The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-24
MAKE coyEnNMnNr rrnsoNA1..

MAKE GOVERNMENT personal.
the Bland Messenger:
The past should be forever passed
There is enough in the eternal now ia
demand the attention OF all men This
Is and should he n time OF progress and
upiift All the interests OF. the state
need TO be advanced. There are loo
many people who think that IL this
State PAYS the bills it makes no differ
ence how high they arc This Is a
wrong principle. one ought to remem-
her that the State is the people coll
lectively. ard that II gets its Noncy
from them. There is need OF teform-
alton here. il is easy to talk OF roads,
schools pensions, patronage. oysters,
lem Is how to get men interested in
the real welfare Of the State Men
ought to be proud Of the size OF their
fax bills. ard men ought not 20 lie 10
dodge taxation There ought TO he a
looking forward TO greater field of
usefulness and of opportunity
Therein lies the fundamental prob
lem in government to-day. It's most
tremendous task is 10 focus unon IT.
self the interest OF the people. The
u.
solved by making guilt personal, so
that the law-violator cannot shield
himself by hiding behind legal Hc-
ton. Similarly. If we could make gov
eminent personal so that each ciu-
zen living under il would consider
himself part and parcel of that gov
eminent. there would be driven from
the popular mind tho all-dcstroylng
Idea that government is an impersonal
entity sort OF fictitious body vested
witt, ali responsibility for the pro-
Rress. starnation on retrogression of
tho people. The right conception of
government Is, as the Bland Messen-
ser says, that the State is but the
people gathered together in one vast
group. Each person has duties, respon-
that group, and the welfare OF each
is enlarged or diminished according as
ne does or does not shoulder his share
OF government
Your government is your business
If you want lower taxes. pay your
Jus, due 10 the state. and insist at the
same time that all others shall do like
wise II you want better laws which
will create better conditions of llv-
Ing. see to II that the legislator YOU
elect viii vote for such laws. What
ever YOU put into your government
YOU viii get out OF It, Your govern
ment is what YOU make It, You can
make j; better by interesting yourself
in it, or YOU can leave it alone and let
it stay as II is
The reason government is not better
to-day is because not enough people
are standing guard over it. We need
more watchmen upon the towers. In
efficient men run The government be-
cause not enough people are inter-
ested in good government 10 get eff
cienr men. The wicked work when the
good sleep. The political boss banks
on an unntercstcd electorate and he
vans. The people viii not concern
themselves ~hh the government that
orders theri' AFFAIRS and 81 If IS ina,
machines OF inetHciency and unrighte-
business are built up. who rule the people,
The peoples money is wasted, good
roads for the people are not built the
peoples taxes are not lowered. labor
Ing men are not protected from extra
hazardous risks. elections arc permitted
to be orgies AZ corrupt on and fraud
the progress of ta.e farmer is blocked.
and an official class IS allowed 70 ex-
rloit the government.
Are YOU, who should be a par, Of
your government. asleep? If SO. how
much longer Will YOU doze under in
ancient government? open your eyes
10 the difference between conditions as
they are ana SIS they might be Dash
into yonr face The cold water OF fact
We need better government in vir.
finia- are you going 10 heir ae, it?
jump out Of bed and jump into the
fight.