The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-06-15
j. s. LOSING
SAFEGUAROS
SAYS Weeks
War Secretary Voices
Pessimisnn on Tend
encies of Politics

CLEVELAND, ", juno IL
UIy the Associated rressl "A
frankly pessimistlc view OF some Of
the predominant tendencies Of
American political thuught was
voiced today By Secretary Weeks
OF the war department at the "om-
mencement exercises OF Western
( ilcserve University.
In an address which he said ne
wns tempted to entitlc ''the d--
cline OF the American government,
the war secretary declared the ann
OF recent years was gradually weak.
cning the nations governmental
structure hy undermining the CON
/ stitution and sweeping away tiia
( principles OF party responsibility.
The direct primary bloc agi-
tntion and the country's readiness
10 accept constitutional amend
mcnts were given by the speaker
as, evidence that the government
WIS heading away from its ancient
safeguards and toward compiete
social democracy.
"As one result" he asserted. in
the public mind the Legislative
branch Of our national govern
ment probably never has been nj
lower cbb than u Is today.
THE direct primary" he con
tinucd. "hns 30 palpably lessen~
the quality 81 men willing TO sorv'
In public affairs tha: prompt az
tion should be taken To grentil
modify or entirely repeal e."
Turning To the bloc" movemcn
in politics. Weeks declared tina
when n party comes into powe
promising 10 do certain things an'
then finds that groups break avn
from party allegiance wheneve
their own interests seem 10 he IN
VOWED. There - an end TO respon
sibiiity In government
Ttun Riot ia iiertions
. In its attempts 10 improve upoi
the work Of the fathers by amend
inF the ccnstitution The serrctar
snid. the country has failed sig
nniiy"
He added tina, in the matter o
popular elections "wo have rul
riot and suggested that much o
The present unrest and unccrtaint
seemed to ccntcr In VACATION.
Hy way OF preface the secretnr
said his philosophi1lng applied I
no particular party and that h
; spoke not as n government officia
hut ns private citizen eNercisln
= HIS privilege OF FREQ speech. III
. address follows In part;
= u am greatly disturbed hy IN
. depnrture In recent years from IA
! government; OF the constitution q
! I construe II To other forms of go,
ernment which have a decided tef
dencv toward comulefe social den
/. i -
abusii the ability of our govcrnmcf
= to endure. I must admit that 7 NJ
very pcssimirsic about the result Z
:, tho present rcnd which cann'
! hut beiieve II gradually wcakenir
our governmental structure an
\ may eventually change It's chara'
!. tor
MI ct has been necessary 20 amen
> tho constitution from time to tin
u to meet changing conditions. whic
y should only he done after very "A
e murc and deliberate considerable
aI let Wisdotn rnidc
q ''ff any ~ you Young men m
women decide to undertake a pul
iic career. ~ I homo YOU will 4
mo urre YOU never 20 support
nroroaition hccauaa II II pOpuli
A 4 - wv ~ ~ NANNfN w NNuf "
lions by wisdom and Justice. n
easy % obtain the applause OF a
N unihinking hut N IL a cheap pric
n Government II NO intricate tn
!. u should be administered
J. tended that this should be dOi
d and that the general eomms
= sense which applies In other fiel
"A nf hnasaa aoA.apnr abauta
" used In administering tho affni
,, Of our government.
We see an ever increasing te
dency on the par, Of citizens
Interfere In the details of leEisl
y ton ana the representative In co
gress IL becoming merely the del
i. gate Of his constituency.
- course he II sware that She peof
"A % hss district In all prohahlii
,e have been unable 20 give the Htl
N iect any deliberate considerable
D. hut An active and organized mind
/. ity may create such a furore IN
it's demands are mistaken a. the .
io pressed sentiment of a majority
a. II believe the mature iudgme
O. OF the people of the country can
- trusted ff you take any gre
" aucrsion of government and a
g. rusn 10 fully In every school distr
o. in the country. through the pr,
and from the platform the net
suits will be n correct solution fro
the standpoint 81 the nation. 4
- such a procedure Is not poasii
n ln the ease of one onc.thousand
l. part Of the questions pressing
A. solution every year"
a.