Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-12-17
NOT RIGHT KIND OF CITIZENS
Legislators in Congress and State Leg
islatures Not Representative of
People.

/ believe that the majority OF law
makers in our state and national leg
islatures are not truly reDresentive
American citizens. That is to say
they do not truly represent the great
majority of the people. This is a
broad assertion and one which l re-
gret to make, yet It is one which ev-
cry true American should consider
carefully. l have watched closely
during the past winter the action of
the legislatures in many states, as we'll
as the proceedings of congress. In
all it was evident to the most casual
observer that there was a constant
fight between the people and the cor
porate interests. l have noticed, too,
that in most Of these contests the cor
porations won. In most OF these con-
tests there have been some brave men
who have stood up for the rights of
the people. But there were not
enough of them. There is something
in the atmosphere about the state and
national capitals that seems to have
secret and powerful influence that
they can not resist on the men who
are sent there to represent the
people. In describing the atmosphere
at Washington, D. c., Parson Brownlow
said: THE moment step off the train
onto the platform at Washington feel
like l want to steal something" There
is perhaps no other city in the world
where as much grating has been done
as in our national capital. And this in
fluence has spread out and parmeated
the legislature Of every state in the
union. What has already been made
public is enough to shock the sensi-
tiveness and pride of every American
citizen, yet it is no doubt that a crop
in the bucket has been told when COM
pared with what has already taken
place. No man who is chosen to rep
resent the people need want to go to
the legislature whose honesty is as
pure as snow, whose character and de-
termination is as firm as the rock of
Gibraltar, and whose courage is unfal-
tering. He should also possess a hide
as thick as that of a rhinoceros. He
must expect to fight. He may even
be expelled as was Senator Thomas Of
q Texas. The people are not represent.
ed in the legislative halls. Therefore
the men who are there, and who are
supposed to represent them are not
representative American citizens. The
trust magnates and their satellites
who throng the legislative halls are
not representative citizens. The true
American wants equality of Opportuni
ties. He wants free government. He
is opposed to special privileges and
the means by which they are acquired
He is opposed to the methods dset
to corrupt the peoples chosen agents
q He realizes that an end must come t.
all this sometime and that the sooner
it is stopped the better for the coun
try. The public conscience is becom
ing aroused. Men who are elected t
; represent the people are beinl
watched just as close as those whit
are elected to represent the trusts
The trusts and corporations make pol
itics a business. The farmer ha
learned that if he secures laws for tn,
protection of his interests he mus
. do the same thing. And he is doinl
it. He is preparing to exact stric
account from the men he elects t
transact his business, make laws, an,
guard his interests. Instead of recoe
ming the legislator as his master, a
heretofore, he now regards him as
paid servant to do certain things b
wants done, and expects for him +
make Sood.-W. S. Morgan.