Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-11-12
A SQUARE deal
IN POLITICS
A RECENT MAGAZINE ARTICLE BY
WILLIAM ]. BRYAN,
A Wholesome Discussion of "Thc
Square Deal in Politics." Party
ORGANIZATION Must be the Servant,
Not the Master, of its nemberS,
to Secure Best Results.

We use the term politics" in re-
ference to both subject of govern
ment and the subject of parties, and
l shall speak of the square deal" as
it relates to both.
There are two theories of govern
ment, one-the monarchical theory
is that government is thirteen in
ches in diameter, round in shape and
fired out of cannOn-an Organiza-
tiOn resting upon force. The other
is that a government is thing made
by the people for themselves, to be
administered for the advancement Of
their own welfare by themselves d.
'rectly, or by representatives of their
own chOice-a government deriving
it's. just powers from the consent of
the governed. l shall only deal with
the latter theory of government since
it is the only theory which we recog-
nize as sound in this country.
A square deal in representative
government consists in the operation
OF the government according to the
theory upon which it rests. All Of
ficials, executive, legislative and
judicial, should be in sympathy with
the whole people and should be care
full to see that the government is
not made private asset in business
hIyo rt Of Tn,
government the ballot should be
protected so that the voice of the
people will be heard and the will Of
the majority registered with accuracy
In such a government the taxes
should be so collected that each one
will contribute to the support of the
government in proportion to the bene-
fits received under the protection of
the government and the money COL
lected by taxation should be so ap-
propriated that the public veal will
be promoted rather than private in
tereSts. In such a government equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none should be the maxim and the
courts should enforce the law with
out partiality or respect to persons.
The aim of such government should
be to encourage each citizen to the
higher endeavor by assuring him his
equitable share of the total wealth
produced-a reward commensurate
with his contribution to the well
fare Of the country.
A square deal in party affairs
means that each member Of the party
shall have his proper influence in
shaping the policy of the party.
There must be party leaders, but the
leader is the man who thinks with
the people,; hot the man who thinks
for the people; he must be going in
the same direction with the voters
and willing to put into effect their
thoughts, their wishes and their as
pirations. Party government, like
the government of the nation, must
rest upon the consent of the govern
ed and the party organization must
be the servant, not the master of
the members Of the party. God made
man; man made the party. and the
party must remain the instrument
through which the voter works his
will, guards his rights and advances
his interests-not his interests at the
expense Of others interests, but his
interests as his interests are a part
OF the interests of the whole peo-
pie. Trickery in the party is as re-
pugnant to high governmental
ideal.-(Mr.. Bryan in the Circle Ma
gasine.)