Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-05-07
MEASURE OF sTAresMANsHIP

Senator Edmunds was a great man and
Vermont was proud of him when he rep
resented her in the senate. But what did
he ever do for the people of his states
He could have secured a government
building for Burlington, had he asked for
it, at any session. II remained for Con-
gresham Foster to get this magnificent
building. No wonder Burlington is for
Foster.
Congressman Foster has made good.
He has secured an appropriation for a
new government building at Richford
and for a site for a government building
at Bennington. During his eight years
of service he has secured more for his
constituents than was ever secured in
twice that time by any senator or repre-
sentative before. No wonder the people
are in favor of retaining his services in
Congress as long as he is willing to serve
them.
The above notes are from the Burling-
ton Clippers editorial columns. Wheth-
er the statements and assertions made are
fully justified, we do not know. We do
not care much, either. 1t seems to us per-
verted idea OF the measure OF q Congress-
mans public service to dwell at great
length on what he has managed to draw
from the federal treasury for the benefit
of the private purses of his constitu-
ents, or Of certain municipalities or COM
munities therein. Not but what MEM
Der of either house should give due atten-
ton to the real needs of his home geo
pie, and serve them faithfully in this re-
spect. But the tendency OF the present,
federal House, is to make OF our repre-
sentatives mere drummers for federal
pap, hammering increasingly at the door
of the treasury for something in behalf of
their district, in order that they may, by
securing it, place somebody under politi-
cal obligation to them, and command
their services and support in future, as
occasion may arise. That's the scheme
in nutshell. It's what raids the nation
al treasury, creates "pork barrelsn out of
what should be wise and far-seeing feder-
al appropriations, and makes no end of
scandal, to which both parties unblush-
ingly plead guilty.
But worse than this, it dwarfs states
manship. The member of Congress, in
stead OF seeking to grasp large themes
and perform service OF national, perhaps
international, scope, becomes mere
claims agent for his little district, trying
to get something for somebody at home
T.
of them, for future contingencies. Ac-
cordingly, We have the spectacle of sever
al hundred representatives engaged in
pulling and hauling something their
way, while a handful of men with other
ideas really control the situation and
commit the country to any policies OF
statesmanship that it adopts. Once in a
while there arises a man of thought and
Independence, like Littlefield of Maine or
Mccall of Massachusetts,. but too fire.
quently these are crushed under the mass
and fail to make themselves felt. The
House is not the abode Of statesmanship
today, as it was in the early days of the
republic. Its members represent their
districts as drummers represent their
houses; when, in fact, their first duty is
to the whole country, from whose treas
ury come their own salaries. This buy
ing favor by the aid of government
funds, distributed primarily with that
purpose in mind, is one Of the most sim
lister dangers Of our republic. We should
hate to think that Burlington or Richford
or Bennington or any other community
would support Foster solely because he
was instrumental in getting it . public
building at government expense.