THE "STRAIGHT" POLITICIAN.
Sir George Reid proudly disclaimed being a straightforward man, politically. In fact, ho brought strong argument to show that in politics such a. man would soon bo "down and out." It was at the Millions Club luncheon at Sydney last week that the Prime Minister declared that Sir George Reid, while always willing to give way on smail details, clung tenaciously to his main principles. Later on, when he had tho chance of reply. Sir George said that the Prime Minister had charged him with having done some skilful steering in matters of detail. "Tho greatest humbug in public life," added Sir, George, "is the man who, when starting on a voyage, declares his port of destination and won't tack and fill in order to get there in the shortest possible time. The true loyal public man is the one who declares for an honest port and takes advantage of every wind and every tide in order to get there quickly. Let us look at the straightforward politician. Ho declnrcs for a port; he gets his ship outside Sydney Heads; he puts her nose across the chart to the distant port, and he lashes his helm, saying, 'I am a straightforward man. I have lashed my hnlrn to go straight for that port. , " Amid deep silenco Sir Geor.ce proclaimed, ""What an ass he was. eh?" "Why," he continued, "thnt straightforward politician begins by being n derelict. Even my friends never accused mc of treachery to my principles, and ns to what my enemies did, well, they never could raise my gorge."
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Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14839, 3 December 1913, Page 9
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264THE "STRAIGHT" POLITICIAN. Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14839, 3 December 1913, Page 9
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