The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-02-01
Mr.. Ralston Takes Our Public Ins,i.
tu,iOns To Task Fer Not Doing
Their Full Part and Says Elec-
,i0ns are Run By rlachInes.


To the Editor of The Republican:
The largest and greatest corporation
within the confines of Maryland. one in
which we are all stockholders, is the
State itself. 1t employs morefren and
requires more varied ability than is
called for by any other corporation.
Our Governor and Legislators should
possess legislative skill. The Cover
nor in addition should be man of the
highest executive ability. In a greater
or less degree as the head of the State
Government, he influences the legisla-
ture; he directs the administration of
the varied instrumentalities of the
State, which include protection of the
oyster industry; Investigations into in
dustrial matters; insurance and state
bank control; care fer those injured in
industrial pursuits; enforcement of
justice through punishment of offend
ers against the law in the penitentiary
ard otherwise; charitable institutions IN
which the blind the poor, the insane
end those afflicted by tuberculosis and
other diseases are cared for.
The administration of the law enters
into every hamlet. Our taxation sys-
TEN touches every citizen whether d.
rectly paying taxes or not. Agriculture
receives share of public attention.
Meanwhile the citizen is also brought
into relation with the State through its
maintenance of state roads, and, by
means of its municipal corporations,
through city streets with their varied
requirements. In almost countless
other ways the State has need of the
very best and most carefully selected
public servants.
With all this we allow our elected of
ficers to be selected by machines and
the measure of competency for inferior
otfcesis one of political availability and
not ability to perform services for the
State. The wonder is, not that we have
bad or expensive or inefficient govern
ment, but that our government is notin-
finitely worse than it is This single fact
bears strong testimony to the innate
desire of men, when called upon, to
render as good service to the State as
their limitations of outside control,
education and capacity will permit.
Under the supervision of the State,
in addition to those mentioned, as well
as many other branches which might
be enumerated, we have an extensive
school system, conducted. so far as pri-
mary and grammar schools are concern
ed in manner which yields poor results
considering Its expense. This is true
particularly In the country districts
where the rural citizen has a right to
complain of comparative neglect.
While our legislators have been
liberal to our higher institutions of
learning, eleven of which were recog-
nized generously in the last State ap-
preparation bill, these institutions even
are not doing their full part in the
making of citizens competent to carry
on the work of government better than
we do it ourselves. OF all the great
pressing problems of government pupils
are left in ignorance. | do not know,
for instance, high schools or colleges in
Maryland adequately acquainting the
student with the public questions upon
which as a citizen of this State, he
must pass. Which one, for instance,
gives him more than an outline of the
framework of national or state govern
ment? Is there one requiring the stu
dent to investigate the meaning of
democratic government; its limitations;
how to make it efficient; what officers
are properly elective, and how non
elective officers should be chosen to get
the best results; describes to him pro-
portional representation IN legislative
bodies or the meaning of preferential
voting? In what school shall we dis
cover that the scholars are required to
investigate and explain to their fellows
the offices of direct legislation, the I'M
tiative and referendum, the recall?
Although the money derived from tax
alton is the very blood of govern
ment. is there high school or college
which demands investigation by its
pupils of the subject of taxation or of
the relation between taxation and pow
erty and industrial distress? What
scholars are taught to examine and de-
termine whether taxation, levied at a
Custom House or assessed through the
Boards of County Commissioners, rests
upon the first taxpayer or is passed on
to the user or consumer? Is the stu
dent taught to consider if all should
possess the right to vote and whether
there should be a sex or educational or
other Limitation upon it? Where in our
schools are these subjects really dis
cussed?
In short, although the prime business
of democracy is government, are not
our schools, so favored by the State,