The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-03
ERON OTHER PENS
HOUSING OUR AMBASSADORS.

HOUSING OUR AMBASSADORS.
A new bill introduced by Representa-
tive Perkins. OF New York, seeks to
commit congress to the purchase of
embassies in the capitals of England
France and Germany. Mr. Perkins
thinks the United States can afford to
spend 81 200 900 for land and buildings
for the domiciliary use of its ambassa-
doris in London, Paris and Berlin. We
can safely count on sturdy opposition
to this bill from those legislators in
congress who think we are already
straying too far from democratic sim
pficfty. But 1T is probable they will be
overruled. Since the entry of the Unit
ed States into world politics ambassa-
doria1 dignities and responsibilities
have greatly increased. If a large mod
ern navy is useful for display purposes,
as we'll as more serious ones, the same
line of reasoning would excuse raising
our foreign embassies to a plane of
equality, at least, with those of other
powers.
But there Is q more vital issue in
volved, and one that economists should
take we'll to heart. At present we pick
for our f1rst-class embassies only such
men as have large private wealth. None
others dare take the posts. The items
of house rent alone in London and Ber-
lin are greater than the entire salaries
ambassadors receive. Entertainment
bills. in maintaining the social dignity
dor, are paid out Of his private means.
Does this tend to the selection OF the
best type Of ambassador? Can we COM
plain If some Of these American repre-
sentatives in the past have been mega
tive quantities, except for their wealth :?
Fortunately, we have had many am
bassadors with both brains and wealth:
But the system that runs the risk OF
getting some tactless and badly quail
fed Croesus as our representative In
the diplomatic chess game Is all Wrons.
-ChicsEo journal.
POLITICAL ACTIVITY FUND.
There is a legislator in Maryland
who takes a most pitiable view OF the
situation. He favors raise OF the
legislative salary SO the member may
have a little surplus to expend, wnlcn
surplus might be regarded as q iund
for the announcement OF political
activity" The kind Of political activ-
ity that money would raise IN a
country would be a very poor article.
1t would be tainted with selhshness
and fraud and graft. 1t would turn
money. There is a great deal 100
much of that sort on hand now The
only kind of politics that is worth
anything to the country is the kind
that is used without any hope OF re-
ward Pay for patriotism Is faint
upon sincerity.
Padding pay rolls and creating sin
ecures is about as big treason as
Benedict Arnold ever put up. and
when politics gets on that side and
supports party graft. We might put
on our coins, not "In God We Trust. y
but I'm the Devil We Trust This
alleged legislator goes on to say that
"Mugwumpery that would remove
pecuniary motives for political acti-
witty would bring out condition OF
dry rot in political affairs. and In
the next sentence of his speech he
spoke of "the corrupt practices act as
another factor which would remove
an incentive to political activity"
How quickly he associates pecunfary
political activity and the corrupt
practices. and what stupendous can
dor he exhibits when he fntfmates
that money politics and corrupt prac-
tees support each other. We may be
Disguised with the effrontery of these
suggestions. but after all they are
not far removed from much of the
Practical politics of the day.-Ohio
State Journal