Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-14
THE SEARCH FOR A SENATOR
is A HARD JOB FOR SPROUL
In State Where Politics Is unfashion-
able II Must Assume the Character
Of a Desperate Pursuit

4 Nv LhNOh cIhoDD, CONFRONTED WIN
~ the necessity of finding successor to
Senator Knox, finds himself in the midst of
situation which vivdly reflects in every
light and every angle the major faults Of
democratic practice in the United States.
The people of the State will. Of course.
have no suggestion to make out Of en-
thusiasm, conviction, knowledge or even
genuine interest. They should worry, And
the Governor will be left to realize In this
emergency how little aid the habitual critic
Of government Is willing to provide in the
form of personal service. There is n CON
slant cry against little men in public offices
But big men prefer, as a rule 70 stay at
home
Routine politics isn't fashionable And
il isn't a profession that ordinarily attracts
gcniuNe>. It offers mono ~ tho material
rewards sought by able men eager to get to
the top Of tn" heap. But it ,!ue> involve a
terrific lot Of punishment administered in
the form of partisan criticism.
When the Governor announces his ap-
poIntment there will. be lifted eyebrows and
murmurs of derisYon in many quarters--no
matter who 70 named. And men who
couldn't be induced to accept the vacant
Office will be the first to wonder why the
Governor couldn't find better man
All the moods and interests of the coun-
try come to a focus in the Senate in an
endless, bewtderiug conflict Of purposes and
feeling natural to q country animated by an
immense diversity Of aims aud modes Of life
The business Of the Senate is to reconcile
a thousand hopes and desires. 10 adjust
them into something like a tolerable policy
Of national action. So n Senator Of the
United States ought to be something Of a
genius. He ought to know great deal
about business since 1t is by business that
We live. He ought to know n great deal
about people, about the farms, about finance
and about human nature and about the law.
He should be sensitive 70 the undcrcurrents
OF popular feeling IN which all great ua,
tional movements originate.
Being thus equipped and having a taste
for politics, a knowledge Of political tech
nique, q good voice and endless courage and
self-confdenre he will find the Senate an
agreeable place In which 70 exercise hi,
talents rather than dlgnifed retreat for
his old age.
Mr.. Sproul. travelling anxiously through
Pennsylvania with the schedule Of necessary
qualifications held firmly in bis hand. could
of course, find many men Ideally fitted for
the place made vacant by the sudden death
of Mr.. Knox. But 1t happens that tho
qualities Of mind and spirit which are rc-
nuircd for leadership In public affairs are in
great demand elsewhere. They are rarc
qualities. Business men appreciate them
even if the people, whose Government is in
question, do not. The Governor, finding
his ideal man, would find him inevitably
deep rooted in 8 business or profession Of
his own and unwilling to be disturbed in
his contentod prosperity.
I'm glad 10 zee you" Mr.. srrou would
have to say, because they need you In
Washington. 7 want you 10 quit your hus' .
ness aud go down there.
The job doesn't pay great deal In
fact il doesn't pay living expenses imposed
by official tradition on Senator NJ the
United States. You will hav. to spend a
great deal Of your own money And you
must prepare to be held up, as they say,
TO scorn In the partisan press. They will
call you names and make fun Of you aud II
may be even hInted that you areu't honest.
"You will be public figure nud the lob
/ bysts will hire detectives TO 60 over all your
, lIfc with microscope in order to have
7 what they call ammunition when anything
| Of interest 10 them Is called w on the floor.
What do you say? What train can you
catch?"
! The gifted citizen thus approached would
| do the usual thing. He would express biz
appreciation and beg to be excused. Hs
would feel somehow that politics Is for the
! fellow with thick skin. SO It goes most
Of the time
Now and then genius with the lrc n
some great purpose blazing In him, vii
buffet the storms and get to r place from
which he can make himself heard and hon
ored. But men who ara gifted and sensitiv,
and therefore happy and well of are no
unlikely to run away when they see at
anxious Governor coming 20 appoint then
to exposed places IN the arena Of public He