The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-02-02
GOVERNMENT HAS CHANGED

government" Whenever two or
three property owners get together
IL is a safe assertion that sentiments
like these are heard.
What do these things meanY Are
they true7 II true where will
present conditions lead us9 These
are natural questions to follow a con
sideratlon OF statements made above
II is difficult to answer these
questions. for the conception that
people entertain Of the function OF
government differs so widely. II
we were to return TO the old concep-
tion Of government, which called for
little more than the policing OF the
country and the financing OF the
legislative system, then indeed are
those right who complain OF the
cost. For that service the present
taxes are too high.
But are wo not getting more than
the mere protection of life and
property, and the machinery OF le-
gislation, together with the odu-
cation OF our boys and girls in the
the three RS? In Other words, has
not government followed all the
physical and social world In the pro-
cess OF ovolution7 II cannot be
denied that II 10 so.
No matter what those who own
property may think and may desire,
IL is certain that they will not soc
any material reduction In taxation.
While there Is undoubtedly a meas
uro Of inoffIcienoy in public service.
and economies are possible In many
spheres. yot were these all secured
and tho efficiency OF government
placed on 100 por cent basis. yet
the total reduction in ""-. wouldtbo
but a small fr-etion; unless he
functions OF government too are cur
tailed and return made TO the
primati.o regulation for which
many property owners crave.
We may be entirely wrong In our
belief. yot We think that tho people
by vast majorities will decline to re-
duce the social service they rro, and
have been demanding OF the govern
ments. national. state county aud
city. The theory that personal pro-
lection and rights are superior TO
property rights has been generally
accepted, and on that theory has
been justified and secured the de-
gree OF socialism In which we are
now living.
without calling Il so, we have
reached a socialized state. Our
taxes arc going TO support not gov
ernment alone, but social welfare.
Have We not health inspectors. san
Itary inspectors, factory inspectors.
widows pensions, workmens eompen-
sation. watermasters. mine inspect
Drs. bueaus ad infiuitum for tho pur-
pose OF doing things which the fam
Ily, the employer. the individual did
before?
All these cost money. and so Ions
As We have them We VIII have TO
unite to pay for them. They are
part OF the modern conception OF
society. They are here. and
the property owner likes
I or not he will be called upon TO
,ay the bill. until he and others like
him have the power to persuade the
majority OF the people that this is
wrong and should be stopped.
Take our educational institutions:
Those OF today are so Tar superior
o those OF our fathers that there
5 right here In Ontario
High school which offers more
curses. has more equipment and
axes its pupils farther on the road
4 knowledge than did any OF the
OF the early days in
Imerica. II we are to have for our
hildren these advantages. they
aust be paid for. and not by the in
ividual parent alone. for the peo-
10 have decreed that the best safe
uard OF a republican form of gov
rnment is an educated electorate.
II we did not have proper educa-
lonal institutions the only manner
a which our children could be edu- l.
ated would be through the agency
I the private school ana endowed
ollege. Anyone who knows appre-
Iates that thus the degree Of edu-
alton of the people as whole
'ould be greatly lessened. An un-
ducated people is a dangerous peo-
le in a country such as ours, and
herefore It is not to be thought Of I
nat our public schools should be !
II then relief for those who are
ceiling the burden OF taxation is to
Q secured-and for them 1t must
Q secured. for there Is real suffer