The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1919-08-28

g66EsS6E9SH6R6HEd
THE PEOPLE PAY FOR THE
RESULTS.
We have received communica
ton from Boise. headed -Four
months of the Davis Law Meas
ured by Results first install
ment of promised story on new
form of state government, which
is being sent broadcast over the
state to all the papers for publica-
ton The article is praising the
new form Of government and the
present administration.
During the campaign last fall,
the Herald was neutral as far as
the governorship was concerned,
because it was in doubt as to
which candidate would make the
best governor, and is at present
In doubt as to the wisdom of the
present form of government
adopted by the last session of the
legislature and strongly urged and
approved by Governor Davis. Con-
sequently it is willing to give Mr..
Davis full credit for what good
may come from the new form of
government and if it is great
improvement, or any improvement
at all, over the former system, it
is willing to give Mr.. Davis the
credit. But on the other hand, if
it proves a detriment, or a step
backward, it will be justified in
holding Mr.. Davis responsible for
the blame.
A great majority of the people
of the state at the present time are
open minded as to this new form
If it is an improvement they will
welcome the change. but if it is
not, they will condemn it. AS the
article states, quoting Governor
Davis at the first meeting of the
cabinet, "Let me have results, /"
is exactly what the people want,
but the people want to be the
judge. not those who are admin
isterin9 the laws and who are
drawing a salary for or from the
administration. These people
would naturally think it was a
good thing. If they did not and
were honest. they would resign.
1t is seldom necessary to apollo
gize for doing right. Likewise it
is not necessary to apologize for
a change in the form of the state
government if it is what it's sup
porters claim for it. Neither
should they attempt to take ere
dit for something not due them,
just the same as they should not
be condemned for something they
are not responsible for In these
two respects the article underes-
Inmates the intelligence of the vot-
ers Of the state. No unprecedented
man is going to claim that the past
administration. or any of its pred
ecessors, were perfect or. free from
mistakes. but on the contrary, can
point out many errors committed
and many things done that he does
not approve.
But they will not take, without
many reservations. the following
statement to be fully true -Four
months of operation of the new
scheme in Idaho seems to have
proven conclusively that the skep-
tic must cast aside his skepticism,
that the doubter may cling no
longer to his doubt That thor
oughgoing efficiency which pro-
ponents of the Davis law had an
ticipated is demonstrating itself |
in results. Red tape and costly /
duplication have been supplanted I
by direct action and centraliza-
ton. Idaho is experiencing the I
dawn of a new era in civil admin
istration
To whom has this proof been
made? The people in general,
who are to be the final judges,
know but little about what has
been accomplished. They are anx-
ious to know what the new form
of government is and has been do
ing, but they are not asking the
opinion of.the officers administer
ing the government as to whether
it is success or not. These re-
ports are good in so far as they
Iell the people what they are de-
no but they are bad when the Of
Eicials themselves try to mould
public opinion favorable to it thru ]
,olitics and political prejudice.