Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-28
POLITICS AS A PROFESSION.
tFrorn the New York Sun. }

tFrom the New York SUM-
To David p. Hills declaration. II am
a Democrat" Senator Arthur z. German,
the deinocratic candidate for governor in
Maryland. In q speech accepting the nom
ination adds with unconventional frank
ness: And am a politician 1t Is a.
worthy profession. according to tho son
Of his father.
I'm mAkinS a choice Of my life work It
has seemed 10 the that in politics. as In
medicine, iaw and other professions and
vocations. knowledge and experience
should 10 sought and should be valued,
and that men should entor the field se1-
ously and openly.
Il have gone into politics in Maryland
for no other purpose than to npd sue
cessfui and honorable career. l think l
have a lively and profound sense of the
responsibilities and duties OF political lie.
l am fully conscious of the fact that no
man can really succeed In politics except
by proper. intelligent and valued public
service public usefulness must be abso-
lutely the measure OF SUCCESS"
In England, France. Spain. Italy Ger
many and In contiguous Canada men
make n profession of politics and suffer
no loss of reputation, because politics In
those countries Is not regarded as
synonymous with graft and corruption.
and the measure of success Is usefulness
10 the State n England men are born
into poltlcs-they inherit It; but times
have changed, and unless they show
capacity for public service they are over
Swallowed by a man OF plebe,an origin
like David Lloyd George, The brilliant
Welshman by the way. would not deny
that he is a politician. In the United
States 1t has become term of reproach,
and yet every canonized leader we nave
had was In some sort a politician. judged
by Organization standa rds. The lamented
Lincoln was one of the ablest politicians
of his day. Senator German, however
will shock the moral sense of many well
meaning persons by his audacious con-
| fession But let him explain himself:
Il believe in organization. No party
can thrive and carry its platforms into
effect without IT, An organization to last
must be representative. 1t must repre-
| sent all interests in the party. what is
needed is a little clear thinking on this
subject. We must not confuse the ma
| chinery OF organization with the organi'
cation itself The men who do the very
! necessary work of party machinery mus
| not think that they are the party, neither
| must they all be damned because some OF
them are selfish or disloyal or unworthy.
| Maryland has enacted a corrupt prar
| tees act, the most drastic In the coun
try" says Senator German; vigorously
! enforced. it will make machine politics
Impossible In his opinion. Still, he Is tn
| organization candidate. and as such M
will be assaied and will lie under tn
suspicion of intending to build up per
| sonal machine Nr. German Is now be
lever in the primary, because, his critic
J will say he owes his nomination to IN
| operation Of the new primary law. Ill
views on the subject DO not suffer iron
want of frankness
Under Ideal conditions one combatan
in a primary should be the organizato
| candidate as much as the other. and to
degree this Is always so; but If the ran
and Ale OF the orga nizntion. leaders an
| workers. support one man and claim TO b
the organization they are entitled TO a
the actual votes they can poll. IL is
we'll known fact that under all condition
and circumstances those who call them
serves inc OTRdll4HtlANi4' az 80 - i''
always numerically in the minority. IN
whole question is one of fairness and non
esty. and the new law compels that. /
those who oppose the Organization re
fuse 10 come out and vote when they ar
assured of absolute fairness ana honest
they have themselves TO blame II the
hermit the organization to win the pr
mary"
OF course the organization Will aI"a!
endeavor to win at the primary, an
success will often be the reward OF II
Iabors Under any devisable elecuo
system this would be the case. But
is seldom a candidate for office puts u
, matter 30 clearly as Senator German h'
done. He expects to be chosen goNer11'
, ~ he can convince the voters that ne
an honest and capable politician. ne ne
served notice upon them that II "''ho'
iniuring the public service he can al
, mint democrats he will always 40
/, So that II he is to be elected governor
, ,rust be as a democrat and as POM
cion II occurs to US that there Is prop'
blv not n progressive or az insurSe'
, IN the land who would proclaim hiihse
a politician. At the same time we
, not know of n leader among them WI
= is not as much OF a politician as the no
Arthur P German, but not man as "''
est about his occupation.