The Washington herald., 1918-08-15

Oficials abhor it-but the people de-
light in 1t. There are two kinds of
people who engage in it. however.
There are destructive critics who
perform their task because they enjoy
to the utmost the opportunity to rake
public officials over the Goals.
There are constructive critics who
have their say because they have a
sincere desire to see the government
operated on an efficient basis. They
want the public to obtain value
received from the money they give
to the conduct of government.
The constructive critic Is needed
sometimes very badly needed. The
destructive critic Is never needed. In
fact. Il were better were a mill stone
hanged bout his neck.
Zenas Bliss, a Rhode Island tax
commissioner. writing an interesting
series OF articles for the Providence
Journal, deals with the subject in the
right way when he says:
There has been. is, and always will
be. more or less criticism Of every
public activity: to find fault is one of
our inalienable rights, and It Is exer-
cised many times with an energy and
enthusiasm worthy OF a better cause.
without sharp, intelligent. con-
structive criticism our progress would
be very slow indeed, IL there were any
at all: such criticism Is necessary to
the accomplishment of the best re-
suits and to maintain a high standard
Of public service. Every department
Of public activity responds promptly
to such treatment, and the more at
tention paid by the general public to
any department, the better, as a gen
eral rule, the service will be.
TN those departments which receive
slight or no public recognition the
service rapidly declines. the officials
become discouraged. and with no in
centive to display energy or enthu-
siasm the ultimate result Is clearly
evident and inevitable.
"In a government like ours the indi-
vidual has q large responsibility and
a weIl-defined duty to perform; II
they are neglected bad results will
promptly follow. irresponsible, indis-
criminate fault-finding will not rem
edy the situation, but considerable
disturbance. or a. general shaking up
may. and sometimes does, follow; the
real trouble generally remains, how.
ever. Actual improvement can be
accomplished only by q devotion, on
the part Of the public. Of proper at
tention to governmental affairs and a
proper performance Of civic duties
Public officials will not, indeed they
cannot. properly perform their func-
tions unaided and unnoticed by the
general public.
The classic excuse for neglecting
public affairs Is, I have no time to
spare for such matters or 4 have
to devote all Of my time to making a
living II this is an accurate state
ment Of the case. and the individual
making It Is dissatisfied or wronged,
our system Of government IL q failure
so far as he is concerned. as It will
not change automatically. but will
continue In a manner satisfactory to
those who have or take the time to
run It to suit themselves"
The sentiment of the above para
graphs are well in line with the
written expressions Of the Presi-
dent on constructive criticism. The
executive has dealt with public af-
fairs long enough and intimately
enough to realize that the only
sensitive contact" of the people
with their government can come
from their criticism and improve
ment Of government.
When we refuse to take enough
interest In government to criticise
It where 1t Is wrong, then democ-
racy fails to mean anything to us.
But after all It 10 useless to
picture the American people refus-
ing to criticise lax conduct Of their
affairs. The habit 10 fixed upon
America and 1t will remain as long
as we have q government. It can
not change. The people cannot be
kept from doing what they believe
to be their duty and their privilege.
J. Ham. Lewis rather eauivocates
In his Paris statement. One can
gain little from it--except that his
mission abroad ostensibly has some
thing to do with his desire to serve
the people Of Illinois. We suspect
the President docs" understand
just as ]. Ham. admits---fn fact, we
suspect the President understands
too well. But we suspect the Presi-
dent rather indulgently let J. Ham.
run along about his task like good
father sometimes lets q son run on
doubtful errands, but the while
cautioning him to rbe q good boy
while he's gone, and to be sure s.not
to have anything to say which he
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