The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-11
TESTS FOR THE RECOLLECTION OF
LEGISLATORS.

Besides this, we know it to DO /,
fact. rs he announces in his card, that
legislative experience counts for !,
great deal. With the biennial session
lot our General Assembly shortened to
sixty days. it is almost impossible for
new man to do more than learn the
ropes IN that time. During the first
session, therefore. man. however
able, cannot make himself n personal
or political force in n BODY where
many OF the other members are vet.
Grams. He cannot hope to obtain any
important place on or the chairman
snip OF any one of the great commit
tees, and it is well known that it is
by the sound sense and shrcwdness dis
played in the calm and dispassionat @
interchange of ideas at the committee
table that legislation is framed and
influenced. rather than by any passion
ate or ornate oratory on the floor of the
tiouse. III this sort of work especial
~ VIII MT ----- show at his best. and
II he is returned as a reward for his
past services. there can be no doubt
OF the fact that he will be in a much
better position to serve his people the
second term than he was during the
session OF 1912"
Because such arguments as these
for the reelection of legislators NAV
be repeated often in the next few
months, it is we'll TO direct attention
10 their Righteousness. The name OF
the legislator referred to and the name
OF the newspaper recommending that
he be returned are omitted because the
criticism here made is general and not
specific: il is not aimed at any psrti
cular individual
In the first place. mere legislative
experience supplies no reason for the
reelection of a legislator. While ex-
perience is an advantage as general
rule' In the case of the lawnaker il
depends wholly upon what sort of ex
perience his has been. II his experi
ence has been in defeating wise laws
and enacting evil laws, if il has been
experience in obstructinE progressive
laws for the greater welfare Of the
people, then such experience should
operate to remove the legislator from
his seat rather than to retain him in
it
In the second place, it is not true
that Ill is almost impossible for =
new man TO do more than learn the
ropes i'll that time Csixty days.. and
that during the first session
man. however able. cannot make him
self a personal or political force in =
body where many of the other mem
oeEs are veterans The ropes" can
be learned in Il few days; there is
nothing mysterious about the duties
OF the legislator Any man. however
inexperienced in parliamentary pro-
ce"ure, can, in 4 single session. make
himself personal and political force
b. voting for measures designed for
the public good and by voting against
measures which promote private in
terests The lawmakcr who is ALWAYS
actuated by breadth. honesty. patriot.
ism and devotion 10 the people cannot
he!p becoming personal ara pciiti-
cal force. righteousness exalteth q
legislator
In the third place. no legislator who
claims sound sense and shrewdn.ss
displayed in inc calm ana dispassion-
ate interchange Of ideas at the com
WItiee table by which Legislation *
framed and Influenced" can submit any
evidence to show that ne demonstrated
any such ability or carried any weigh,
In The committee room. Wha, ro,.s o,,
in committee room is q sealed
book 1t Is shrouded with sccrccv .Jus,
as no member OF q secret society can
submit any evidence to outsiders ~
sno" what he has done in the lod,.
room so no legislator can submi, anv
evidence 10 show what he has dom. ,n
committee couclaye C'ornri,,