The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-09
THE LAKELAND NEWS,
ON HIS FITNESS, NOT
ON HIS CALLING

We have never entertained a
doubt as to the exemplary character
and superior intelligence of Perry
Wall, candidate for the United
States Senate from Tampa. But as
he was presented by his friends for
that office as business man" who
had achieved success strictly along
business lines and as they have con-
tinually stressed the fact that he
was a business man and seemed to
rest his claims for election chiefly
upon that ground we have offered
some criticism which has brought
deluge of replies from three of his
Jealous newspaper supporters.
The last comes from the Orlando
reporter-Star, which we have not
heretofore found the opportunity to
reply to. That paper reasons elab-
orately in Mr.. Wallis behalf, but af-
ter all is said the original objection
remains unanswered that it is as a
business men. Mr. Wall is appeal
ing to the people, course as justly
open to criticism as would be an APP
peal for votes by Governor Tram
NELL, his opponent, on the ground
that he was a lawyer.
The Reporter-Star says that "the
term business as applied to Mr..
Wallis candidacy is in fact all in
elusive and that he is broad
minded business man." Obviously
the term business, even considered
in the abstract, cannot be fairly con-
sidered allinclusive, and considered
with special reference to Mr., Wall,
It must have the definite limitations
fixed by the word itself; or we must
concede if it is all-inclusive that he
is marvelously endowed with such
variety of gifts and equipments as
would put him in a class by himself
either in the Senate or elsewhere.
Can his friends claim this for him?
AS for Florida suffering from a
surfeit Of politicians in office" as Mr..
Wall claims, his election, so far
from curing that alleged evil, would
but add one more politician to the
crowd, for, while he is business
man now, his Transformation into a
senator would as certainly make a
politician of him as effect follows
cause and do it on the instant, for
senators deal in politics, politics be-
ing largely and essentially the
science Of government under our
elective system.
In considering this senatorial is
sue now coming before the people of
Florida the position might as well
be abandoned as untenable that a
senator should be elected because of
his vocation, be he business man,
lawyer, farmer, college professor or
what not. Since the founding of the
government our public servants
have come from every walk in life,
from every occupation, trade and
profession, and all that has been
required of them is that they meas
IRE up to the Jeffersonian standard
of honesty, fidelity and capacity.
The all-important question is what
manner of man is he who seeks a
public-trust? What his qualifica-
tions for filling the Office are-not
what his business is-determines his
fitness, and obviously he who has
been trained for public business Is
better fitted than he who has been
trained for private business.
The Senate is not a collection of
business men-it is body of states
men, and business training no
more fits a man for craftsmanship
than craftsmanship fits a man for a
business career.
.
In some respects the late N. B.