The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-06

ago. BE II undeTSt0cCs therefore, that govern
ments are not products of carefully elaborated
systems, based on certain well defined princi-
pies; and if there Isl a. science of government
it is developed by process of induction. Gov
ernments themselves were evolved in the eter
nal struggle of humanity for individual free
dom, and the charaetarunOt the form-of their
government indicates Just how far a people
have progressed European countries still re-
tain nominal monarchical institutions, now use
less rehcs-like the vermiform appendiX-of a.
stage of development, to contemplate which
adds nothing to one S self-esteem. These Euro
pean nations then, have highly centralized or
CARNATIONS with such free institutions as the
people have been able from time to time to
wrest to themselves. Our government, repre-
sents the opposite type of development-a loose
organization, possessing just so much authority
as individuals and states were compelled to-
concede to the central government for their own
safety. Constrained by jealousy and suspicion
of one another, representatives of the compact
ing states, who organized this government, de
liberatey divided authority between the nation
and state, so that neither might be able to inter
fere with private enterprise. How well they
succeed, we of this day, who are seeking to
check the rapacity of private enterprise, can
testify Our liberties are threatened by the
very means intended to protect them. Kings
have gone out of fashion. but industrial feud-
alism is in danger of becoming more than a
pretty rhetorical expression.
Yet, Notwithstanding these conditionsl the
organization of the federal government shows
the influence of the old federasts, and the ex-
ecutive department consists of two elective Off
GERS and many appointed subordinates. 1t re-
manned for the local politicians to overwhelm
the states with elective officers and the result
can be seen by comparing the efficiency and
honesty of most state governments with that of
the United States.
The two most characteristic features of our
state system-mutiplicity of office and diffus-
ed responsibility produce the twin evils of
American cipalities-inefficiency of ad-
ministration and corruption. This latter influ-
ence in turn works it way up through the devi-
Gus channels of politics to contaminate it al; ;
for the state leaders must depend upon the dis
trict leaders, the district leaders upon the local
leaders, and the local leaders upon the precinct
bosses, who find both their ends and their
means in the petty offices in which they traffic.
Various ways of eliminating bossism have
been devised They have uniformly been ''back
to the people" movements; but the bosses un-
derstand the people better than the people UNI
derstand themselves. The popular primary is
one device. Ohio tried it the first time last year.
On a certain day all parties repaired to the
poles, and there, under the supervision of the
bipartisan state board, they nominated their
officers. The weakest candidate before the ma
jority party of a certain town was nominated
| for mayor, and because of his weakest point
his legs-for he was cripple. In due time he
was elected, also ON account of his weakest
point by the largest majority ever given can
didate for that office.
The popular primary is not the ultimate solu-
ton. We cannot choose our public officials as
we choose our private employees, because we do
Al. Al -. al
way, unless public interests conflict with our
private interests. Then, if things do not go to
suit us, we become the implacable foes of the
administration. So, we see on election day the
mass of men voting according to their preJu-
dices and lkings, supplemented by those, who
exercise the right of suffrage to vent their
malice No wonder, then, that offceholders de
vote their time to cultivating popularity and
avoiding offense.
Tickets are made up with regard to the 'svote
| getting" qualities of candidates; not their
qualifications for office This one is chosen Tor
| his church affiliations; that one because he Is
pleasing to certain influential private interests;
another can carry the shop vote; and fourth
can bring into camp the people of his own race.
VIII taxes grow appreciaby lower or our nstl-
ltutions appreciably higher under such system I!
We cannot change human nature, which Is
one of its good points; but we can take advant-
age of it. Now it is remarkable fact that
while we will vote for a corrupt man for Office,
we will condemn his appointment to a public
position by another; because we are regarding
the needs of the office and not the needs of the
man, as we would if he called on us for our sup
port. Once we fix the responsibility, we are ex-
acting masters; and we demand of officials
more circumspection than we observe in our
own civic relations. 1t is this feature that lends
hopeful aspect to the proposed commission
form of governments but unless the commission