The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-16
"AutocracYr in WASHINGTON.

Editor The Washington Herald.
The Washington Herald. 7 know. is not
! a sensational paper, hut is devoted to
the interests of Washington and its citl-
gems primarily. and secondarily 10 the
interests OF all the people OF the United
States.
Washington, the Capital Of the nation
ought to be clean not only physically but
morally and legally. Unless 1 am hisin-
formed. that is not true. and il seems
to be the duty of a safe and sane" news
paper. as The Washington Herald IS, TO
looh up the dirty spots and see that the
broom is properly applied.
Whether The Washington Herald. or
any one else can do any good I'm remedy
ing existing evils is doubtful. when We
consider our form OF government the
head of which declares il 10 be an 'abso-
lutte autocracy, not legally responsible to
the people" Here is what he says. and
when and where he said II:
In form, the present government OF
the District of Columbia is an absO-
lutte autocracy not legally response
bic 10 the people. FheOreti-
cally they tthe citizens OF the Dis
triCt OF Columbial have no voice in
and no power 10 reward or punish
then"
can the self-government Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia be adapted
TO other municipalities in the United
SJates2 The main obstacle
would be the average mans pride in
possessing the right 10 vote. @"
II. 2. T. Macfarland. I'm EverybOdys
Magazine for August 1901.
'Twenty-three years experience has
proved that this is the ideal form of
government t)r the District Of Co
lumbia, the fact that Il pro-
vides for taxation without representa-
ton. and is autocratiC in form. grieves
some good people in the District who
care more for sentiment than sub
stance. The government of the
District Of Columbia is. therefore. the
best in the United States. because it
is q government by the best citizens"
From Macfarland's address at the
Buffalo Exposition. September, 1901.
Tt might have been IN better taste for
Alr. MacFarland to let some one else say
that he and his associates were the best
citizens. and that all VINO oppose him
care more for sentiment than substance. %
As a sample how this autocracy shows
us contempt ioi tllt people OF the DlSLTlCL
it governs, take the destruction a few
weeks ago of the wells. Thousands OF
citizens protested against this action,
which was taken on the report Of one OF
the subordinate autocrats.
I want you to call the attention Of tie
aUtOcrats, and see whether it is true that
there are lawyers-members Of that most
honorable professionalism act as profess
siOnal bOndSmen2 II is said that these
laWyer-bOndsmen make an extra profit by
arranging who the attorneys shall be in
cases where they make the bonds. getting
a part OF the fee, and even having help
from some officials.
There is one thing The Washington
Herald might look up, and here is where
the doctors come in.
There are q number Of hospitals in this
city supported wholly or in part, as they
ought 10 be, by subsidies. Go to these
hospitals and in most Of them you may
find, ! am told a staff Of young medicos.
who have just received their licenses 10
kill or cure. trying their prentice hands
upon the unfortunate inmates Of the hos
pitfalls.
Take further view. if permitted. and
see whether the trained nurses have the