Norwich bulletin., 1909-01-06
STATESMEN WANTED-NoT PRO.
MoTERS.

The straits to which the opponents of
Senator Brandegee are driven to make
good their claims for Mr.. Hill are man
fest in a communication emanating
from the Hill machine, which appeared
last Friday in an evening issue of ths
city. under the heading "SFLF- SJiFTI-
GENT NEW LONDON AND SENA-
TOR BRANDEGEE."
The drift of this far cry IS that a
statesman must be measured by the
size and prosperity Of the place in
which he lives.
1t teaches that a great man must
depend for his greatness, not upon his
ability as a law -giver, nor as stu
dent Of political economy, nor as a
teacher of the law of government, nor
as a wise and able advocate Of just
administration of national and stare
affairs: 10, not upon any Of these, but
upon his contributions in money, time
and brain. to the exploitation of local
opportunities TO make money and
build UP the city"
To be a good senator he must be a
successful exponent Of the value Of
town lots.
Fe must know the best way 20 boom
hotels. how to promote electric roads,
to develop harbor facilities. to intro
duce new machine shops, new boot and
shoe factories. brass fOundries, big
breweries and all such bills.
In his estimation, big swelling
promoter" is preferable to a states
man in the senate of the United States
This is the substance of the argu-
ment Of Mr.. Hills machine-made cor
respOndence:
recommendation" and not statesman
ship permeates this attack upon Sena-
tor Brandegee.
He is condemned as unfit to be Con
necticut's senator because he has not
made New London as big as New Ha-
ven and as 1ourishinP as Waterbury.
Tested by this low standard, what
becomes Of Mr. Hills claim of fitness
for high office?
NorWalk, his residence for many
years, a city more than half cen
fury old. its population is but little
over 6,000Labout One-third that OF
New London.
Here, then, the evidence OF Mr.
Hills adaptation to the senate is far
from conclusive Judged by the
"Commercialism" standard, Mr.. Hill
falls far short of the stature required
by this new school of qualifications
for craftsmanship.
If the growth and prosperity of
Norwalk during the last fifty years
is to be the measure of Mr.. HIS
merits for the senatorship then, sure
". Mr.. Hill is not in it.
In this connection, with the highest
regard for Mr.. Hill personally, may it
not be pertinent to ask what that gem
tleman has ever done in the state of
Connecticut or in the house of repre-
sentatives. that he should feel con-
strained to force himself upon the
United States senate. at the present
time. when his experience in the
house may be OF practical use in the
a~fp var-fofNu CaaHinT Uhila
I'm the senate, as green hand" he
win be of no value whatever?
Won't It be rather expensive trade
paving twenty thousand dollars out
Of the state treasury for a raw" SEN
ator. while losikg an experienced
member of the house, where he might
do much good?
We hone it is not impertinent to ask
If Mr. Hill during his fourteen years
OF service in the house of representa-
tives, ever originated a measure Of
national scope or design, which be-
came law?
We have heard much concerning his
ability as a "inancier." Has any law
relating to the finances of our gov
eminent ever been in any way shaped
or modified by Mr.. Hills efforts?
1t is a good thing to be a fine theo-
retical financier; but the successful
statesmen who write financial laws
for men. the Neckars the Robert Nor
rises. the Chases, etc. are men of ac-
cOmplishments, not of theories.
We trust that the general assembly
Will send man to the senate not to
blow soap bubble thories, brilliant as
rainbow. and as fragile, but man
like Senator Brandeged who as chair
man Of the committee on forest res
ervatiOns, has made a most thorough
examination into the condition of the
forests of the United States and an
exhaustive report to congress of the
need for governmental protection and
supervision of our wooded resources,
which is in every respect a model
Based upon the facts brought out
by this examination and report. con-
gress is now considering a bill for the
protection of the forests of the Appa-
lachian and White mountain ranges.
May one add. that statesmen are
not made great Or able by the place
Of their birth or residence
Not one president of the United
States (Theodore Roosevelt excepted)
was born or brought UP in a large
city-most Of them in villages or in
the open country.
Our greatest statesmen have been
village born and reared
Washington. from Mt. Vernon:
Adams, from Quincy; jefferson, from