The Alaska daily empire., 1920-08-14
COPYING OUR MISTAKES

1t is pleasant to think of the United States as
a model for other countries but would prefer
that they not copy errors and mistakes as the
Commonwealth of Australia is doing in one particu-
lar respect Following error made by this coun-
try early in its history, Australia is to have made
to-order National capital city. The rivalry between
Melbourne. the present capital and Sydney the old
est Australian city, the two great metropolitan CEN
tiers of Commonwealth has led the people of that
country decide upon locating capital city in the
Interior of country where it would be ri
val to the seacoast marts of trade and where con-
ditions make the probability of a large city remote
The result the selection of CABRERA Hill, an
elevation overlooking great plateau surrounded by
mountains and waered by the Momzo and Cotter
Rivers, the permanent capital city of the nation.
II is said the climatic conditions perfect and
air of the greatest purity The capital city will
be called CABRERA for the hill which it is To-
Gated.
The mistake that Australia is making, like that
of the United States is the removal of the central
offices of the government from the people-the Sc
cuson of those who govern and the creation of an
official community that will be from the
activities of those engaged in business and industry
and .the task of earning livelihood in compe-
tive Sworld
The location of the capital of the United States
the quiet banks of the Patomac, far removed from
places where people active has tended to separ-
ate those who govern from the people to such an
extent that often they lose completely the viewpoint
of the average man. The men who man the depart
solely with politicians and others of their class.
To a somewhat lesser extent the may be said
of lawmakers. People who go to Washington go
there solely public business to the sights.
There practically industries commercial
enterprises of important located there. The
tides of activity, which flow back and forth over
the country do not reach the capital The men of
business and industry and the workingmen of the
country do not come in contact with the governors
of the Nation except when they go there special
business and for the time being representatives
of special interests.
great nation should be governed from or
OF its great ceners where lawmakers and
those who govern come in contact with people
with whom the principal objects of life not poll
tics sor offices of public business where they would
of affairs while he is occupied in his usual vo-
cation and not politics. The circumstance that the
capital cities of Europe the centers of the
various countries have tendency make govern
ment there more responsive to the demands of the
people than they would be if they isolated COM
munies filled with officeholders the military estab-
lshments and caterers
The capital of Australia should be at Melbourne
sydney. just the capital of the United States
should be at New York Chicago. Recognition of
this condition in the United States has suggested to
many people the advisability of having capitals
for the country capital a winter
capital, a capital that would be occupied by
alternate sessions of Congress The location of a
capital at San. Francisco, for instance would
serve compel those in the Senate and House and
at the heads of departments and bureaus and on
commissions and boards travel back and forth
across the country and come in contact with the
people while engaged in their customary pursuits
1t would count for responsiveness.