The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-02-27
COLONEL HEpBURN's CASE.

Colonel Hepburn has made a vigorous
speech endorsing President Roosevelt.
1t vas an eloquent speech, and the
Sioux City Journal is undoubtedly war
ranted in claiming that it warmed the
cookies of the republican heart"-a
rather enthusiastic encomium from Mr..
Perkins. On the strength of this speech
Mr.. Perkins points the finger of inquiry
at the Eighth district and asks: will
the Eighth district keep him?'
Now we must submit in all candor
that one speech one way or the other
scarcely warrants the inquiry. Gov
ernor Cummins has made hundreds of
speeches all republicans have endorsed.
But Mr.. Perkins does not raise his in
dex finger for Governor Cummins on
that account. The cookies or the re-
publican heart have been warmed by
the impassioned appeals of more than
one orator Mr.. Perkins would be chary
of indorsing. Colonel Hepburn's speech
is, after ALL Colonel Hepburns speech,
and everybody in Iowa knows what that
means when the colonel is at his best.
1t is now fourteen years since any
body has been mentioned for congress
in the Eighth district excepting Colonel
Hepburn. And is twenty-four years
that Colonel Hepburn has served, with
a single break. Twenty-four years comes
near being the lifetime of one genera
ton. Boys have grown to manhood,
engaged in business and all but retired
in the years Colonel Hepburn has had
undisputed sway. The inquiry Mr.. Per-
kins should be making of the Eighth
and of the state, and of other districts
in other states, is whether permanent
good is to come from the precedent it is
urging.
Colonel Hepburn has been an unusual
man. He is today even at "a an unusual
imam. But he is no more unusual than
President Roosevelt, and the country is
preparing to dispense with the services
of the president, on the theory that
there is some virtue in a change. One
entire generation is being skipped in
the Eighth district in congressional
represent ation. One body of men has
come up, is passing, and when the col
onel's successor is finally named, will be
ignored, because he has been permitted
to lap over. Even the Sioux City Jour-
nal ought to see that there is something
more involved in Colonel Hepburn's case
than speech more or less for the pres.
ident's policies.
The Dubuque Times-Journal speaks
of Senator Allison's ambition "to die in
the harness." 1t is entirely creditable
that Colonel Hepburn is cherishing that
ambition. And why not? Where is the
end to be if the people are to go further
in encouraging this notion of life ser.
vice in congress? Captain Hull is an.
other man of the civil war period
What limitation will be put on his
service? Or shall it come to be popu
larly conceded that after probationary
period, which the candidate has wealth
cred successfully, it shall be considered
unjust and unfair to offer further OPP
position, and it shall be conceded tina
from that time on his lengthening tern
is source of pride to the state?
The people are allowing Presiden
2 Roosevelt to retire after a service Q
, seven years. They believe there woul
be harm in allowing even the most popr
c lar man in the United States to becom
i habituated to the presidency. His sue
cessor will not compare with him i
q many great qualities, whoever is chosen
y But even then the people are willing t
: welcome his successor. There is jus
q as much reason for new blood in COZ
/ gress as in the presidential chair. Their
is Just as much reason for refusing
a allow even our best men to take roc
in one seat as in the other. The Eight
O district may we'll consider Colonel He]
;f burns speech in honoring him. But
20 NAV we'll consider whittier it is tendir
n and incidentally whittier it is leadir
h. other districts, when it deliberate
"a makes life service of what was i
h tt nded to be the most frequent
~ changed office in tho government.-Re
is lister and Leader.
e.