Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-02-17
PEOPLES COLUMN
Salisbury, Md.
February 10th, 1899

Pocomoke City, Md.
TO THE EDITOR:
The First Congressional District OF
MARYLAND, comprised of Cecil, Kent
Queen Anne's, Caroline, Talbot, Dor
chester, Wicomico, Worcester ano
Somerset Counties, will soon be faced
with the serious task of selecting a
new Representative in Congress. Inc
nomination is to be made by the State
Central Committee of the severai
Counties and of Baltimore City. Since
this District is largely Democratic
the nomination by the State Centrai
Committees virtually means the cleo
t;on. Of the nominee, provided that IN
tbe ewes of the voters that nominee
is the right man, or in other worus'
10 the best qualified man available
from the District.
When the Government of the UNI
ted States was established by the
adoution of the Constitution and the
creation therein of the office OF KEEP
resentative in Congress, it was be-
l;eved that that office was one OF
high purpose and called for men OF
highest qualifications. There IS every
reason to believe that the purposes are
even higher today due to the growth
and development of the Nation, and
the requirements as to qualification
should be more exactly met.
What should be the qualifications OF
our Representative in Congress as to
education, training, experience and
age? The requirements can best be
determined by considering the duties
of the office. The primary duty OF a
representative is the preparation, IN
PRODUCTION and enactment into laws
of bills relating to the many matters
in which the District is interested.
If this duty is wisely and intelligently
performed can it not best be done
by one who has had the best legal
education, and, by wide practice, has
gained a thorough knowledge OF the
essentials of laws to the end that all
laws may be prepared to meet any
Court test to which they may be and
are continually being submitted
Since the laws relate to matters OF
many different kinds, it is equally
necessary that the representatives
have a broad business experience
Trulv there is no one who has had
such experience to greater degree
than a lawyer engaged in the general
Dractice of law for he has presented
tn him continually for solution prop
lens arising from every type OF bust
moss and all the walks of life. When
Won have found that man, you VIII
have found the man qualified by edu-
cation. training and experience.
Rut there remains that all lmpor-
tant question of age. A Representa-
tive is not sent to Congress for one
or two terms, but for a PERIOD OF
wears for he must spend a few OF
those wears in learning the ropes
becoming adjusted to the office anu
making the contacts essential to the
proper performance of his duties. "A
second important duty is that OF serv-
ing on the many committees in Con-
press and thus directing and guiding
many of the important affairs of the
Nation. In order to secure appoint
ment to these committees. represen-
tative must prove his ability by the
manner in which he has performed his
duties and conducted himself through
wears of service and not for a limited
period of time. Can we afford to
send to Congress a man who on &C
count of age or through physical IN
ability might sooner or later surren-
der the office without having render
ed a real service to his District? Why
not nominate one who, being quail
fled in all other respects, is vigorous
and possessed of such vitality that he
may serve for years and. with the ex-
perience gained in the increasing
years render an increasing service tt
his District? No better example Of
this can be found than that of Con
gresham Goldsborough who was Sc
lected at about the age of forty ant
retires after twenty years of service
The members of the State Contra
Committee are the mere representa-
tives of political party and all thu
members Of that party are vitality in
terested in the nomination. The PEG
pie should give deep thought and con
alteration to this matter and advis
their respective State Central Com
mittees.
Respectfully yours,
Lewis c. Merryman.
N-A>~1-x,sV