The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-04-16
Congressman ]. K. Walker.

i
occasion Baby Congressman" and in
very serious fashion he admonished
the people Of the United States
against making the mistake OF chang
ing their representatives in congress
too frequently. II Speaker Clark had
been addressing himself directly Ia
the people Of the Eleventh Georgia dis
trict. he could not have spoken TO them
more clearly and more wisely than he
did. We have in congress at this time
man who has grown rapidly, and
who has in only a service of three
years risen TO the front rank Of lead
crship in the house, as his splendid
committee assignments Mar evidence
II takes the new congressman at
least four to six years 10 actually
learn the congressional ropes; become
familiar with the detail work of the
departments, broaden his acqualnt-
auceship among his colleagues, etc.
Here is what Speaker Clark told ,the
National Press club on that subject:
II is a high honor to be a rep
resentatiye In congress, IL for only
one term, and with the number
Of terms the honor increases in
geometrical rather than in arith-
medcal proportion. a members
usefulness to his country should
increase in the same proportion.
a man has to learn to be a rep
resentatiye just as he must learn
to be a blacksmith, carpenter,
a farmer, an engineer, lawyer,
or a doctor.
'Poetica nascitur non fit"-a
poet is born. not made-says
Horace; but congressmen-tha is,
useful and influential congress
men--are made largely by expe-
rience and practice.
The old Charlotte district in
Virginia knew this and kept John
Randolph OF Roanoke In the house
till he became great national
figure. Then the Old Dominion
sent him to the senate and Cen
Jackson sent him to st. Peters
burg. There are sporadic cases
of similar action in other districts.
II is an unwls@ performance for
any district to change represent
atives at short intervals. new
congressman must begin at the
foot of the class and spell up.
or course. the more brains, tact,
energy, courage, and industry he
has the quicker he will get up.
II he possess these qualities, and
II his constituents will keep him
in the house, he Is as certain to
rise as the sparks are TO fly up
ward No human power can keep
him down, 1t is only fair and RAJ
tional to assume that every rep
resentative's constituents desire
to see him among the "topnotch-
ers."
AS we stated In the beginning. Hon.
J. II. Walker, congressman from the
Eleventh Georgia district. has anly
been in the house three years, and in
that brief period he has achieved
much and today we find him a nom
Der OF the great committee of the ju.
dietary. He has just about fitted him
self for real service in the future and
he has done SO with a rapldity. al
mentary TO him. We have heard con
siderable talk of opposition to Con
gresham Walker in the coming pri
mary. but we cannot believe that any,
thing of a formidable nature in that
respect win develop. The people OF
the district cannot afford to make a
change at this time for it's bad bust
ness TO swap horses in the middle OF
stream. In that connection, let us
again quote the distinguished speaker
on the subject;
No man should be elected 20 the
house simply TO crafty his amht
tion, All members should be
elected for the good Of the coun-
try.
Tho hest rule, e seems TO me-
~ for j. astre: 10 select man
young enough to learn and TO
grow, with at least fair capacity,
industrious honest, energetic. so
her. and courageous. and keep
him here so long ms he discharges
his duties faithfully and we'll.
Such man viii gradually rise TO
| high position and influence in the
house. His wide acquaintance with
members helps him amazingly in
doing things. We live in parlous
times Abraham Lincolns favor
tie argument for his own re.elec'
ton was that il is unwise to swap
horses in the middle OF the river