The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-06-25
BoLSHEvIKS FETTER LIBERTY
Theories Leaders OF the Movement
Lay Down and Put Into Practice,
Fly In the Face Of All HUI
man Experience.
Article XIII.
BY FRANK coMERFoRD.

old superstition that the people
should be the sovereigns, that public
officials are public servants, that the
safest plan Of government is that
form of government which is nearest
to the people. In the United States
each citizen has one vote He has a
vote for the men who make the local
laws, the city or village ordinances:
a vote for the man who enforces the
ordinances, the mayor; a vote for the
representatives in the state legislature,
where the laws are made; for the
governor, who enforces the state laws;
vote for the congressman and SEN
ators who enact the national laws and
formulate the national policies; vote
for the president, who carries out the
supreme law of the land. While 1t is
true that in the case of the president,
we vote for electors who elect the
president, there has not been a single
case wherein an elector has voted
other than he was instructed by the
people. We come together in political
parties, present Platforms and every
citizen has a chance to register his
opinion of men and measures. The
citizen has right to vote at primary
elections and register his choice for
the party candidates and for the dele
gates to the conventions which formu-
late the party platforms. .
5olshevik Argument Unsound.
The bolsheviks point out that politi-
Cal parties do not live up to their
platforms; that candidates for office
default in their promises after they
are elected; that representative de-
mocracy is frequently not representa-
tive of and responsive to the people.
We know that there is some truth in
this criticism, but we know that 1t is
our fault. We have the power to ex-
press our wants, to record our will.
we also have the power to punish our
betrayal. We can recall from office
recreant public servants; we can add
10 our legislation and take over the
power to initiate laws, and compel the
reference of legislation hack to the
people before it can become operative
as law. Our public officials are ONLY
our agents; we hire them, we nav
them; we can fire them, disgrace them
and punish them if they fail to obey
our instructions. Such is our power.
Ii we do not use the power intelli-
gently and effectively it il our fault.
II we are Indifferent to the rights we
possess and fail to use them, the fault
Is with US. Therefore, we do not con-
denim system of representative gov
eminent because some. of the indiyid-
uals who make up the government are
unnt and unworthy of the rights they
enjoy.
The bolshevlks appear to favor q
change in the method of governing
the people. The plan they have adopt-
ed Is based on the theory that the
people must not be trusted, but that
the ofhceholders can. Bolshevism is
government from the top down, rather
than from the bottom up. They seem
to go on the theory that power dele
gated through many hands will lose
us corruption just as running water
does. This political theory flies in the
race of all human experience.
6olshevlst "Joker."
In our numbers we have a f,pure
winch for many years has enioyed a
peculiar reputation; it is the "iester,
OF numbers. 1t is the number ..23 -
II Is known in American slang as
"skiddoo." The bolsheviks inserted In
the constitution joker, and oddly
enough they gave it the "skiddoo"
number, "23." 1t is found In Article 9
OF the constitution:
Being guided by the INTEREST % e..
working class as whole, the Rrs.
sian Socialist Federal Soviet Renub-
lie deprives all individuals and rrannS
OF all rights which could be utll,yad
oy them to the detriment of tha a.
cialist revolution"
Here Is the big beware sign In tho
constitution. What, does n meow .
what fears must come into the minis
OF men and women In Russia wbon
they read this paragraph The con.
stitution deprlves every one. indiv,d
ualiy and collectively. of exercIsinc
any rights he or they may have wb,nh
are opposed to holshevism. Dia tyr'
amy ever impose a more arbitro ~
autocratic ukase? The paragrapb con
cedes that individuals and groups havs
rights, and then commands the naonls
not to dare use those rights, n tbei,
exercise might be detrimental 70 IN
Lenine-Trotsky government. Tho r,,h,
to voice thoughts is sentenced - \,
lence, Freedom Of opinion is crnshed
Who Is To determine what rights 4
exercised, might be detrimental - !
socialist revolution? The meaninr !.
Is plain as the command is sterb FoI
n line with bolshevism or perish !,
he order II you disagree win on,
plans and methods, "be seen bur NO.
heard"
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