Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-03-13
|good of those about him Traer
lStar-Clipper.s s5
INVISIBLE GovERNMEN !.

through the legislative chambers, In
and out, sleek, fat, well-fed. Invis-
ible government has berth under
the very dome of the peoples cap
itol, pays no rent, no electric light
or heat bills. It's trail leads to men
in high places and consorts with
those entrusted WITH the peoples in
forests.
Invisible government is a sort of
fifth estate, often more powerful
than the other four estates. 1t is
able, often times, to block legisla-
ton that it dislikes and pass meas
ures that it desires. 1t, oft times,
frames committees and outlines and
determines legislation and legisla-
tive activities. Its messengers and
emissaries invade the very legisla-
tive halls and take. men out to coach
and prompt for action. 1t enters in
person the places of the solons and>is
seen or unseen, accordingly as men
are politically blind or able to see.
1t lines up it's forces, eXerts little
pressure here, releases a little ten
sion there, touches bump of unso-
phicated vanity, exhibits little
mountain scenery, extends a little
cheap notoriety, promises, cajoles,
fatters, threatens, bluffs.
Invisible government often finds it
profitable to borrow the rags of res
probability. 1t cannot operate in
the open without scandal and de-
feat. Somebody else must take, the
|center of the stage. Over across the
legislative chamber there arises in
his place a good old-fashioned citi-
zen, rough, ready and honest. He
fathers an effort that has reached
him by a devious route from the in
ner haunts of invisible government.
He does not know or understand the
import of the pill that he is taking.
He would be extremely angry if he
knew the source and import. An
honest and unconscious tool of in
visible government is one of the pa
thetic incidents of legislature pro-
cedure, and legislative tools range
from messengers to much more pre-
tentious performers.
Invisible government lounges
about the hotel Hobbies and dazzles
it's victims with the bright lights of
the city. 1t smokes good cigars, sits
in cushioned chairs, talks over with
you the import of proposed legisla-
|tion and feels out your intents and
purposes.
This is not always a government
of the people, by the people and for
the people, though Fourth of July or
ators may so proclaim 1t is the aver
age intelligence Of the people often
time s, it is not the average intelli-
gence of the members of legisla-
ture, not the average intelligence of
a faction. 1t is more properly the
government of a clique or coterie,
prompted by the desires of future po-
litical preferment and selfish inter-
ests, back of whom is invisible gov
eminent, practicing political quack-
cry, political system, and demagog-
uery. And still we wonder about
the inefficiency and cost of our gov
eminent.
Invisible government plies i S
trade\ and attracts little attention.
1t fiimflams the people and gets by
with it's cargo. The public is not
brought in direct contact and does
not just understand. There are
some on the scene of action who
have eyes and cannot see. There are
others, so accustomed to the sights
that they give little heed, concern or
thought.
Vice is monster of such fSjghtful
mein,
| AS, to be hated, needs but to be seen,
Yet, seen too often, familiar with
her face,
We first endure, then pity, then en-
brace.
Notice of City Election.
Notice is hereby given that the
biennial election of the City Of Web