Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-08
A Business That Pays No
Dividends

TT has been often said and as generally &C
copied that statesman is dead poll
tician, which is another way of saying
that craftsmanship in the contemporaneous
life of America is a thing Of the past Our
public men are politicians and not statesmen.
They are swayed and influenced by selfish
ness and expeidiency.
The ultimate result Of their actions upon
the destiny of the nation and the future OF
the people, we are told frequently, is a sec
ondary consideration. Their motives are
questioned. Their voice and vote in legisla-
tive halls seldom is accepted by the public
as rejecting their honest views, but are re-
sarded with the suspicion that they were ami
mated by desire to eaten votes at the next
subsequent election.
The popular conception Of our public men
Is not wholly right, nor is it Justified by the
facts, although we concede that in every leg
islative body and in many of our public Of
tees there are men who are influenced in their
acts only by selfish considerations and de-
signs to feather their own nests through con-
tinuance of their public service.
AS politicians, the public men Of America
are engaged in an activity that pays small
dividends. With some persons politics is
business; with others it's a sport, past1me
who engage in politics as a business, the re-
muneration is limited and circumscribed.
Sooner or later they find themselves With
out either job business. If they have
been honest in their conduct-and most poll
ticans are honest, we believe-they nave
nothing in their old age, for the business of
politics is exacting in it's demands and the
financial returns that come in the way OIL
salary are squandered in political campaigns.
For the person who regards politics as
sport and plays the game accordlno to the
rules the result, in the end, as it affects the
individual, is not different from baseball or
any other sport The old timer is "benched'
after while to make way for younger blood.
and If he hasn't saved his salary he is out
of luck.
Considered either as a business or sport,
politics, as remarked, pays no dividends, and
in this respect is in a class by itself when
compared to other lines of activity in
America. ...,
II the average successful politician in
municipal, state or national affairs should
enter upon a legitimate business career IN
young manhood and devote to the business
half the energy and ability that he deVotes
to politics, the reward, in nine out OF ten
cases, would be voluntary retirement in mid
die life with a competence.
When one considers the demands upon the
politician and contemplates. the fate that
awaits him sooner or later one is likely to
feel much more sympathy for senator Sher-
mans bill to increase the salaries Of Senators
and Representatives in Congress to $4,000 a
year, and the salaries of Cabinet officers to
$4,000 Senators and Representatives now
receive $500 per year, and Cabinet officers
$4,000. They are underpaid.a tn. the opinion
Of the Illinois Senator. a..<ss
If the compensation of Senators and Repre-
sentative is to be gagged entirely by the
service they render the government. there is
admittedly room to debate the merits Of the
proposed increase in their salaries. Their
service, we are reminded occupies only a
part of their time, and is not continuous, but
their actual presence in Washington and at
tendance upC committee meetings and ses-
sions of Congress is only a part--a relatively
small part of their duties. "'''
In the first place, they must maintain a
certain position, and in the second place,
they are to continue in the business they
have selected as their life work, they must
curry favor with their constituents. They
must cntribute to every fund that is raised
in their districts They must help erect coun-
try school houses and help to buy new church
organs. There are indeed hundred and one
demands upon the Senator and Representa-
tive, not to mention the unusual and eX
traordnary expenses of campaigns that recul
with annoying frequency.
While, as stated, the suggested raise in the
pay of Senators and Representatives in Con
gress is debatable question, there is small
room for debate as to the Justice of an in
creased salary for Cabinet officers. The ma
ture of their duties compels them to give the
undivided time and attention to the bushes!
Of the Executive Departments over which they
preside They must maintain style Of liv
ing in Washington in keeping with the station
they occupy, and they must dissocate them
selves from private business interests.
No one. we feel sure. will dispute that ;
man capable of directing one Of the Execu
tive Departments Of the COVE mint is no
capable of earning annually manv times TIT
compensation he receives as a. Cabinet off
GER The acceptance of such an office in al
cases we believe. involves an actual pecun
larry loss. Viewed in this light the compen
sation of $12,0 900 year is far too small. ant
Congress will make no mistake is authorzin'
an increase to $4,000, as provided in tn
Sherman bill
When young man or clock gets too fas
setback is necessary.
1t is easy to think that we shall get up earl.
in the morning.