Evening journal., 1911-06-24
OUT OF THE SHADOWS
By John S. Hamilton.

One Of the speakers at the meeting
OF the Civic Improvement Associa-
tion at the High School on Monday
evening, in advocating amendments
to the old charter instead of an en-
tirely new instrument, used the argu-
ment that great difficulty would be
met when the charter went before the
people for their approval, because
10000 voters divided between the two
parties would be influenced largely by
their political preferences He, the
speaker, therefore advocated going
slow and making few changes because
he thought a radical departure would
prevent any improvement whatever.
"A half a loaf" he said, was better
than no broad"
In the writer's opinion this argu-
ment is faulty all the way through,
but he, the writer does not propose
TO discuss the subject at this time
and in this manner. He may, however,
have something to say about it at
another time. What he does want to
say a word about, is that part of the
speakers argument where he directs
attention to the difficulties and the
dangers that attach themselves in an
appeal TO the electorate to pass upon
an elaborate and complex program Of
government The writer thinks the
speaker was wrong when he assumed
that it would be necessary to con-
vince a majority of the electorate.
The fact that appeared to be taken for
granted that the great majority of the
voters would be ruled by their tradi-
tional party affiliations is well found
ed The conclusion that the speaker
evidently arrived at because of this
fact. however, is in the writer's hum
bic opinion a false one. albeit one that
has done and is still doing a great
deal Of mischief
It is a prevailing belief that you
must convert a majority. The ex-
perience, observation and reflection
of the writer during the past thirty
years has convinced him to his own
satisfaction at least, that this IS not
true. AS a matter of fact it is only
necessary to convince a minority, and
fortunate is it, very small minority
at that
The writer has participated in
eight presidential elections as voter.
He is so temperamentally organized
that he is compelled to take
notice OF things He has watched
political campaigns with an interest
second only to that with which be
watches the score. Years ago he came
70 the conclusion that all the argu-
ment and all the fuss was really di-
rected at a comparatively few men.
That while a scare would throw a
panic into the unthinking multitude
and a big campaign fund would bring
the ignorance, the vice and the cupid
ity to the polls and vote them, the YER
dict was always made by those who
weigh evidence and after taking
everything into consideration render
a decision according to the merits
and demerits Of the case.
AS a matter Of fact the electorate
is very much like a jury and those
who have done jury duty know how
often it happens that one or more of
/ the iurymen and nearly always \
small minority really work out the
case in the jury room and In the last
analysis are responsible for the ver-
dict
If space would permit, the writer
would like 10 go into this subject
more fully. He will content himself,
however. with this mere challenge Of
the statement that the entire cleo
torate has 10 be convinced, or that
even a numerical majority has 10 be
convinced.
The writer would like to point out
that this fact should encourage those
who work and hope for better things
IN government He would also like
to endeavor at least to show that
those who are making a business Of
politics and are apparently acting on
the belief that their tenure is secure
because convincing the majority Is ar
irridescent dream, are skating on very
thin ice and that forces are already
at work aud indications are multiply
ing every day which prove to the
student of political events and human
nature that the remnant spoken about
by Matthew Arnold is rising.
Although a minority and small
minority at that effectively their
force is irresistible Any opposition
that can be offered them by the army
Of mercenaries now in control will
be useless. It is not a political move
ment as we understand politics. It
is merely a natural law at work.
BY the house where the writer lives
there is a row Of trees, and Il is now
their seed time Every seed cluster
is provided with an air ship that
carries embryo trees away from the
shadows and into the sunlight where
the species has an opportunity 10
perpetuate itself.
The same creative force that pro-
vided the air ship for the seed Of the
Linden trees has also equipped all
creatures with the means TO escape
from the shadows and find those con-
ditions best adapted for growth and
development and the perpetuation Of
their kind.
Would il not he discouraging 10
think that man alone was not a
beneficiary Of this law?