Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-01-03
DEMoCRAoY's DUTY

| sic against mllltary autocracy. The
peace settlement under wise and CON
structiye leadership should establish
Tor the guidance and conduct be-
tween nations, principles so just and
equitable in their nature that the
people OF the world can enter into
an unbroken era of peaceful under
standing with one another. But if
| the democratic countries of the world
are to lay foundations for the future
guidance of mankind they must as
sumo some heavy responsibilities.
Harbingers of discord must not pass
their threshold Seeds of unworthy
and harmful institutions must not
sprout in their soil Troublesome
stumps of wornout traditions, trees
shading and sapping strength at the
expense of others may have to be up
rooted and cleared away. They
must see to 1t that their own people
shall be full of hope and confidence
In the future. 1t is well when a
nation goes about it's daily tasks.
with merry voices and singing
hearts. Americas duty along with
other democratic nations is to so
conduct her institutions, administer
her laws and lay down her regula-
lions that autocracy's parentless and
cropping children can have a sure and
certain guide, seeing the pure, clear
light streaming from out our home
and hearing the happy voices of our
people.
There are different kinds of de-
mocracies, and in some respects the
democracy of one country may be
more democratic than that of an
other country Italy, England and
France, to mention a few, have what
is known as a responsible cabinet !
form of government. Under this |
plan public opinion expressed
through the peoples representatives
in the nations parliaments can de-
mand and receive strict accountable
ity from its executives.
A member of parliament arises
from his seat and asks a question"
A minister of munitions or some 9TH
er member of the cabinet appears
forthwith before the lawmalling body
and makes satisfactory or unsatis-
factory answer to the question in
hand, If the explanation is unsatis-
factory the ministry has one of sew
eral duties to perform. 1t may eth
er correct the difficulty, appoint a
new minister or resign from office
Any time the parliament wishes to
do so it can use its right of interpret
lation and vote its lack of confidence
and the entire cabinet, including the S
prime minister, resign, automatic {
ally. Thus Asquith had to resign to.
make way for Lloyd George Glenn {
enceau came into office in the same t
way. These and various other |
changes occurred in war time, with c
the Huns beating at the gates. They
were made in orderly fashion with
out charges that members of parlia-
ment were exceeding their rights or
favoring the enemy. 1t is a quick
and effective way to make the peo-
pies servants serve the people +
Moreover, pitiless publicity is {
brought to bear. On the whole, the r
plan is very democratic. !
America has no such method of 9
making its administrative bodies
quickly amenable to the will of the 9
people. Although congressional in +
yestigations are held from time to +
time, apparently, there is no effect I
i've way for congress to get the j.,
necessary information when and in +
the manner desired. The informa- :
ton usually is brought out in all its
various phases with change of ad- {
which may occur sew
eral years from the date of the in
quiry. The faults of the present sys-
tenn can not justly be laid to the
door of any particular party. The ,
natural disposition to place favor
able Interpretation on administrative
acts or to cover up administrative err
rors will be found as readily in a
republican as in democratic admin
Farm organizations are interested
in this whole question of admins
trative accountability. They have
taken a stand for the just principle
that they should receive the cost of
production and fair profit for their
farm products. Until their self
help movement has developed more
fully the farmers, unless aided by
governmental help, can hardly estab-
fish authoritative proof of what are
the average costs of production. The
DqDaFtmp of AgripuItura and tie