West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-12-23
GOVERNMENT BY lNpIR sCrIoN.
An Open Letter to Prof Robert g..
Armstrong. Vice President OF the
West Virginia University.

IL has been my pleasure for several
| years past TO read in different publica-
tions able articles by Prof. Armstrong.
In your issue Of November 18th, I was
much pleased with tho article from
Prof. Armstrong; pen, under the title.
| ''NewsDa pcrdom." After turning over
| TIE ARoUs. / found that Eye ARGUS"
| plainly allowed that Prof. Armstrong
aud myself were standing back to back
and looking in opposite directions, or
that we didn't see the same things In
the same way. Now, didn't mean.
and don't mean through The ARGUS,
TO attack any one in the rear, nor to
be attacked in the rear.
Vow, still think | am right I'm my
view OF tho practical workings OF the
governpent In my article headed the
Dream of Democracy" And further.
l will allow that Prof Armstrong may
be right in his Theoretical view OF our
government in general way. / know
the immortal Lincoln, himself elected
by electors chosen by plurality or
minority OF the peoples votes. gave MS
that sweet norscl OF theory regarding
our form OF nt-government
Tor the people, 10y the people and OF
! the people" But assert, aud | hardly
think any ono can we'll deny, that our
government is n government by our
officers, FOR our officers ard OF our OIL
GERS. Bosses and rings Rings and
bosses rciteratcs the daily press Yes.
we vote Tor officers, and these officers
do the governing. We vote for n set of
| officers, aud these officers choose a
President; we vote for State officers.
and they choose United States Sena-
tors. United States Senators help the
President to elect Supreme Court. the
supreme Being i'm our form OF govern
inent, farthest of all removed from the
touch OF the common people, supreme
ana sovereign. almost in its power
Thus We have the President, the Sen
ate, tho Supreme Court, all chosen by
officers. To complete the government
we are allowed TO vote for members OF
the House OF Representatives to have
no say whatever in making laws, il the
Senators chosen by State Legislatures
stand in the way OF legislation bv the
Lower House. The officers we elect
are. in fact. rulors not servants. Leg
islators may vote MS they please, and
neither the remonstrances OF voters
nor the resolutions OF State Le1isla-
lures are effective To call such logisla-
tors down or to account. The servant
begs OF his master. so does the sover-
eign voter beg Of his ruler, his repre-
sentation. We call il the right of pcti
ton 1t is right merely, nothing
mandatory about it. The right OF pc
tition is hemp" big farce. Our officers
govern MS. and we are powerless in
attempting to govern them.
think Prof. Armstrong upon re-
Election will not claim that DEMOS i
much OF a king. He is king-REx IN
NoMTNE, NON PoTEsTArE. Perhaps the
time has come when we should take
careful survey OF our Fourth of july
utterances regarding the glories OF our
form OF government. Does Prof. Arm
strong believe that 1--WE have equality
of rights?" When legislation in day.
by vote in Congress-, turns millions
into the Golfers of a trust, emptying 1t
out OF the pockets of the people, docs
any ore believe. I ask. that we have
equality OF rights ? III we have equal
iby OF right. / wish my turn would
soon come.
have very little doubt that from
the same standpoint that Prof. Arm.
strong occupied I would see as he did
Yet, do not see how he can help but
see as many able and leading thinkers
OF the day do see in regard to the indi-
rection of government By the people.
Ours, / repeat, is too largely govern
ment by officers. What else is "pov-
eminent by Injunction ?' Only to-day
read in an Ohio paper that IL Gov.
Atkinson's wife was convicted OF
forgery. he would pardon her at once.
Is Governor Atkinson the people, or
/ the one in position 20 thwsrt the will
OF the people BETTER petition him TO
treat his wife ~ othor people are held
by law Voters OF North Carolina voted
their satisfaction with the Union. A
Governor and Legislature took It ont
OF the Union and involved the state in
civil war
But let me call mp Prof. Armstrong.
and see how much, rs one of the poo
pie. he has to do directly with the gov.
erning officers Of the natioa at wash
I ington
Odd you vote for or against
/ President Mckinley
Al cannot vote FOR any man for
/ President.
O Did you vote for the present
| United states Senators from West
/ Virginia?
/ a NO.
Odd you vote for tho Supreme
Court and for government by injunc-
I ton
/ A.-Not At all
Odd you vote for any one con-
/ corned ia governing the United states ?
a Yes, ] voted for one representa-
tive in the American House Of Com.
mons
( Q Gould that Representatives. vote
avail anything IN legislation n tho
Senators from West Virginia and other
states sec st % pre- snt2