The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-01-04

CARY RAPS UNIVERSITY

llC.-
We are in the midst of confession
of political tongues. Those who be-
lieve thoroughly in democracy say
the people should rule. The Tex
pert" seem to be discovering, how
ever, that only experts are capable
of making the laws and Of admins
tering the affairs Of modern states.
The public-spirited politician on the
stump is Jeffersonian, he has con-
fidence in the people; the modern
political specialist IN Ais closet is
Hamiltonian, hs thinks the masses
are ignorant If not corrupt and
must have the oversight of the wise.
It is needless to say there are ex-
ceptions. The politician agrees
With lincoln ir saying he wants a
government of the people, for the
people, and by the people; the speci-
alist wants a government by the ex-
pert for the people. From the ex-
perts point of view the Eordinary
member of the legislature has to
learn from the specialists what the
state needs in the way OF legislation.
The experts are coming to think
that only experts can administer the
laws after they are made. But
difficulty arises. The expert re-
CARDS the people as incompetent ito
select experts. They do not know
an expert when they see him, and
are liable to make mistake. It is
not safe to trust to All election. The
remedy is to form as rapidly as pos
sible bureaucratic or commission
form of governments instead of
democratic. How is this to be ac-
complished? The reply is by Great
ing numerous bureaus, boards,
commissions and the like. and
makirg the positions appointiye not
elective.
! lam not referring to temporary
investigative commissions composed
OF experts, and am accusing 90 one
of insincerity or Of schening to do
away with popular government or
al seeking to create positions that
shev may themselves fii.. The
worst have in mind to say is tina;
It is rndemocratic and short-sighted
to 40 on multiplying permanent
commissions and increasing appoin-
tive positions over which The peo-
pie have no direct control. They
will surely with the lapse OF time,
when the newness Of things has
worn off, develop into the routine,
offensive officialism of the old Euro
pean bureaucracies.
Already, on account OF the in
crease of field men and lffice men
in this almost indistinguishable,
confused and confusing mass of
of state administration and univer-
sity activities, the people are be-
ginning to wonder what it all means
and what the end is to be. There is
a growing impression that the bill
mills at Madison are working over
time and that in some way the ex-
perts are responsible for much of it
and that these experts, at least in
some cases, are university professors
or they are working under the
direction OF professors. Some 1900
measures were introduced in the
last legislature, 665 of which became
laws. Is this amount OF legislation
necessary every two years? One
begins to hear jesting remarks to
the effect thatsth capitoli is an annex
to the university to be used for ex-
perimental and laboratory purposes.
Since the publication of the first
letter in this seriess some of the
most thoughtful and experienced
men of my acquaintance including
alumni, have said in all seriousness
that the university with it's large
and cons family increasing body OF
alumni, its numerous field workers,
its grip on the newspapers, its To-
cation at the capital and its political
skill is master of the state now and
will be henceforth. I cannot agree
that it is now master of the state,
though it seems to have made long
strides in that direction. Further
more, do not believe that the time
will ever come when any free people
will be governed for long by one Of
it's subordinate institutions or by
any body OF men not directly
responsible to the people. If the
university is found at any time to be
exercisiAg undnst influence in the
government and politics OF the state,
the people will take it In hand, and I
fear not gently.
The university possesses an ad-
vantage OF enormous Importance in
that it may truthfully say, Regents
and legislators come and 60, but |
90 on forever. II q given legisla-
tura or hoard Of regents Is strong