The Newtown bee., 1906-10-26
HOME NEWS. THE PUBLIC SERVICE. BY o. o. WRIGHT.

It is true that have not been nom mated, but there is time; and l re main in the field. Since my own par ty did not choose me as their standard bearer, (which of course seems strange) I must look elsewhere. There is the other caucus to be heard from, and no mortal creature can tell what is going to happen in politics. The mystery of it is past imagination. Every man that I have asked was cheerfully willing to vote for me, and received the suggestion with a broad smile which seemed most encouraging. But suspect the trouble is, I have nothing to offer, no oinducement in fact. and not even promise that would be of real substan tial value.
 You sec the public service is not much as 1t used to be when there wss fine imposed upon man who needed urging to go to Hartford. The trou- ble now is that one Hartford is not enough to go round. We have to wait too long to take our turn; and so we deal for chance.
 Two sessions every year would suit us better than one in two years; for the older ones can't wait too long, the | the honor spells in such cases.
 The fact is am little old-fashion- ed about this matter. I still think that the public service was intended to serve the public, and not the pub lie servant. It was meant be an honor to a man to go to the General Assem- ply and the job was thrown in. The compensation is supposed to repay one his expenses and sacrifices for the pub lie good. It surely was not intended to support one in idleness and luxury; nor to give him chance to do nice thing in the lobby. Like all public ,fc h{ ic iS living is not what he makes it, while he serves. It is what is given him. The merchant may make all he can. It depends on his capacity, energy and opportunity, or capital, may be. He is free. The doctor, lawyer, and busi- ness men in general are at liberty to make all they can. But 1t is not so with those who are placed in official stations. The teachers in the public schools, professors in colleges, the clergy and those in the military or civil service are supported according to the needs of their positions, or as to tiOn they serve; or in some degree ac- cording to the measure of their useful ness to those who employ them. They are supported not for their own sake, but for the sake of the public.
 They used to put up the towns poor and sell them off to the lowest bidder The man who could keep them cheap est and get most out of them in the way of labor, kept the paupers. The honorS of public office are in much the same case with the poor. But the bidding is different. Some men :can we'll afford to bid higher than others for the opportunities which belong to the official life.
 have recently received 8 copy of Taylor's Connecticut Legislative His tory and Souvenir of the last session. l am struck with the records of hon. ors conferred on the men chosen by the people to represent them! Picked, choice citizens no doubt many of them, and the sketches of their lives show Il that they have done things worthy and useful. But iu some cases, know ing something of the methods in poli- tics, one can but wonder where the honor comes in! For honor is high and fine and noble. A man must be honest or he is false; but the man of honor will keep his integrity and maintain his convictions to hfS~-oWn disadvantage. It is this perception of fitness that preserves the purity of the home, and the good name of the community, defending the highest welfare of the state and the nation, if need be, with life and treasure. Alas! that the public service should become the prey of the demagogue and that violent, self.seeking men should take 1t by force!