Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-04
GOVERNMENT
of the People, by the People, for the People

to the present time the Constitution has
withstood these ever increasing attacks
Many Government in this world has
succumbed to just such attacks. The
various bureaus are not under any direct
supervision and as long as their APP
propriations last they attempt to func-
ton.
The acts of Constitutional Government
are restrained by public opinion and
sentiment They are open to review.
Because Judgment is passed through the
ballot box, the voice Of the people is
needed by the politician. There is no
such restraint placed upon any bureau.
Its existence and power is from Con-
gress or the Legislature which, in turn,
have delegated to each bureau certain
legislative powers wholly contrary to the
provisions of the Constitution. The
creation of each new bureau involves a
grave Constitutional question: II
delegates discretionary. executive and
legislative authority and provides no
check against the abuse Of such
authority. The enactment assumes TO pro-
tect the bureaus created but does not
make the actions Of the bureaus re-
sponsible In any definite degree nor to
anybody.
Public Indifference An Aid to Bureau
cratic Tyranny.
A Congressman, DISCERNING the dan
gers Of ultimate effects Of Bureaucracy
and paternalism. said: The probability
Of the bureau following the footsteps of
all unrestrained authority in becoming
autocratic IS greater because the public
is not vlgiAnt In insisting upon
its constitutional prerogatlves Indeed
IL appears TO be more interested in class
legislation than In general governmental
affairs, and to be rid Of all Troublesome
questions by turning them over 10 TIE
Government. There appears to be a care.
less impression that the Government is
an immaculate. mighty oracle that can
adjust all things 10 conscience and 10
perfect order. In fact, there is no man
OF affairs acquainted with the proelgGcy,
procrastination and red tape Of the Gov
ernments departments, but would resist
a courts appointing one Of them cs
trustee or executor OF his personal nf-
fairs Their (the bureaucrat only ii.
GLANCE Is in urging enouromus appropri,
ations and In asserting their preroga-ive."
Failure of Bureaus TO Fanction.
There is not a single individual Citizen
who has ever had occasion to deal with
some Government bureau who has not
learned to his sorrow that an unsatls-
factory method Of doing business this
is. The Congressman quoted above said
further: Two thirds OF tn mail re-
ceived by members Of Congress contain
appeals made for assistance 10 obtain
the attention of some bureau which has
either enormously performed its duties
neglected or more often entirely ignored
them" Upset by general world condl-
lions, worried bt business depression, the
people have fallen into a state OF hone.
lessness regarding the power Of any in
dlvidual to remedy this condition. This
state has been followed by a worse CON
dition Of lethargy and Indifference OF
the individual to his constitutional pre-
negatives and his rightful inslstence up,
on their recognition.
Necessity for the AwaI< ening of Individual
Responsibility.
The citizen must awaken to his re-
sponsibility. This is not the time FOR
negligence or evasion. An eminent and
noted educator and student Of govern
mental science said In a personal letter
recently: The questions at issue seem
to me of the gravest importance, and II
is distressing to find so little apprecia-
tion of their gravity in the public mind,
or even In the public press" This evil
Of Bureaucracy and paternalism has en-
tered into the citizens innerntost and
sacred individual rights. 1t Is against
all the principles Of the real American
and his Government to permit the yio-
latlon of the sanctity of his person and
home. and the destruction of his indi-
vidualism. The predgested thoughts Of
offcialism cannot usurp or invade the
rights of free citizens. The true Amer
ican demands and will insist upon re-
ceiving only such a limitation or 70
strlction of his individual freedom as Is
consistent with the highest ideals of the
Constitution. Let us get away from
middle European bureaucracy and adhere
to the dearly bought fundamentals of our
American Constitution.