The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-08-26

greatest pleasures as we discover
them at the countryside, in FRANKS of
light and darkness, in glimpses into
the phosphorescent sea, or at the end
Of the rainbow, where as children we
all kept our pot of gold. But govern
proper relation to the people there
should be no deception, no delusion;
and it Is the duty of the individual citi-
zen to obtain a clearer understanding
of the manner in which the affairs of
his country are being conducted. Gov.
eminent has too long been used to
shield promises that never could be
fulfilled, and under cover of its great
ness there has been a superabundance
of that which is tickle, false and I'M
real. The best thinkers Of the times
are agreed that there is a vast oppor-
tunity for Improvement in public con-
d~itions, and the problems that con
front the American people make it es-
sential that they should give more
careful heed to public affairs.
Government is but a collection of
human ideas, human purposes, human
resolves and human energies. If we
are to progress it is necessary that
our government shall attain it's great
est efficiency in order that it may keep
ahead of the rapidly changing methods
in development, manufacture, industry
and commerce.
Naturally there must be a division
of the power which represents the af-
fairs Of a hundred million people. IN
fortunately, the men who should share
the direct responsibility are hampered
by antiquated methods in vogue in
the public service. In consequence,
there are too many instances where
they have become mere figure heads.
There are many cases where congress-
men have formed no part in the for
nation of general legislation, but have
spent term after term as mere auto
mata for their party leaders, but by
keeping the local affairs of their dis
tricts well in hand they have manag-
ed to hold their positions. 1t would
in many congressional districts should
they by any chance discover what a
small part their favored son is per-
forming in the business of running
the government. The result of these
conditions has brought about a lament
able condition Of inefficiency in the
public service.
The remedy is not to be found in
aimless criticism. Since the govern
ment belongs to the people, they must
not attempt to shift all the RESPONSE
bility of failures in the system onto
the shoulders of the politicians, for the
latter are merely servants of the form
err; and it is always the duty of the
is being done in his establishment. If
the results do not show faithful ser
vice, then the employer must do his
duty in finding a remedy, or a new SER
want. For many years some of the
railroads and representatives of big
business interests made the fatal mis-
take Of assuming a sort Of paternal
proprietorship over federal, state and
local legislation, and this continued
until their influence became a threat
ening menace. These people nearly
scuttled their own ships, but their
%effrontry was beneficial to the public
welfare because 1t directed a closer
scrutiny into existing conditions.
Selling upon the opportunity
when the public desired only to right
the wrongs they had discovered-the
advocates of idle theories have sought
to divert the attention of the masses
from the necessity Of preserving the
fundamental principles upon which the
republic rests. They propose to enter
upon a plan of confscation of private
rights, and then destruction of individ-
ual initiative and the fruits it has
gathered. Their remedies answer to
the names of Government Ownership
and Socialism.
The author presents his views as
those Of an unprejudiced newspaper
writer, who has been at the scene of
action in Washington for several years
In relating facts and suggesting con-
illusions, he has had in mind two
objects. One Of these is the hope of
performing a small part in improving
public efficiency, and the other is to
draw a clear Inc between the wisdom
Of government control and the futility
of public ownership and management.
Chapter J..
OF the Capitol City it may be re-
marked that when the Father of His
Country picked out Washington. he
alone evidently forsaw the greatness
that was to come to the city. Here