The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-24
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

we the people of the United States"
 Is this a sure enough fact under the
 constitution or Is 1t mere euphemism?
 It all depends upon the school of poli-
 ticians who interpret it.
 Recently I have been studying much
 about the early history of our govern
 ment, and although I had given much
 time to 1t at one time in my student days, I was really surprlsed to find that the cleaverage between the Hamiltonians
 and Jeffersonians is as clear and as dis
 tinct now as ever before.
 Even today a great number of our publicists and statesmen mistrust the people and desire to hold them in l tutelage which means that the aristo- crats wish to shut out the democrats, or vote them at will for whom they please.
 Here in Birmingham certain men be- lieve there Is class of voters so unin- telligent as to be unable to understand the city's needs or what Is best for their own interests and are proposing to se- lect candidate for them and get them to put him in office by their ballots. 
 This has been done time and again in the past. but I, for one, believe the peo- pie are beginning to resent such political chaperonage and are going to rise up and put in man of their own choosing to show their would-be political sponsors that they are tired of being patronized and hoodwinked.
 Boiled down in a nutshell, the creed of those who want to do the hand picking" for the electors is better stated by ex- President Taft than anyone I know. for he says: We are in favor of rule by as many of the people in g democracy as will secure good government and no more" This means taht if he or those who share this view with him had the power a whole lot of the laboring class would be deprived of voting.
 Now, this is the thing am set against earnestly desire to extend 1t; in other words to make popular government a reality and not a mere political phrase to con1ure up dream of democracy. I want to raise the average intelligence of the voter by making him feel that 1t is l his duty to take part in all elections and post himself on the issues involved. The men who seek to disinherit large | number of voters do 1t under the pre- tense that they are acting in the best l interests of the city, state or nation,
 because only small minority have the leisure and the training to acquaint
 themselves with the issues. This Is their plea in striving to throttle the men who have to work for their living. This Is their excuse for trying to shut out men ! who haven't the time to make politics a business or profession
 1 I believe in a government hero in Bir- mingham established and maintained by the authority of the people rather than who prate about efficiency without giving any evidence of it when in office. The l only government worth while is one in
 which every class is represented. I am much more in accord with Will Ham Howard Taft. when he said: we are in favor of popular govern ment because we believe that the fact that the people govern themselves will make them constant in It's support and will secure obedience to the laws their l To otra they elect"
 1 Instead of limiting or in any way try ling to weaken our democracy am for infusing more democracy in our existing
 democracy until every man feels 1t his bounden duty to take part in the elec- l ton of the men who are to rule over
 the city. Our civic plight comes iron, l the fact that too many citizens have not
 exercised their franchise.
 
 1 I want the people of Birmingham ed- ucated in civic matters so that every l voter will be able to weigh measures and men and not be led by selfish in- terests or adroit politicians. The sa:e- ty of democracy demands that the aver age of intelligence shall be lifted. and the best way to do this in politics is
 to get the people to take an interest in
 elections
 Too many men are indifferent about the city's welfare without any set of
 men trying to keep them apathetic by undertaking to be responsible for the selection of 2 man to look after the Icommunity's interests. This Is no time
 for voting by proxy. but the call comes to every man to post himself and cast his ballot for the man who will best
 serve, It is not my duty to tell any manfor whom he should vote. but take lit upon myself to caution the public
 to study well the men and the issues
 before going to the polls
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