The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-30
FRON OTHER PENS
POOR MEN IN CONGRESS


Senator Frank P. Flint. of Cali
fornia, has announced his purpose to
retire from the United States Senate
at the expiration of his present term
in March. 1911. He gives as his rea-
son, the necessity of earning more
money SO his family may have a COM
potency He finds 1t impossible to
attend to his duties as United States
Senator and properly provide for his
family at the same time.
The senator is pursuing an honor
able course. He would have little op-
position for denomination by his par
ty and that would mean his reelection
without much effort. but he cannot
for a $500 a year salary in the
United States Senate. His decision
emphasizes the sacrifice a poor but
brainy man must make to serve his
country in Congress. It also gives the
lie to the many sensational tales that
q poor man becomes rich II he stays
in Congress long enough.
A man. of talent and abilities, re-
quired in q useful effective member
of Congress seldom has an trouble
| the salary in business and in the lead
| ing professions When one of these
devotes his energies to the service
| of his country and neglects private ar
| fairs to do so he is making noble
sacrifice. Many such men are in the
House and Senate, but none of them
| can be blamed II. like Senator Flint,
| he gives up his public work, OF how
ever exalted character, to make money
for his family.-Philadelph Press.
| MAGIC CAMPAIGNS.
| Why is it that as soon as man
| be comes a candidate for public office
he becomes a villain? It seems almost
against the law Of nature that this
should be the case-that all candidates
are villains. And yet we see by a
fngent attention to campaign speeches
that this is a fact. Every speech Is de-
| voted to proving that some candidate
generally every candidate except the
speaker~is a villain. For a period
Of a few weeks we read Of nothing
| hut painted devils-ugly, impossible
monsters which have all the romantic
| charm of genii or hobgobl1ns from the
ains) of me1odrama suddenly become
sober realities. We rub our eyes with
amazement to find that our 1urid and
extravagant dreams about the devil
and possibly other fgments OF evii
actually.
Another thing adding to the magic
of it all is the suddenness with which
these Misunderstanding like guilty
butterfly from an honest chrysalis-
return at once (after the election)
to their chrysalis state Of innocuous
decency. It is like a observation-disclosures
popping in and out. An honest
citizen one moment and villain the
next. 1t is really too simple Put
away the puppets, children Gar
goyles are all well enough. but bust
ness is business. We don't refer to
the business which this display OF
gargoyles is supposed to further, ou,
to the real business OF living, Wnlcn
is different from lying about your
rival or even making a fortune
II New York Press.
WRITTEN CONSTITUTION.
| written constitution is no longer
, dismissed in England as Foreign
expediency of expressing powers thai
| rest in usage" in an organic view OF
I the realm is seriously discussed me
) affirmative argument is typ1fied bS
the Westminster Gazette. which edl'
torially remarks, apropos the coming
. general election:
when the question is once ralseo
/ there is but one way of safety Whicn
we believe the public will take. ane
that is to decide at once ana IN tns
! most decisive manner that they NEAR
) the commons to be supreme. But re
: IT not be forgotten that the re
D lection of the budget will mean thai
the unwritten constitution has broker
! down, and from that moment we sinai
: have to set to work to provloe our
: selves with a written constitution
which will give the existing customs
T the force of law"
Mr.. Balfour limited in the SAM
I direction when he reminded the com
mons that the constitution OF tn
q United States provided that prfvat
: property should not be taken for pub
NJ lie use. without just compensation
e and that what he signalized as tn
s s.coufiscatory'' provisions of the bud
q get would be impossible of enactmen