If a young man enters politics for the mere sake of getting office or personal advancement, his motives are sordid, and his life will be worth nothing to his fellow-man and nothing creditable to himself; but, if in conjunction with honorable ambition, he entertains the earnest desire to be useful to the community in which he lives by exercising his energies in political work, there is a glorious field for him.
If this combination of motives inspires you, my young friend, by all means yield to your inclination and “enter politics.”
Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., April 1, 1905.
Mr. Thomas Watson, 121 West Forty-second Street, New York City.
Dear Sir: Being in the midst of preparations for a scholastic debate to be held here on the —th, kindly permit me to ask your views on the following: Our question is, “Resolved, that the Government should own and control all the railway lines.”
What, in your opinion, are the strongest arguments to sustain the affirmative side of this question?
Thanking you for this favor, I remain,
Very respectfully,
E——.