South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-05
BY LEMUEL BOLLES.
National Adjutant OF the AmeTi-
can Legion.
Especial so The News-Times)

pride.
America today stands I'm the path
Of a destructive force. Not a whirl-
wind 10 tear and rend, but a slow.
creeping. insidious, relentless force
that attacks the very heart OF your
country, drains the strength and
power and hopes and dreams of
their being and will nevr pause in its
blight until you and yours have been
aroused.
Citizens Are Careless.
Today in the United States. where
popular government has reached its
highest development, a large portion
of our citizens have abandoned the
effort to exercise any of their politi-
cal rights. So, in increased measure,
the urgent need exists of bringing
home to every individual his own
responsibility for self-assertion in
political life.
In war the qualified man who fails
10 take arms in defense of his coun-
try becomes abhorrent I'm the eyes
Of his decent fellows The obligation
to take arms at such "A time is no
greater than the obligations OF peace
in the life of any good citizen. II
the necessity arises, he renders this
service i'm the discharge Of his civic
duties. But this is not true OF all.
Every country has its Bergdoll and
every age its slackers. They occupy
an unenviable place i'm public
opinion: their children will live TO
olush at mention of their names.
But with the political slackers-
many of them are respected citizens.
We find them in. every community;
the business man who is too busy TO
register; the working man who will
not take time from his tasks to cast
his ballot; the housewife who thinks
that a womans place is in the home;
the society woman who cannot be
bothered; the average OF Tom. Dick
and Harry who don't take enough
interest in the welfare OF their COM
munity 20 keep informed OF the time
and place Of tho election. All OF
these constitute an alarming proper
ton Of our adult citizenry who have
a right TO exercise share i'm the
direction of our political destinies.
but do not.
Take Interest i'm Issues.
There IS not an i'll in American life
today which cannot be cured. and
cured promptly, if each voter will
inform himself as to issues with the
means at his immediate disposal.
There is not a weakness in our social
structure which cannot be bolstered
IL individually and cOnscientioUsly
we try to discharge the obligations
and exercise the privileges granted
us by the constitution OF our United
States.
Political bosses. machine rule and
graf are impossible in that cOmmun-
| ity where the citizens are awake 10
their responsibilities. where they
measure up 70 the obligation resting
upon the individual. In every COM
munity there is that element, always
i'm the minority but bound together
by selfish interests. thriving upon
corruption OF public officials and spe-
| cial privileges. the very existence Of
which is malicious menace TO
democratic institutions. In the low
est classes Of society there IS a dan
/ gerous criminal element. ever
/ crouched TO spring at the throat Of
/ decent society and TO fatten itself
/ from the results of riot turmoil and
| destruction.
Well organized governments arc
| constantly alert to cub these ele-
ments. They have but little hope of
/ success by an open breach of the
| peace. Driven 10 cover and cowed
\ TO a sullen observance of the more
/ obvious forms of law and order,
\ they work 10 bring about their ends
/ by more devious routes. These hardy
/ partisans are present I'm force at the
polls They are never too busy TO
| cast their ballots. They are never
/ too busy TO lavish time and effort
| for the candidate who Will best
serve their needs. They are clamor-
\ ously in line when the rewards are
I being distributed.
Unfair Attacks Made.
/ The responsibility of the iudivid-
/ ual does not. however. cease with
/ the casting of his ballot nor does it
I begin there. IL begins first i'm de-
/ velopment of proper attitude
I toward our public institutions and
/ toward our public representatives.
/ Office holders in the United States
/ have borne such attack and misrep-
/ resentation and have become the
1 target of such destructive lombard
/ ment that il is almost impossible 10
get the right kind Of men 20 list
F themselves for office or 10 accept
public appointment Political cam
. psigns. though forced 10 disinfec-
/ tion in recent years, are yet too fire.
quently perfervid competitions in
personal villification. A man Of ideas
offering himself for public office
must be unhcsitant 10 Withstand
Misrepresentation. TO have his mo-
tivcs questioned, TO have the most
! intimate details OF his personal and
private life stripped and distorted 20
satisfy the passion OF that breed OF
politician TO whom nothing is clean.
As individuals we can force whole
some conditions in American life by
fatty refusing 10 associate ourselves
with political followings in which
such damnably debased tactics are
countenanced.
Respect Public Service.
When the successful candidate has
attained public office, he then ceases
10 be, in the minds OF many OF Us.
an honorable. patriotic citizen. Years
OF honest life among US are dis
counted and We begin 10 look upon
him. too often, with suspicion.
Whatever he does appears tinged
with improper consideration, done
not wholly for the public good. And
despite all. the man in public life
who does not spend each waking
hour in sincere and unselfish en-
deavor TO serve his city, his state