[1935 Mr 19, 20:3
editorial]
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TOO QUICK DESPAIRER. "Poets
should be law-givers," said EMERSON. JOHN
STEVEN MCGROARTY, who
represents certain districts of Los Angeles County in the present House, is one
of the rare birds who have carried out this adage. By vote of the California
Legislature he is poet-laureate of the State. He is a good deal more than that.
He has written perhaps the best history of his adopted State. He is the author of
the famous and now classic San Gabriel Mission Play. He is the amiable and witty
philosopher who has seen the world "From the green Verdugo Hills" in The Los
Angeles Times for it must be almost twenty-five years. Miner, lawyer, journalist,
Doctor of Laws, double Doctor of Literature, he is his accomplished multiple
self.
Perhaps his study has been little on finance and economics. Anyway, he
succumbed to the atmosphere of The Angels; spread persuasively the gospel of old
reliable Doctor TOWNSEND. An unregenerate Democrat, he was
sent to Congress form a rank Republican district. He seems to feel that he has
discharged his obligations by introducing Dr. TOWNSEND'S
bill. Just like a poet, he has been at Washington for only a few weeks when he
thinks he has had enough or too much of it and says he won't have another term.
He doesn't complain of uncongeniality among his associates. he is sick of his
constituents. At least he is sick of one of them, whom he strives his best to
displease.
To him he enumerates among the "countless drawbacks" of his service in
Congress, that I am compelled to receive impertinent
letters from a jackass like you in which you say I promised to have the Sierra
Madre Mountains reforested and that I have been in Congress two months and
haven't done it. Will you please take two running jumps and go to hell?
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A man who won't butter an angry constituent, but who gives him such
marrowy directions to speed him Gehennaward is too precious to lose. For
the common delectation and benefit Mr. MCGROARTY ought to change his
mind. | |
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