Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-02-02
Right OF The People To Ruie.
To the Editor of the Montgomery County
Sentinel:

Sentinel:
The government of the State of Mary
land. as that of the United States. is
founded upon the right of the people to
rule themselves. We continually declare
our allegiance to this principle without stop
ping to consider how to make the people
rule reality. If the people are to rule
they must exercise the powers necessary
to make this rule effective. They cannot
exercise needless powers without weaken
ing the force and effect of the needfuI
To perfect their rule the people must be
able to determine the broad policies they
desire pursued and select responsible
agencies by which these policies are to be
made effective.
Our State policies are defined and deter
mined. first, by the Constitution which is
adopted by the vote of the whole people !;
second. by our legislature Cncludine the
Governor who in certain particulars is a
legislato), selected pursuant to the Con-
stitution, and, third. in certain States of
the Union, in an important degree through
initiative legislation. proposed by some of
the people and adopted directly by all of
them. and in lesser degree. as exists in
Maryland. by referendum to the people
after the legislature has acted.
To carry out these policies and meet the
daily exigencies of administration, we
need only elect for the State the Governor
and legislature and for the counties Boards
OF Commissioners. In fact, in our elections
we do not content ourselves with these
simple necessary things. but we name
through what is assumed to be the voice
of the people at the polls great number
OF subordinate officers whose functions are
purely incidental or ministerial and who
have little or nothing to do with the carry
ing out of the policies in which the people
are concerned. and whose selection should
be properly left to the central AGENCIES the
duty of which it is particularly to enforce
the will of the people. In this we put upon
the people burden not essential to popu-
lar government and our attempt to make
the people bear it leads to failure. If we
are to have good, popular and effective
government in Maryland. we need to face
the situation Understandings. and correct
our Constitution and laws to correspond
with what democratic government really
means. further explanation is needed.
In our national government we have
greater degree of efficiency. directness,
continuity Of policy and enforcement of the
peoples will than we have in our State
Government. We elect one single execu-
tive officer. the President, with possible
substitute, the Vice-President and MEM
beers of both houses of Congress. The
President is charged with the duty of car
rying out the policies Of the people, and
to this end selects his cabinet and the sub
ordinate officers Of the government of real
administrative Importance. They are re-
spOnsible to him and subject to removal at
his hands We have thus a centralized
government and at the same time, subject
to other limitations not essential TO the
present discussion. government of the
people. So far as the executive is con-
cerned, national administration is simple,
direct and relatively free from the abuses
which burden our State governments.
When, however. we consider the State
we find ourselves electing a Governor and
AttOrney-General for four years. Comp
troller for two years, Clerk of the Court
of Appeals every six years, while, by
curious anomaly. the Treasurer is elected
by the legislature. and serves two years.
If we would have truly popular govern
ment without imposing undue burdens upon
the people. we would have our Attorney Gen
eral appointed. as is the Attorney General
of the United States. by the chief executive
power, our Comptroller and Treasurer. who
together roughly correspond to the Secretary
Of the Treasury, appointed In the same
way, and the Clerk Of the Court Of Appeals
named either by the Governor or preferably
by the judges themselves.
say that the people are asked to do to-
day what in the nature OF things cannot be
effectively done by them. The Attorney
General the Comptroller and the Treasurer
may ""u themselves eh''re'y out Oh sym
pa'hy WIN ''e uoVerhor. approaching pub
''c queS''ohS from uinereh' angie ana
ready to hamper him in the exercise Of his
ii'oS' esSeh'ia' iuhc'ions' ms situation
mas a'iSen at times III 'he past anu IL may
wen again III 'he iu.ure' varying terms OF
oihce ana manner Oh election contributing
10 lfrespohs'oliity. lhese onlcers now
form no part Oh a harmonious whole No
theory OF checks ana balances justiiies