The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-01-11
POWER FOR PEOPLE
RIGHT TO HOME RULE SHOULD
De JEALOUSY GUARDED.
To Preserve Our Democratic Republic
Constant Vigilance Is Necessary
Concentration of Govern
rent a Fatal Error.

Nothing should be SO cherished by
the people Of the United States as
their right to home rule. Any action
by the legislative, executive or judi.
cial departments Of the federal gov.
ment looking towards increased CEN
tralization in the hands o. the federal
ing the power OF the people to govern
themselves Nor should the people
of any state view the encroachment
OF their state government with any
less suspicion. for home rule Is a
fundamental democratic principle.
There is nothing so necessary in a
democratic-republic as the constant
vigilance Of the voters to preserve
and IL possible increase their own
power TO direct their local govern
ment 1t need only be pointed out
that the most vexatious and irritating
issues, such as sumptuary laws, can
best be eettled by allowing each coun-
ty or township to pass upon the ques-
ton Of wet" or dry" high license
or no license. Taxation for local pur-
poses can only be settled equitably In
the same way. The old town meet
ing" Is the place where home rule
started, and no better plan has ever
been devised to give each sovereign
citizen an equal right with his neigh.
bors to express his views and vote
intelligently on the matters that d.
rectly interest him.
Directly the power TO rule is dele
gated to others there is the tendency
TO encroach upon the liberty Of the
citizen and TO concentrate more power
In fewer hands. Our vastly increased
population has made II more and more
difficult to preserve home rule, and
has tended to lead citizens to look
to n higher power to do the things
they have neglected or feel unable to
do. The individual looks to the town.
or ward; the town looks to the county
the county looks to the state and the
state looks to the United States to do
what would be irksome or expensive
for the lesser political subdivisions to
do, but which could be better done
even by individuals, II they are public
spirited and act with energy. The
further away from home rule We get,
the greater is the cost Of government
and tho more difficult to prevent graft
ing and corruption.
After all, government, whether town.
city, county, state or national can do
but little to help each individual. To
preserve the peace and punish evil
doors Is almost the extent Of the good
of all our complicated government ma.
chinery. II the people had not gradu.
ally allowed the concentration OF
government In other hands but their
own, there would be but half the taxes
and half the horde OF public officials
sucking at their substance. There
would be no tramps and but few poor
and aged but what their friends and
neighbors could care for. There would
be much less crime and litigation.
fewer lawyers and hence laws would
not be made so complicated and in.
tricate, but more plain and simple.
One-half the judges would be un.
needed, and jalls and reformatories
would have less occupants. There Is
n tendency, that should be stayed, for
individuals to run TO the mayor or
council, or state legislature or even
congress for assistance, or the right
to do something that they ought not
to do, or to prevent their neighbors
from doing what they inherently have
the right to do. or might do without
injury to the public.
Personal and public ignorance has
led TO most of the excrescences of gov
eminent. but now everyone is becom-
Ing educated, In measure, why can
not we hold fast to what remains OF
simple government and home rule In
stead OF making It more complicated
and concentrated? The federal gov
eminent has well defined powers
granted to 1t by the states and all else
is expressly reserved to the states and
the people. The proposition to expand
the constitutional limits OF the federal
government and for the executive to
do things" that he has no power to
do, is a dangerous innovation that
should be checked aud curbed. An oc.
casional crisis may be reached In such
q strenuous manner, but II is very dan
gerous to the republic and If allowed
to be persisted in will break down all
the safeguards to the liberty of the in
dividual, which our forefathers pro-
vided for so carefully.
The Presidential Echo.
Senator Beveridge is so anxious to