Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1917-01-19

Strange to say, the proposed pro-
stitution was not referred by the house
to the Committee OH Arid Lands.
During the fiscal year ending June
80, 1915, the United States Meat In
spection service certified to the whole
someness Of ,948,000 pounds of
meat, and in the same period condemn
ed S4,320,O0O pounds of meat. Not
much comfort for vegetarians in those
figures.
This is Nation with big N. Con-
gress is appropriating millions for
good roads, for combating diseases Of
animals, for vocational training, ETC.,
etc. Yet the states still have rights.
The supreme court decided the other
day that when state adopts prohibit
tion laws liquor cannot be shipped into
the state under the interstate com
merce clause Of the constitution, and
a federal judge says state can govern
it's railway rates.
The attempt to use the alleged fail
ure Of the militia to discrcdit that
arm of the country's defense seems
about one Of the most discreditable
things yet perpetrated bv the militar-
lists. It is known that in spite Of dis
couraging circumstances the guard did
splendid work, and that if there were
troubles the regular army had as much
share in them as the national guard.
The guard did it's duty and did it we'll.
The citizen soldiers have no reason to
be ashamed of their record. In the
face of what they did and what the
raw Canadian boys have peen doing in
Europe when faced with the finest
troops in the world, it is absurd to in
sist on long years of training and tre'
mendous expenditures.
One of the officers of the Second
regiment of Minnesota militia, just re-
turned from the border after a record
of good service, says that most of the
men now believe in universal military
service. The reason given seems rath-
er strange: that the men who went
down and suffered privation do not
think it fair that their fellow citizens
should be exempt. Men who reason
that way overlook the fact that SER
vice in the guard was entirely vol
untary matter, that no one was COM
PEELED to join, that if anyone did join
the service he did so with his eyes
open and agreed to do soldier g
work if it we're necessary. Because
exigencies have made militia service
a very serious matter does not change
the fact that the men who went into
tho service did so presumably because
thev liked such an arrangement, as
we'll as from the patriotic motives
which may be conceded. Undoubtedly
sos::4 nrivaatieonnee were suffered, but W.,
and near war are not peasant excur'
sions, and because one who has agreed
to face them meets some hardships, is
not in itself a reason why every citi'
zen should be pulled into the service
when the country is not in danger
and not likely to be, unless it invites
trouble by adopting militaristic tradi'
tions and ways.
City managers may or may not be
successful. It depends on circum
stances. It is admitted that demo
cracy is not run as efficiently as de-
spotism as a rule. In one the results
in the other one person does all thu
thinking and Inc executing. A city
manager for some cities is confession
of political bankruptcy, an admissio.
Of general incompetency, of lack Of in
terest in the welfare of the municipal
ity. We believe there are. towns whor
under proper safeguards, sub a sys
tenn of government wo:ll1 be success
full. A good many jump at the ide
who have not given it much thought
The common statement that city is
business proposition is by IN mean
correct, if it is meant that it must b
run under ordinary business ethics
The fundamental thing about bushes
is the making of money, the saeking o
profit. That is the last concern of tn
city. The health, safety and harpines
Of the people. provision for educatio,
the safeguarding of youth, recreatio!
and all the many fGnct;ons Of the cit
which have to do VITA thu VOL bein
Of its inhabitants-these are the ri
mary things. Of course money nus
be raised, and that money must b
honestly and economically expended
but the matter of profit in fnan"ia
sense, which is the all important thin
about business and which profoundl
effects its ethics, does not enter int
the question except in limited d
aree. To many the very word mana;
o. for a municipality suggests XIII
dergarten state Of affairs, tendenc
ia shift responsibility. ANY plan, n
matter what it may be-, whose resu]
!, "a lessen the responsibility of tn
citizen IL the ahairs Of his town: an
ststs, - bad: rs. -. :. ----,.----.