The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-04
THE NATION NEEDS STATESMEN

While the nation still has lively feeling of relief over the adjournment of congress that was wearisome in it's political maneu- verings in the face of an unparalleled op- portunity, there is prophecy that the next congress will consist of ninety per cent. poli- tics and ten per cent legislation. It is pre- dicted that the greater part of this 1egisla- tion will be innocuous. And yet there is nothing surprising in this situation, for 1t would be incredible that congress so bad as the one just closed should be followed by one of exceptional excellence. There are too many former members that will belong some manifestation of aroused public senti- ment that will pierce to the consciousness of those who are making use of their office to r'- '''o'~ own political ge~,oe. it = ed that history will repeat itself, a process all the more boring in that there is nothing of moment to repeat.
 As to the prophecy that much of the leg islation will be innocuous, it may be said that it is doubtful whether legislation is ever innocuous. If trivial laws are passed when momentous affairs demand attention, then the trivial laws become directly and posi- lively injurious insofar as they delay con- structive legislation. It is certain that the men who shall enlist public attention in the next congress are the men who shall dis tinguish themselves in sincere consideration and espousal of public affairs; for those who play politics will be indistinguishable> the crowd of those who play politics. The times demand statesman of outstanding vision, energy and conservation to high ideals of government Such man, regardless of party, will be leader. If ever there was time when a great man could write his name in large and undying letters on the pages of our national history, that time is now. There is a wealth of national opportunity beckoning to us and an unexcelled field for the display of statesmanship, both in domestic and foreign affairs.
 Unfortunately, 1t appears that the dema- gogue is in the ascendant. Instead of leaders who would establish our advancing destinies on sound principles, we have en- thusiasts who cast down glittering but un- tried prospects before us and ask us to be- lieve them genuine. Every wild theory of government that can be devised or invented is propounded by some one or other as the single solution of our imaginary ills, as the door through which alone we can enter into some utopia or other. This nation is not going to be misled into any such wild appli- cation of the theory of government This nation has ceased even to be amused by the rawlings of iconoclasts and bankers for politi- cal sdeshows. The public desires to have ;rs. br tot grounded in the principles of government, and not by self-chosen theorists who are not even familiar with the tenets and principles of the government they seek to mould to their notions. Let there be a return to sanity in government, and let those charged with the solemn responsibility of making our laws in Washington, come down to earth once more, and counsel together for the good of the nation, rather than for the sat- isfaction of personal vainglory.