New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-09


members OF the Cabinet should go 10 the
President. as head OF the administration
and Of the party.
ONLY AN OBJECTOR.-It has become
the fashion TO refer with something ap-
proaching derision TO Senators and Repre-
sentafives as only Directors" Those who
speak in this manner are either ignorant
OF the subject or else seek To impose on
the intelligence of their readers One Of
the most exacting and thankless tasks
which ever falls to a member OF the national
legislature is that of an director. The
greatest obiector in recent times was the
late Orvllle Hitchcock Plat. of Connecti-
cut. and his place in the Senate has never
been adequately filed. Senator Kean. OF
New Jersey. performs the thankless task
on many occasions and Repre- sentatives
Mann and Stafford serve in this capacity
in the House The duty OF an director is
to prevent undesirable legislation, and the
number Of improper or iii advised measures
which Senator Platt Of Connecticut. pre-
vented from enactment, is legion. To do
the work intelligently and well requires the
most careful study OF bills on the calendar.
constant attendance on the floor of the
Senate. and a willingness 10 devote many
weary hours TO a task which gains no
glory and often incurs the emnity OF ones
colleagues. When a mistake is made or
legislator objects TO a meritorious measure
because he has not had sufficient oppor-
tunity TO make himself familiar with its
provisions. he generally incurs the con-
demnation Of the press. But he rarely re-
ceives the slightest credit for the countless
Objectionable bills which he IS responsible
for killing
NEW YORK AGRICULTURE.-Rep
sentative Dwight called a meeting Of the
New York Representatives from agricult-
ural districts in his office to-day. at which
the programme tentatively agreed on by
Mr. Dwight and President Brown Of the
New York Central was cordially approved.
April 80 was TIE date chosen for the con-
ference. and New York as the place. Sec
retarles Wilson and Nagel have indicated
their purpose 10 be present, and so has
Commissioner Raymond A. Pearson, of the
New York Board Of Agriculture. II is eX-
pected that a large and representative
gathering will be present and that practi-
cal methods OF increasing the productivity
Of the farm lands of the Empire State, OF
securing the location OF the proper type of
immigrants on lands now unused and OF
providing an adequate supply of labor for
existing farms will he devised. II is also
believed that the meeting will serve 10 call
attention TO the fact that in New York
State there is 70 be had some OF the cheap
est farm land in the country, when its
proximity 10 the highest priced markets in
the country is taken into consideration, and
that altogether. the movement viii give
highly satisfactory impetus 10 the farming
industry i'm the state.
STAFFORD AND THE BLIND.-When
Representative Stafford made an earnest
and successful fight for the passage Of a bill
mails 10 a periodical printed in raised let
tiers for the betefit OF the blind recently
there were few even of his colleagues, who
realized the sentimental interest which the
Wisconsin Representative has in this sub
jcct. Mr.. Staford's biography is one Of the
shortest IN the Congressional Directory, and
in il he saws nothing CT tie fact that his
father lost his eyesight ID AN explosion and
that for twenty years he devoted his time
% seeing for his blind father Only Mr..
Stafford's intimate friends have known OF
this fact. but now that il is told. many will
recall that whenever an opportunity has
been offered to further the interests Of the
blind and TO ameliorate their misfortune,
Mr. Stafford has taken a leading part and
has worked hard to that end. @. q. Il.