The Republican journal., 1907-02-14
Men and Things in Augusta

At the Augusta House the other evening
an ex-member of the legislature in CONVEX
sation with friend spoke somewhat bitter
ly of the attitude of the public toward men
in Office. He said that if every man who
took Office was to be charged with ineffici-
ency and corruption the time would come
when only men of that stamp could be
found in official positions. If teacher
should begin by calling the children under
his or her charge thieves and liars, and
treating them as such, they would natural
ly become so. The press is largely respon-
sible for this condition. When Congress is
in session much sympathy is expressed for
the President because of his having Soon
greSs on his hands" When Congress adj
jOurns it is assumed to be a cause for con-
graduation, etc. State legislators come in
for much the same sort of talk Public ig-
norance as to the duty of legislators con-
tributes to bringing public men into unde-
served contempt. The members of State
legislature are chosen by the people, and
are presumed to be representative men of
at least average intelligence In fact they
are usually above the average in intelli-
gence and ability. If they are not, it is the
fault of the people who elect them. A leg
islature is deliberatve body 1t makes
laws for State, 1t has to weigh well its
actions. When first organized all it has to
do is to receive bills and resolves and petit
tiOns and refer them to the proper commit
tees. The committees must consider these
measures and have hearings on manyof them
before they can be reported back for the ac-
tion of the legislature. This necessarily
takes time. Hasty, ill-considered legisla-
ton would be detrimental to the public in
terests and welfare. The present egisla-
ture is doing good work. Its membership
includes many able men, both in the major
ity and minority parties, and it merits the
public confidence and support.
Manley III. Pike, for some time past
resident of New York, has been in Augusta
for few weeks. He is the son of the late
Daniel 7. Pike. for many years editor of
The Augusta Age, now the Augusta New
Age, and inherits his literary talent from
both father and mother Mr.. and Mrs.
Pike were on the Maine Press excursion to
Halifax, n S., in 1883, and were the life of
the party. ManIey Pike has long been
to Puck, Judge and other peri
odicals On the recent 91st birthday of Mr..
j. A. Homan of Augusta, one of the two
surviving charter members of the Maine
Press Association, he received among the
many greetings the following graceful poem
from Mr.. Pike:
THE HAPPY MAN.
81. A. H., January IL, 1907
He is not happy whose unknowing youth
Holly desires that which can never be
Takes truth for dreams and takes its dreams
for truth,
And may not rightly think, nor hear, nor
See
Nor is he happy who in manhood's strife
Gives blow 1or blow, exchanges thrust for
thrust,
Harms to shun harm and all to save his life,
Treads out wounded brothers in the
dust.
But he who, done at last with foughten
field,
Whose course in honor ends, as it began,
Brings forth from out the fight stainless
shield,
And waits reward-he is the happy man.
From the calm crest of hoary heights of
years
He casts upon the long path he has trod
One back ward glance-and then, devoid of
fears,
Looks forward to his rest and up to God.
-Manley II. Pike.