Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1907-01-18
POWER FOR PEOPLE

Nothing should lie so cherished by .ne
people OF the United States as their
right tai home rule. Any action by the
Legislative, executive or judicial depart
ments OF the federal govormeut looking
towards increased Capitalization in the
hands CT the federal government is a
step towards decreasing the power OF
the people to govern hemselves. Nor
should the people Of any state view the
encroachment Of their state COVER nmen
with any less suspicion. for home rule is
a fundamental democratic principle.
There Is nothing 81 necessary in a demo-
cratic-republic ~ the constant vigilance
OF the voters TO preserve md il possible
increase their own power to direct their
local government. II need only be
pointed out that the most vexstious and
irritating issues. such as sumptuary
laws, best be settled by allowing
each county or township TO paGs upon
the question OF wet" or @dry,' high
license or 10 license. Taxation for
local purposes can only be settled
equitably in the same way. The old
town meeting ia the place where home
ule started, and no better plan has ever
been devised to give each sovereign
citizen an equ Il right with his ~neighbors
to express his views and vote inteIi.
gently on the matters that directly
interest him..
Directly the power to rule is delo-
gated to others thore is the tendency 10
encroach upon the liberty OF the citizen
and to concentrate more power in fewer
hands. Dur vastly increased population
has made il more and more difficult TO
preserve home rule, mud has tended 10
lead citizens TO look to II higher power
To- do the things they have neglected or
fecl unable to do. The individual looks
to the town, or ward; the town looks TO
The county, the comfy looks to the 81 ate
and the state ltoSs To the United States
&" do whnt would DO irksome or ex.
pensive for the lesser political sub.
Divisions to du, but which could be
better done even by i~ndiyiduRle, il they
are public.sLirted aud net with energy.
Tho further away trpm homo rule we
get, the greater is the cost OF govern.
ment and the more difficult 10 prevent
grating and corruption.
After all, govoroment. whether town,
city. county. state or national can do
but little tohheip rsrh individual. To
preserve the peace and punish evil doors
is almost the extent Of the good Of all
II complicated government machinery,
IL the people had mol gradually allowed
the concentration OF government in
other hands but their own. there would
be but half the taxes and lal! the horde
OF public officials sucking AT their sub.
stance. Tho re would be no irampa and
but Tow p"or and aged but What their
friends ma neiehLors could care for.
There would be much lea crime and
litigation. fewer lawJ ere ana hence laws
would not III made 20 complicated and
intricate. bnt inOre plain and simple.
One'half he judges would be uuuemJed.
and jaiIe and rctoi n%Ia.0rice wouIi layo
lees occupants. There II u tendency. |
that should he stayed, Tor individuals 10 |
run 10 the ma or or council, or state
or even congress for assist. |
ancc, or he hight TO do something that
they ought not TO do. or to prevent
their Deighbors from doing VIVA, they
10 Inherently aye the right todo, or nigh,
DO without injury Ia ne public.
Personal aud public. ignorance has led
70 most Of the excrescenccs oi govern.
n'nt, but pow everyone IL becoming !