The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-16
Sunday Observance and Prohibition.
Editor The Warrington Herald:

Editor The Washington Herald:
There is always more or less fault
finding by the people Of the District OF
Columbia about the manner in which
the public affairs are considered. and II
would seem that the stability of its gov.
eminent was in constant danger.
What the people have is not always
the thing they want or think they need
Every move made by the representatives
OF the people meets with some opposi-
ton from certain class who think there
is danger lurking In every move not d.
rectly advocated by themselves.
This win always in a measure be so
for the people Of our city, having diversi-
ned thoughts and interests, DO not con
slider things as thoroughly and thought
fully as they should, owing to the rapid
manner IN which questions are presented
and disposed OF under system Ike ours,
where the demands are so many and the
time so short for Congress to deliberately
consider all the different phases OF a
question presented. and the people have
so little TO do with the proposed legisla-
ton that they are hardly aware OF what
should be done until after 1t is done. and
there then remains nothing to do but
accept the conditions adopted.
II our city government were one d.
rectly of the people, matters might be
oinerent. but II is one OF the lamentable
facts that the politicians rule the people.
and not the people themselves We often
loudly boast of our many privileges and
advantages. but do the people as a whole
have much to say about the legislation
affecting the District OF Columbia on all
questions OF direct interest?
There is now being considered very
important legislation on the question OF
the Sunday regulations and the LIQUOR
traffic. The people have had the matter
presented in a general way for their con-
sideretion, but is IL in such form that
there will be a full expression OF the ma
jority Of the people directly, interested?
The radical advocates OF these measures
are those who rather control the poIiti-
cal influence OF the legislators, than ex-
press the best interests OF the people as
a whole. The true democratic wishes OF
the people will not be fully expressed by
those who will be mostly affected by such
laws.
The advocates Of these measures are
governed more by sentiment than the
real interests OF those directly involved.
They are composed largely OF a certain
class desiring TO regulate, rather than
benefit. the people, by having them con-
form 10 their ways OF thinking and act
inS; representing only a small minority
or the people Of the District mostly CT
the ultra-religious class, with more re-
ligious fervOr than business and moral
interest OF what IS really needed
To most minds there IS no need for
-adical action along these lines. for the
majority of the people think. know. and
feel that the present regulations of
Sunday and the liquor traffic are sufficient
for all practical purposes. as our city is
now so well governed that It would be a
costly experiment TO change the pres
ent methods touching on these matters.
There might be some notifications in
certain particulars, but the present bills
before Congress are all too radical 70
cure the needed reforms without causing
other conditions. which might be worse
than the present THos. G. LEWIS