The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1917-01-26
MIR. Ralston's Letter.
To the Editor of the Prince Georges

To the Editor of the Prince Georges
Enquirer
The largest and greatest corporation
within the confines of Maryland, one OF
which we are all stockholders, is the
State itself. 1t employs more men and
requires more varied ability than is
called for by any other corporation.
Our Governor and legislators should
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 instrumentallties of the
State, which include protection of the
oyster industry; investigations into in
dustrial matters; insurance and state
bank control; care for those injured in
Industrial pursuits; enforcement of just
ice through punishment of offenders
against the law in the penitentiary and
which the blind, the poor. the insane
and those afflicted by tuberculosis and
other diseases are cared for.
The administration of the law enters
into every hamlet Our TAXATION sys-
tenn touches every citizen whether
directly paying taxes or not. Agricul-
ture receives share of public atten-
ton. Meanwhile the citizen is also
brought into relation with the State
through its maintenance of state roads,
and, by means of its municipal corpor-
atoms, through city streets with their
varied requirements. In almost count
less other ways the State has need of
\ f,,I
ed public servants
With all this we allow ourelected ofic-
| els to be selected by machines and the
measure of competency for inferior Of
| flee is 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 not
| infinitely worse than it is. This singl
fact bears strong testimony to the in
nate 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 we'll al
many other branches which might be
enumerated, we have an extensive
school system, conducted, so far a:
primary and grammar schools are con
cerned. in manner which yields pool
results considering its expense. This
tricts where the rural citizen has 6
right to complain of comparative
neglect
While our legislators have beer
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 max.
| ing of citizens competent to carry on
the work of government better than we
do it ourselves. Of all the great press
ing problems of government pupils are
left in ignorance. l do not know, for
| instance, high schools or colleges in
| Maryland adequately acquaintng the
student with the public questions upon
which as 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 stud.
ent to Investigate the meaning of demo
cratic 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 proportional
representation in legislative bodies or
the meaning Of preferential voting? In
what school we discover that the schol-
ars are required to investigate and ex-
plain to their fellows the offices of direct
legislation, the initiative and referen-
DUN, the recall? Although the money
derived from taxation is the very life
blood of government, is there high
school or college which demands inves-
tigation by its pupils of the subject of
taxation or of the relation between tax
alton and poverty and industrial dis
tress2 What scholars are taught to ex-
anime and determine whether taxation,
levied at Custom House or assessed
through the Boards of County Com
missioners, rests upon the first taxpayer