Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-05-04
THE SECOND DISTRICT
Not the Time for Change Of our
Representative.

Representative.
Editor Of The Phoenix:
Will you allow the courtesy Of your
columns to a native Of good old Windham
county for a few observations touching
a question in which your readers have
vital interest, and one which. rightly
or wrongly, must soon be decided? The
recent announcement Of Gov. Bell that
he Is an avowed candidate for nomina-
tion as representative from the Second
Congressional district against Col. Has
kins, together with the declination Of Mr..
Plumley to become such, narrows the
field TO the two candidates first mention
ed, and the practical question is which
Of the two should be nominated. In my
judgment, the considerations here pre-
sented should be paramount to all others
in determining this question, and / hope to
make it clear why it would be a mis-
fortune to the district and state at large
II the present incumbent, just at the
time of his greatest prominence and use
fulness should be discarded because, and
only because, the ambition OF some new,
raw, inexperienced man demands the
sacrificed
Born in Vermont and residing there
for half my lifetime, l have never yet
been able to look with indifference on
anything affecting its welfare and hope
never shall be, and II l nave any moral
right to interpose my views upon old
friends in the district It is only because as
native Of the state, proud OF its past
and hopeful of its future, / sincerely
deprecate any step tending to arrest It's
progress, and especially one calculated to
abridge its traditional influence in the
councils OF the nation.
And first let me say that am nobodys
''jungle-beater." being an absolutely un-
prejudiced observer, writing without the
knowledge or suggestion Of any person
| whomsoever. and with no conceivable
motive save to point out the inevitable
| consequences that viii follow an Ill ad-
vised action OF the convention. And H.
| in addition to an impartial judgment
knowledge gained by a service Of many
years as principal clerk Of the United
States Senate should render me more
competent than 1 otherwise would be to
form an intelligent one also, am pleased
to have 1t so and to give the benefit Of
that experience to this discussion.
At the time OF It's admission into the
Union in 1891 vermonts relative repre-
sentation in both houses Of Congress
stood as l to 35. In 1850 II stood as
to 60. In 1880 as l to 100, and at the
present time II stands as 1 10 ia. We
thus see that the state is constantly and
rapidly losing in numeric power and this
loss must continue in equal or increasing
ratio so long as the states population
remains practically stationary Gas, for
instance. since 1850 and the growth OF
other states and the admission Of new
ones steadily reduce her ratio by each
succeeding apportionment.
1t would seem manifest. therefore, that
the only way by which a stationary state
like Vermont can hope to neuIralize this
constantly increasing numeric loss Is by
exerting more potential influence than
that exerted by an equal representation
elsewhere chosen, and the obvious, indeed
the only way in which this can be ac-
complshed, is by the selection Of the
fittest men in the first instance, and, once
selected and chosen. by hanging on to
them. Such influence of course could not
be exerted II all the states were repre-
sented only by experienced men. But
they are not so represented and never
will be so long as new states are from
time to time admitted and new districts
are continually being formed Throughout,
|
apportionment.
That Gov. Bell is a man Of character
and ability may be conceded. That
however, is not the question. Any new
member entering Congress, whatever bt
his ability. must of necessity begin al
the bottom. The inevitable apprentice
ship must be served alike by all Of them
The strongest men like Garfield. Blaine
| oil fola
Mckinley. were for years practical nonen
titles. and did not attempt prominence
, much less leadership. until they had
/ spent term after term in laborious prepa
ration. No new member can exert thu
slightest influence Cbeyond his individua
vote) or inspire the feebIest following 70
: any measure he may advocate. He mus
go way back and sit down." until b.
long and faithful service he has i'm
pressed himself upon the House an,
E gained its confidence.
How utterly absurd and short-sighte,
1t therefore is for any constituency :
throw over a faithful Representative, on
who has become valuable TO them b,
reason OF this very experience, and resor
? to some new, absolutely inexperience
Z man who, II he shall thereafter count 10
e anything, must of necessity pass througl
this same period of discipline and prepar
alton. An efficient member Of Congress
should be regarded as an asset or In
. vesJment valuable according to his use
). fulness. and when that usefulness cease
= or becomes essentially diminished, h
= should make way for his successor.
What would be thought of a proposi
y tion to djsplace one Of your suprem
= court judges after long, faithful and dis
tinguished judicial service in order to ap
= point some average commonplace law
J. yer, possessing no special or acknowledg
4 ed fitness for the place; or what If an
: business concern should summariiy dis
miss an old and faithful employe,
familiar from years of experience wit
every detail of the business. in.order I
G put in his place some person withoI
% experience who knew absolutely nothin
h about his duties? 1t would of course I
y regarded as gross mismanagement, to sa
= the least Of It.. Yet the propriety Of III
n two proceedings is identical Congress
vi in our day at least, is rapidly becomir
n business machine. conducted by a fe
,. master mechanics, so to speak, who fro
e years Of experience have become familii
y with every detail Of it's vast, complicate
. mechanism. Being such, the same prime
s pies apply to II as to any other bushes
n II II be said that an incumbency wou