The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-06-04
Taking His
Measure

The would-De political bosses, VINO
assume the prerogative of selecting
candidates for the people, are still ac-
tive in their endeavors to induce some
one whom they think will be amend
able to their control to come out
against Breckenridge Long for the
Democratic nomination for United
States Senator. Not that they cai.
find anything that reflects upon his
democracy, ability, honesty or fitness,
but because they were not instrument.
al in promoting his candidacy and
have pretty large hunch that they
can't handle him and mold him as wax
in their hands. The fact is, Breck
Long is not that sort of man.
The worst they have dared say
about him is that he is not well
enough known; he hasn't exploited
himself before the people nor been a
chronic seeker after office, and that
he has not had sufficient experience
in looking after division of the
spoils of office among their hungry
and expectant followers to qualify
him for the exalted position of United
States Senator. AS to the people
knowing Mr.. Long, let them not de-
ceive themselves. After the August
primary they will have more light on
that subject, whoever they may bribe
to enter the contest with him. All of
the men with any senatorial qualifi-
cations who have been solicited to run
haev quietly but firmly declined to en-
ter the race.
As to Mr.. Longs experience, knowl-
edge and grasp of the questions and
government policies with which the
Senate has to deal, and his ability to
take care of them. as well as to rep
resent his State as creditably as any
Of it's former Senators, he has fur
nished ample proof. Although he has
never been noisy in his work for the
party, his work has been effective, ac-
tive, faithful and clean, and he was
well enough known to attract the at
teuti0n of President Wilson when the
latter wanted man for an important
and responsible post in the Secretary
Of States departmet. So be was call
ed 10 Washington and made an AS
sistant Secretary.
His bureau had charge Of all mat
ters pertaining to our diplomatic and
consular activities in the Far East
and Russia, and had to deal with
some of the most delecate and impor-
tant questions and negotiations aris-
ing during the war. He conducted the
negotiations which finally terminated
in the withdrawal of the American
troops from Siberia. He represented
the United States in negotiatloLs'.~ta
ing to the adjustment of highly diff
fcult problems, among them provi-
sions for sound financial system in
China, in which American business
men are vitality concerned.
He is president of the Consular
Board, which is virtually the head Of
the Consular service of the United
States; he is head of the bureau which
has under its control the bureau Of
Citizenship, which issues and regu-
Iates the issuance of passports; the
Ceremonial Bureau of the State De-
partment, which is responsible for the
reception of foreign dignitaries of all
ranks, is under his direction; he is ad-
ministering officer of the State De-
partment having dealings with inter-
national commissions, and has been
entrusted with confidential missions
of the highest Importance connected
with the activities of the State De-
partment, and has been eminently sue
cessful in all of them.
Don't you think, thoughtful reader,
that Breckenridge Long has proven
himself a man of ability and parts
which measure up to the high stand
ards which go to the making of
bang-up United States Senator? Be-
sides all this, he is a man of the peo-
pie, modest but forceful, clean in life
and character, firm in conviction and
we'll equipped to stand up for and de-
fend the cause of the people and the
policies of clean and constructive
government. He is the man for Mis-
souri's next Senator.