The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1920-09-09
Shall Chaos or Reconstruction
In Europe Follow the Great
World War;
B0LSHEvlKS FETTER LIBERTY
Theories Leaders Of the Movement
Lay Down and Put Into Practice,
Fly In the Face Of All Hu-
man Experience.
Article XIII.
BY FRANK coMERFoRp.

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 q
vote for the men who make the local
laws, the city or village ordinances !;
vote for the man who enforces the
ordinances, the mayor; 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; a 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 be 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 a 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.
Bolshevik Argument Unsound.
The bolsheyiks 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 ONCE
recreant public servants; we can add
to our legislation and take over the
power to initiate laws, and compel the
reference Of legislation back to the
people before 1t can become operative
as law. Our public officials are only
our agents; we hire them, We pay
them; we can fire them, disgrace them
and punish them II 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-
1emn. system Of representative gov
eminent because some of the individ-
lals who make up the government are
Unfit and unworthy Of the rights they
enjoy.
The bolsheviks appear to favor
,hange In the method of governing
he people. The plan they have adopt
ID is based on the theory that the
,eople must not be trusted, but that
he officeholders can. BOlshevism is
government from the top down, rather
han from the bottom up. They seem
o 60 on the theory that power dele
ated through many hands will lose
IS corruption just as running water
oes This political theory flies In the
ace of all human experience.
BoIshevist "Joker."
In our numbers we have a figure
hitch for many years has enjoyed q
ocular reputation; 1t is the Jester
( numbers. 1t is the number "23."
is known In American slang as
skiddoo." The bolsheviks inserted in
lie constitution a joker, and oddly
nough they gave 1t the "skiddoo"
lumber, "23" 1t is found In Article
the constitution:
Being guided by the interest of the
orking class as whole, the Rus
an Socialist Federal Soviet Repub-
c deprives all individuals and groups
all rights which could be utilized
? them to the detriment of the so
alist revolution"
Here is the big beware sign In the
What does 1t mean;
hat fears must come into the minds
men and women In Russia when
ey read this paragraph The con-
tuition deprives every one, individ-
lily and collectively. of exercising
" rights he or they may have which
e opposed to bolsheyism. Did tyr
my ever impose 4 more arbitrary,
ukase7 The paragraph con-
des that individuals and groups have
,hts, and then commands the people
t to dare use those rights, If their
ercise might be detrimental to the
government The right
voice thoughts Is sentenced to 81
ice. Freedom Of opinion Is crushed.
ho Is to determine what rights, II
ercised, might be detrimental to
,ialist revolutionf The meaning is
plain a. the command is stern. Fall
line with bolshevism or perish, Is
order. II you disagree with our
ms and methods, BE seen but not
lrd"