The San Francisco call., 1907-02-24


bls would accomplish very little. In
deed. 1t Is doubtful whether IL would
not be unwtSe to increase salaries to a
point where the men whose only In
come Is their salary could live on equal
terms with their more fortunats col
leagues. for no man ought to come to
either House or Senate for financial re-
ward. The truth Is that our national
anairs have become so important. num-
erous and complex that they can be
properly handled only By men having
especial aptitude and training for them.
Such men ought TO be carefully select
ed and then, when tried, kept con-
stantiy in public life until their aga
renders them unit for further public
service, for public life has become pro-
fession in the best sense. So far-reach-
ing, profound and numerous are the
problems constantly arising that the
best thought and most careful and con-
tinuous study by our statesmen are In
dispensable 70 their solution The ma
tion's legislator can no longer attend
TO his own Affairs during the Congress
sional vacation II he gives intelligent
attention to the business OF the Repub-
lie; for these periods when Congress
is not tn session are the only opportun-
tiles he has for study and investiga-
ton This latter cannot be done dur
Ing the sessions OF Congress-then is
the time for action.
10 Is quite plain, then. Is 70 not, that.
II the nation is to be we'll served. the
people must choose for public once
men naturally gifted IN statesmanship.
and then keep them in service prac-
ticing the profession OF public life?
But the poor man cannot do this.
even II the people want him. unless the
luxury OF living in the nations capital
Is reduced. The rich can, OF course, be-
cause expense is nothing to them. And
President. Senate and House COM
posed or rich men might run things ad-
mlrably-I rather think they would.
But tt would be government By an OIL
garchy Of wealth. TO the exclusion OF
poor men. Very well! We do not want
that sort OF thing IN America
There IS no use shutting our eyes 20
these conditions The alternative Is as
Interchangeable as fate; either the i'm
menseiy rich must be kept out of pub
ilc once or else the Republic must be-
deprived Of the labors OF those natural
statesmen. not favored by financial for
tune (such as the great men OF our
pastlra who arc today developing, as
they have always developed and al
ways will develop. from among ths
common people. Either our Govern
menf, IS q practical matter. must be-
come a government OF rich men or else
rich men must be kept out OF govern
ment by the votes OF the people, ex-
cept always where their qualities OF
statesmanship are notable. Yes, and
there is another alternative worse than
the exclusive conduct OF the Govern
ment by rich men, and that - the par
ticipation in the conduct Of tho Gov
ernment by poor men whose poverty.
Joined to the impossible prices Of 1iv-
ing in Washington. tempts them to get
money IN improper ways.
Discussing the whole subject. one OF
these wealthy public men. OF most ad-
mirable qualities for the great ONCE
he holds, said: After all, there are
places in Washington where q man can
I've on his salary" The answer TO
this, Of course. was that while this
In such quarters and on such food and
generally IN such discomfort as to
make life hard for himself and
positively unendurabie FOR his family.
Again, no man can do his best work
who is In perpetual state or apology
and humiliation. Stil1. again. his con-
stftuents would be ashamed % such a
condition OF living if they knew about
q.
Also such . public man - at an un-
speakab1e disadvantage compared with
the rich man with whom - works: the
one can entertain all visitors 70 Wash
ington. the other cannot. The one can
entertain his colleagues, the other can
not. The one can accept the hospitality
I OF his associates because he in turn
. can offer hospitality; the other cannot
G accept this hospitality and retain his
n self-respect. because he cannot by any
u possible means return it. This matter
:. OF entertaining Is in itself an absurdly
h influential factor in Washington life
y influential with the Senator's or Con-
q gressman's constituents who are visit
: Ing Washington and even more innu-
: entail in legislation.
{ Thus the millionaire in national pub
lie life has an incaiculable advantage
. over the poor man In public life. IT
e would be hard, too, to reckon the
{ weight when freahanded social inter
. course has upon the shaping of na-
. practical legislation When public men
: and their wives meet at the home OF
y another public man. SIT about his brill
. liant board and ningle afterward in
. charming and Intimate conversation a
: subtle bond 10 established which has
It's effect here In America. Just as the
same cause has produced the same re-
n suit IN England and in every other
: country at all periods OF history.
= Bat the public man who, amid these
o SURROUNDINGS. must live on his salary
: cannot attend these functions. Any
y gowns which he might buy for his wife
:. and daughters would look shabby and
3 gEptegqus compered with the elegant
}. equipment OF their more fortunate
h sisters. Such man may be Tar aoler
: and more industrious than his rich col
n league. and yeti all these natural abili-
ties are neutraezed by the purely aTti-
. ficial influence OF social entertainment
y in which the rich man indulges- In
Z comparison the poor public man and
n his family must live IN an attituds .
= of perpetual apology. And why should
e this be?
t Decidedly the rich man who Il not
s pre-eninent in statesmanship must 80.
e Decidedly also the demagogue must 50.
: Decidedly something more than nnil-
lions and a pJtTchased public reputation
o on the one hand and flaming appeals
: to passion and class hatred on the
a other hand mast be required OF would
: be public men IL the Government OF,
n by and for thefpeople - not to be run
: exclustYely hy Croesug and Iack Ca4A