New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-25
REAL STATESMEN A NECESSITY
Send Men nd
Nha Afas and Capd o. DngTh Them Uncou Minor L Consider
Else the States Influence Is Bound o

any measure commands consideration by his
colleagues
Such men as Ben Hill, Alexander Stephens
and Crisp, who was Speaker of the House
secured to Georgia for a while her place in
the sun" Edmunds and Morrill, made it neces-
sary always to consider Vermont in the ad-
justment of public affairs. Vest, Cockrell and
Morrison held for Missouri an influence now
Inherited in part by Champ Clark. Because
of Teller, Coorado's influence was great
Texas looked her full size upon the map be-
fore her long line of succession of big men
was broken.
After period of large influence, when
Wade Hampton was in the Senate and dele
CATION of unusual capacity held seats in the
House, South Carolina lapsed into little con.
sequence until Tillman developed to his full
measure. Wisconsin is almost forgotten
with Spooner gone-or occasionally remem-
tered through some regrettablc reminder
New York has been lamentably deficient in
influence save that upon party politics exert
cd by Plat and Hill, with an attendant dom
nation Of managerial control in legislation
by Platt, which Hill never attained; and that
inspired by respect for the ability and broad
craftsmanship of Root In a negative way
the influence of Fitzgerald is felt in the
House But the state has never maintained
consistently the place that should belong TO
her in determining Congressional legislation.
The influence of Ohio has waned with the loss
Of Pendleton, Thurman, Sherman, Hanna and
Mckinley.
When the only measure Of a states infu-
ence upon national legislation is the number
Of votes that may be cast by her delegation It
becomes mere matter of barter; merit is
but lightly considered With no man big
enough to commando capitalization,
the influence of a state is limited TO its abil-
ity TO offer a certain number of votes for some
possibly unworthy proposition in return
for a corresponding number of votes in favor
o. a measure in which the state may have
some local interest. A state so situated can
seldom command a thing as of right Its leg
islative operations become a traffic in pork
and if IL is outbid in the market it does not
get even the pork" The tendency Of this is
10 make legislation chiefly a matter Of i'm
mediate and direct local interest. The broad
or and permanent considerations are general
IL ignored and measures of national impOr-
lance are viewed with indifference, or with
an interest aroused by some deep-seated pref
udice influenced by ignorance. Many con-
sttuencies are so remotely affected by legis-
lation influencing the nations development
that they have no sentiment except that of
antagonsm toward any measure not imme-
diately and obviously to their local adyan-
;age. When such localities have been repre-
sented in Congress by men like Morgan. OF
Alabama; Harris, of Tennessee; Harrison
Turpie and Voorhees,, of Indiana, or Allison
and Deliver, of Iowa, their provincislsm has
in a measure, been compensated for by the
knowledge Of public affairs possessed by
these men.
AS a rule. the South has in the past been
represented by men of national calibre, and
so has exerted an influence disproportionate
60 its industrial and commercial development
population and wealth. With a decline in the
character OF its representation in Congress
much of this influence is still preserved
through its domination OF one political party
and is not always wisely employed either TO
It's. own interest or 10 that of the nation
Local improvements-rivers and harbors
public buildings, highways between remote
villages, farm mortgages and the like-loom
in politics above broader industrial, CONNER