic young men in politics. It
is good thing to be conservativ e
and cautious, but too much of it is apt
to be disastrous to yourself and con-
i stituents. Do something all the time,
but in your ambition to do something,
don't do things that count for naught.
Make plans, think of them, and then
carry them out. Have as many ideas
to develop as you possibly can at one
time; still possess Yourself of as much
|. concentration as possible. Finish
your work as you go along. Always
keep in mind the fact that you are
the servant and not the master, no
matter what position you may fill in
the service of the public.
Know your men we'll before you
select them, if they are to be imme-
diately associated with you, and then
give them your whole and undivided
confidence. 4
| Do not worry. Worry is a bad
disease.
Steer. clear of classes, and take the
hand of the masses at all times. AS
sociate with as many good people as
you can find. Extend your acquaint-