The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1916-07-28

49, '(A-A''i' 80 lag ~ eA-2i4tA4S
ton to Join my wife and little
granddaughter in Fitzgerald, Ga
my old home city, to take my va
cation to mix and .mingle with
my old friends and to take a part
in the political campaign in the
interest OF Congressman Charles
K. Crisp, who is a candidate to be
reelected in the 65tn Congress to
succeed himself, | learned from
the Fitzgerald people that our
work will not be very much need
| ed in Ben Hill county, that he
will carry the county by an over
Whelming majority. | have had
several Of the Fitzgerald friends
to visit me here in the last two
weeks. They all bring favorable
reports, except one. Now, some
Of Ghe reasons why the Third Dis
trict should return Congressman
Crisp back to Congress are be-
cause ne has been a faithful
worker and q consistent member
Of Congress.
A poet is born, not made, but
Congressmen-that is. useful and
influential Congressman - are
made largely by experience and
practice
The old Charlotte district in
Virginia knew this and kept John
Randolph, Of Roanoke, in the
fIouse till be became a National
figure. Then the old Dominion
sent him 10 the Senate and Gen.
Jackson sent him to St. Peters
burg. There are sporadic cases
OF similar action in other districts.
1t is an unwise performance
for any district to change Repres-
entatives at short intervals. A
new Congressman must begin at
the foot Of the class and spell up.
IOf course, the more brains, tact,
energy, courage and industry he
has the quicker he will get up. If
he possesses these qualities. and
if his constituents will keep him
i'll 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
rational to assume that every
representatives. constituents de
sire to see him among the top
notchers.
Let us take the present House
and see how long the men who
hold the high places have served.
cannot name them all, but will
cite a few as samples
Mr.. Cannon is serving his forti-
eth year. He holds the record, or
in pugilistic parlance, "he holds
the belt" for length of service in
the House in our entire history.
In several Congresses he was
Chairman of the great Commit
tee on Appropriations and then
was speaker eight years. Only
one man, Henry Clay, having
been Speaker longer.
1t is high honor to be Rep
resentative in Congress, if for
only one term, and with the num-
Der Of terms, the honor increases
in geometrical rather than arith-
metical proportion. A members
usefulness to his country should
increase in the same proportion.
A man has to learn to be Rep
resentative just as he must learn
to be blacksmith, a carpenter, a
farmer, an engineer, a lawyer, or
a doctor.
No man should be elected to
the House simply to crafty his
ambition. All members should
be elected for the good of the
country.
The best rule, as it seems to
me, is Tor district to select a
Fman young enough to learn and
tgrow, with at least fair capacity,
industrious, honest, energetic, So
Der and courageous, and keep him
so long as he discharges his du-
ties faithfully and we'll. Such a
man will gradually rise to high
position and influence in the
House. Wide acquaintance with
members helps him amazingly in
doing things. We live in parlous
times. Abraham Lmcoln's favor
lite argument for his own re-elec-
ton was that it is unwise to swap
horses in the middle of the river
which applies to Congressman
as well as Presidents.
If you have good Congress
man from your district and want
him and honored by the district,
and great man in national poll
tics, keep him in Congress or the