The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-04
Public Officials.
Are They OF Are They Not the Ser
wants Of the People?

wants Of the People?
Commenting upon some supposed
tendency toward arbitrary govern
ment in this country, the 'Philadei-
phia Public Ledger" says that public
officials should consider themselves the
servants, not the masters, of the peo-
pie, and that a display of gold lace
and show of power tends to interfere
with this idea.
This Is 4 matter which ought to be
discussed, if at all, in a calm and rea-
sonable way, but, unfortunately, some
people seem disposed to run at il as a
bun charges upon a red rag A "shov
OF power consisting of gold lace, of
heial formality,. and such minor
things, while it does tend to give an
impression of dignity, ought not to
impose on anybody with an intellect
greater than that of a five-year-old
child, and probably does not. The
fact is that a good deal of our boasted
.itffersonian simplicity is of the kind
described by Sidney Lanier, in his
comment on Socrates,
Thy year-worn cloak, thine iron stringencies
That were but dandy upside-dovn-"
Does anybody contend deliberately
that gawkiness, meanness, cheese-par-
ing. lack of conformity to established
and graceful traditions, are any more
digniied or more democratic, in them
selves, than a decent observance of the
ferns of government Does anybody
suppose that a statesman Is more of a
statesman for wearing his trousers
tucked into the tops of his boots, talk
ing off his shoes in the House of Rep
resentatives, or refusing to wear even
ing dress at formal dinners7 Is a
parade Of such gaucheries, on the part
OF men who know better, anything
more than dandy upside-down7
Anybody who knows the inside his
tory of American politics knows that
some of these very men who have
made a show of democracy in their
outward seeming have been anything
but the servants of the people; and
that some of the men who have con
formed to social traditions have really
Lad the public interest at heart. We
may as well define, in our own minds,
what being tie servants of the people
means.
The President, the Senator, the
Representative, s supposed to serve
the interests of MS public, 10 express
their wishes. That is what representa-
tive government means. But some of
these very persons who are crying out
against the alleged arbitrariness of
ouispoken men like Mr.. Roosevelt are
doing so because he has served the IL
terests OF the people instead of the
desires Of mcney-makers. When he
was police commissioner he earned
the cordial hatred Of a good many
powerful men, beeanse he made trou-
bic for them. He was not bound Ia
serve their interests rather than the
interests of the people IN the slums
and the questionable streets. His
work on the Civil Service Commission
made the spoilsmen hate him, but even
they can hardly say that tine interests
of the people are better served by let
ting a clique of politicians find places
for their friends, than by a merit sys-
tenn applying to all alike. Now that
he is President, he has shown no dis
position TO serve the interests of sci
Of politicians and spectators, and tic
cry that he is not "a safe man" comes
from them. The people OF the United
States are not quite ready to admit
that public servant Is created mere
ly for the service of the rich and pow
erful. That Is why they are backing
Mr.. Roosevelt.