New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1910-10-12
Congressman Hammond's Re.
election.

! AS long as we are nOb dUl6 W Id e
true Democracy, wemust necessarily
entrnst the making of our laws to
representatives whom the people elect,
| the members of the Legislature to
en- act laws for state and the members
of Congress to enact laws and repre-
sent us in national affairs. Whoever
is elected to the high and important
Office of making our laws, must of
necessity represent the wishes of his
constituents, because he is merely the
servant of the people, something that
is frequently forgotten by those whom
we elect to represent US after they
reach the halls of legislation where
they are constantly importuned by the
protected industries and predatory
wealth who seek to have legislation
enacted favorable to themselves, and
they may in time become so thoroughly
convinced of the justice of the de-
mands of the interests that legislation
will be placed on our statute books
which has tendency to rob the
masses of their hard earned money.
The most pernicious methods en-
ployed to force us to contribute to
predatory wealth is through our tariff
Legislation. 1t was on this issue main
ly that our former Congressman J. T.
McCleary was relegated to private
life. He placed himself above his
constituents and ignored the wishes of
the people and he is now a private
citizen.
The spirit that animated the indie
pendent voter and the progressive
Republican in eliminating from public
life one who persisted in misrepresent-
ing them in the halls of Congress is
certainly to be emulated, and they are
entitled to great credit for their in
surgency exhibited at the polls for the
last four years. And we ought to feel
truly grateful that we secured such a
thoroughly able, conscientious and
representative Congressman as we
have in the present incumbent W. S.
Hammond.
He is candidate for reelection and
as such must stand on his past record
and his personality as a man. II he
has made good and if he has the
qualifications that are requisite to
properly represent US in the future, he
is entitled to the votes of his con-
stituents. We have followed his career
in Congress and we know of no
measure that he fathered or supported
which was not in the interests OF the
people. He has never shirked work
or responsibility and we are waiting
for the first kick to be registered that
he has betrayed in any way the great
trust that the voters Of this district
best owed on him. 1t is true that he is
no politician, but that should rather
count in his favor than against him.
In place of the usual attrib utes of the
average politician, he has the sterling
qualities Of true manhood; something
that we find lacking in SO many who
aspire to and hold public Office.
Hammond has been tried and found
able, conscientious and true and it is
up to the voters to say whether he is
entitled to reelection. And we feel
that he should be reelected by an
overwhelming vote to prove that we,
the citizens of the Second District,
appreciate honest and faithful service.
Not that we want to disparage his
opponent, who is clean and honest
young man, but hardly the equal of
Hammond and who lacks the experience
that comes to man from public
service and from age. Granted, for
the sake of argument that both can.
didates are equal in ability, should
not the one who has experience,
receive preference, especially if the
issues are practically the same? If
we had the choice Of two men to
perform some service for us, would we
not pick out the man who had ex-
perience on his side? Why should we
not be guided by the same rules when
we are to pick some one who is to
make our laws?
In our opinion the present moment
| is very crucial one in the political
as we'll as the economical, social and
industrial history of this country.
insurgency is in the air. The masses
of the people are aroused and insist
on legislation which will bring about
changes that will conduce to the
happiness and prosperity of the
masses Of the people as against the
! privileged classes. Is it wise and
good policy to turn the reins over to a
/ young man who lacks experience when
we positively know that our present
Representative is right on all these