The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-01-06
MASTER AND MAN.

Theoretically, the public is the
master and the office holder is the
man, the servant of the people. He
is placed in office for the express pur-
pose of enacting such laws as the
people as a whole may deem wise and
just, or to administer the public's
affairs in identically the same man
ner that clerk would obey the man.
dates of the head of commercial
establishment.
Such is the theory of public Of
flee, but in it's practical workings it
is just the reverse. The official be-
comes the MASTER" and usually
pays but scant heed to the wishes
of the people until the rumblings
warn him that it is time to hedge
before the breaking of the storm.
With congress in session we will
have many real masters making laws
for their Ostensible masters to obey.
Some of these laws will be good, 9TH
ers will be of doubtful value, while
a few may be even obnoxious or vi
cious from our point of view.
The wishes and desires Of the peo-
pie will be of little avail with these
"masters,' for the reason that it is
difficult to induce the people to as
sert themselves on any given sub
ject or proposed measure.
But how different it might be if
the people would only display lit
tie more initiative and make their
wishes and demands known to con-
gressmen and senators before the lat
ter cast their votes
We all know how it should work,
but here is the way it does work to-
day.
A new bill is introduced in con-
gress, but it does not meet with the
approval of the people of our par
ticular district. In fact, we may
consider that it is directly against
our own interests.
A few Of our more aggressive peo-
pie write a mild and guarded pro-
test to Senator or Congressman
Blank, but they are so few as to be
without weight or effect. The SEN
atOr or congressman hears of no
widespread opposition in his dis
trict and yields to the powerful pres
sure from other sources in behalf Of
the bill. He votes for it. Other
congressman and senators do the
same, and the bill becomes law,
and we pay the penalty of our in
difference.
On the other hand, suppose the
people of the district took the bit
between their teeth, wrote in large
numbers to the senators and con-
gressmen and gave them plainly to
understand that their constituents
were opposed to such bill, and that
they we're expected to cast their
votes in the interest of the people
who placed them in office, irrespec-
tive of all pressure from other sour
ces. Would they, under such con-
ditions, support an obnoxious meas
ure? Not in thousand years, for
they would know that such action
would mean their prompt political
death.
When the people do become arous-
ed and speak in decided terms every
senator and congressman CLUES both
ears to the ground and holds them
there with bated breath.
Now isn't 1915 a good year in
which to change the old order of
procedure. Isn't the time opportune
for the people to assert their rights
and prerogatives, become the mas
tiers, and insist upon a strict COM
pliance with their will? Isn't it
about time to give senators and con-
gresham of every degree to under
stand that they are servants and not
gods?
Isn't it about time for the people
of this district to tell our represent
tatives in congress just what we of
the district want, and that it is up
to them to get it or make way for
others who can and will? In any
event, isn't it about time for us to
insist that they vote as we say and
not as they think? 49,
Collectively the people are all
powerful and their will can not be