Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-02-22

is going through that process now
The revolution through which We are
passing is tremendous and unsettlmg
Out of the chaos OF ideas, out Of
the clash OF opinions. one conviction
has emerged. imperceptibly perhaps,
5ut no less solidly, That conviction
Is that democracy must function bet
ter in the future than II has in the
past. That il will triumph on the bat
tlefields We do not question. But
battlefelds are incidents of national
existence. A condition OF war is not
normal condition. The demands of
peace are more compelling than those
/ OF war.
Takes Stock OF Rescl-.ss.
IN the midst OF war wise country
will take stock Of its resources, clas-
sify ITS experiences, test its strength
and deficiencies and organize for the
future War has taught democracy
its weakness, Il must prepare > IL
function for peace.
One OF the important phases Of re-
Organization for peace IL that Of q
REIMBURSEMENT OF governmental agcn
cies. Our cumbersome national ma
chinery, based upon tho idea Of checks
and balances, resulting In red tape,
duplication Of work. waste al effort
and. worst Of all. waste Of time, has
failed when subjected to real test
President Wilson proposes 10 cut
tho tangled mass by an act ves,ing
power In the executive 10 coordinate
the work of officers. boards and com
missions. The end must be accom-
plishcd. The means may be radical
But until some one proposes more
constructive measure am disposed tc
think the president should be granted
the power which he asks.
What Is true OF our national gov
eminent Ii also true Of our state gov
orninents.
Should Have Energy.
To function Well in times OF peace
ii Is just as essential thar state gov
ornments should have strength, oner
gy and efficiency as it Is that the ma
tional government should DO virle
Externally We exhibit one united dc
mocracy. Internally we are constitut
ed OF numerous small democracies
Unless the small democracies .unc
ton well the great democracy can
not achieve It's greatest vigor Thu
, ono is dependent upon the Others.
While in law and In political con
: seriousness the nation Is put first. ye
the states have now, and will con
tinuc 10 have, "A wide domain OF use
fulness. The states have signal
failed to develop. They have not bee,
alive to their opportunities Their ad
ministration was anything but off
Client, The Importance of etiicienc
was DOT realized. The development
OF administrative organization wa
unconscious and consequently hal
hazard lncongrutes and absurd
tics resulted. Separate and disjointe
authorities. acting without refercnc
, TO each other or TO any central auth
GRITTY, were the rule and not the g,
ceptlon. Study Of state organization
:. ,hronght out HE United States doe
. not reveal any consistent design q
systematic planning.
4 Illinois was no exception. It wa
+. perhaps no worse but II was no be
+ ter than any other state.
Illinois Mas Plural Executive
What was the condition prior
July !, 1877? We arc taught
schools aud In our law books ths
Q the powers of government are distr
= Dute1 into three departments tho 10,
u i5latlve. executive and judicial TIL
,. oretlcally this Is true Practically
n II not true. In Illinois. there is
further distribution OF power In III
U executive department The llllno
o constitution decentrallzes and disl,
y tcgratcs executive power. The exec
T. Two power wos not lodged in The 30
r ornor alone. In Illinois the executi,
d. power Is distributed between the IN
70 ornor. tue secretary OF state. audit,
u OF public accounts. state treasurer al