The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-16
Afraid to Quit Congress.

If members of the house were to eX-
press their true thoughts. ninety per
cent of them would confess that they
would like to get out of congress-. were
it not thai they are afraid to enter
private life again-afraid Of their abil-
ity to make a living.
view of the men in congress
was given by former Representative
Eaton j. Bowers of Gulfport, Miss.
Mr.. Bowers. who retired from congress
voluntarily at the end Of the SiXty-first
congress, did SO because he found that
he could no longer live on the pay of
a member. He quit. he declared. in
time to take up again the practice Of
law before 1t was too late.
Because l could not make ends
meet on the salary of a member OF
congress, 1 quit" said Mr.. Bowers. II
figured out. and found / al no longer
getting any eturn from my law
practice. had a family growing up
and l found it necessary to make
more money, so 1 went back to the
law. and l am mighty glad of it. The
truth is that ninety per cent Of the
members would quit If they had the
courage to take the step. They are
like government employees. who, after
years Of service. fear to resign. though
they see nothing to hope for in the
future. The uncertainty Of tenure of
q member of congress makes it all
the harder for a congressman. 1 have
been referring particularly to the men
who have served for several years in
the house.
"A member of congress has no long
er much independence of thought or
Judgment. The proletariat is making
towards of all. The member who
doesn't listen to the voice of his con-
ctffSranfo x-f11 Cor~ he ~noJ, &c
1t, and he must obey or be kicked out.
1t was different ear ago. l remem-
Der that when the late Justice Lamar
was In the senate from Mississippi, he
disregarded the instructions of the
legislature to vote for a free silver
coinage bill. It was predicted that
when he went back to seek another
term in the senate he would be beaten.
Lamar ran again. and he went on the
stump and told the people of Missis-
sippi that he had not obeyed the state
legislature, and he did not convince
anybody that his position was right on
the coinage question; yet he was re-
elected and had the support of the
people. He simply had the courage Of
his convictions.
To-day conditions are different, and
the man who would take Lamar's
position could not get AVA with It,"
Farmers Shun Politics.
Farmers in North Carolina and in
southern states generally are not TAX
ing much interest in the coming cleo
TONS" said NC. Williams OF Winston
Salem. Il used to be much interested
in politics. but I haven't been to the
polls on election day more than twice
In the last half dozen years. Why?
Oh, I don't know. except perhaps that
I haven't much use for the hifalutin'
notions of some of our politicians. !
think that most farmers are more in
different to politics and elections than
they were a decade ago.. They see that
the elections are controlled by a few
bosses. 80 what's the use?
I'm North Carolina there Is very lit
tie interest manifested among farmers
in either the state or national election.
We have a state primary for the Sc
lection of a United States senator, and
ordinarily 1t would he a very warm
contest, but except among a few Of the
leaders there is not much excitement.
The contest generally is considered to
be between Gov. Kitchin and Senator
Simmons, the incumbent. but Judge
thought h fight vas between him and
Simmons. So you can't tell what may
be the outcome. Any one of them will
he good enough; all have their weak.
nesses.
my state is going to he short on
corn and hay this year. added Mr.
Williams. who owns a large farm near
Winston-Salem. I'VE have had only
one rain since June I. and the corn II
burning up in some parts of the state
1t In likely that the corn crop will be