The Washington herald., 1908-06-10
YOUNG MEN AND POLITICS.
BY THE oPTIsIIsT,

II Is from experience that OF others as
we'll as our own. that we have to learn
the lessons OF life, and when a man
who. through long years. has devoted
himself to one branch Of endeavor voices
his opinions on II, we should be foolish
not TO listen with respect.
have In mind the statement OF the
Hon. Robert A Smith, who has Just re-
tired from the mayoralty OF St. Paul,
MINI He has been a leading politician
and a persistent oficeholder. and now.
after fifty years Of what his political op-
ponents would stigmatize as feeding at
the public trough" he announces that
he has given up the political game and
sententiously advises: Young man. keep
out Of politics"
And yet Mr. Smith retires from office
with a reputation for integrity and the
respect Of his fellow-citizens. But he
says. as 10 his reasons for retirement
and as a justification for his advice:
Only one man IN ten thousand Is successful in
politics II he once gets into Office he becomes
unfit for other business careers Many young
men are spoiled By politics They acquire bad
habits their associations not always Of the best
and many friends are lost. A politician is usually
successful for only short time. and when a
Is once defeated IL is q very rare occasion Il he
ever comes 20 the front again. cannot recall any
man. once dropped from politics. who has won
public favor second time.
With all due respect 10 Mr. Smiths
reasons FOR retirement from politics.
cannot help but think that his advice Is
mistaken. He seems TO think that he has
failed because he has retired from Office
anything but a rich man: indeed, his
whole argument as regards success deals
with that sort OF success which Is meas
ured by dollars and cents.
In the first place. II is quite impossible
that the young men OF the country should
keep out OF politics. II IS through the
young men OF America that we may
hope. IN time. so 10 clear our political
atmosphere that the securing OF public
office will not be held to be a smart
trick a shrewd move. but an honor To
advise young men 20 keep out of politics
Is 20 advise the perpetuation Of politics
Of the machine" brand: politics that has
but one end and aim. the material pros
perity OF those who play the game"-a
game In which people and principles are
but as counters.
Too long In this country have we suf-
| fered from politics OF this kind. and II is
the young man in politics, the educated
man, the man with high ideals and I'm
hued with the principles OF patriotism
and high integrity. 20 whom we must pin
our hope FOR a betterment OF conditions.
II must seem easy 10 the young man
10 emulate the heroes OF the nation on
/ battlefield or IN a war at sea. but there
waits for every young man I'm America
/ The opportunity for just such heroism
even II the stage Is not set SO brilliantly.
/ II is up TO the young men Of the country
/ 20 realize that rlen are needed in the
7 political breach: men who are content 10
serve; content 20 sacrifice the hope Of
/ big financial reward which business Of
/ fers them. for the sake 81 serving the
! people and their nation. honestly. whole
/ heartedly. and we'll.
/ There can be no more honorable calling
/ for the young man than the public serv-
/ ce. in spite OF the discredit that some OF
/ the professional politicians have cast
upon It. And so. in spite Of the Hon. r.
/ A. Smiths vast experience and his evil
dent disappointment, we should urge the
young man 20 discard his advice. There
/ Is a noble chance for every young man
/ In pOlitiCs-not a chance for riches. and.
perhaps. not for fame; but chance 10
win the fine reward that comes with the
! consciousness Of duty we'll and honOrably
! performed
/ America needs the services Of its young
men; men who viii go into politics de-
/ termined 10 make them clean politics;
/ who have resolved 70 live cleanly and
! honestly and 70 accept public office as a
/ public trust; 20 associate with gentlemen
I and to fight with all their hearts ard
I souls the dishonest monsters Of graft and
I corruption. The young men who VIII dc
/ this will be the benefactors OF their
/ country. and Will serve her as truly as
any military hero.