The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-12-28
FREEMAN's SPEECH
<<vrsHE state of Maine will not
, sell dts birthrisht."


Would that the men who guide
the dcstiniss of every state in the
Union had the rugged courage OF
the governor OF Maine.
What ground is there for believ-
ing that the surrender Of state priv
ileges 10 the federal government
will bring us greater ease; will
bring any economy OF administra-
ton: will produce a more efficient
class OF executives or a better gov
ernment'
Are not the executives OF the ma
tion bred by the states7 Why do
you expect that the atmosphere OF
Washington will make them super
men, Cannot the same men be as
broad d-minded legislators and able
statesmen In the state-houses at
Salem. or Springfield, or sacra-
mento!
They can, at least for the pres
snt. bu, how long they can is q
question. The constant emascula-
tion OF power 90 drains the dignity
Of the state. that even Its highest
position 10 becoming a rubber-stamp
Job. secondary 10 the bureaucratic
pomp OF a federal department head.
and men Of merit soon will cease to
aspire TO such purely clerical posi-
tions as the state can offer. II the
drift toward paiernslism goes on.
In calling on The governors OF the
states to aid in evolving a plan for
the enforcement Of the prohibition
law. the federal government has alb
jectly confessed failure. In 1900
the government had on its payrolls
less than 200 special deputies,
agents and inspectors. yet the coun-
try was law-abidins and self-re-
speeiing far more than Il is today
when an army OF more than 10000
special agents Is abroad In. the
land.
What do You make Of IL? We
see in II > the inherent American
spirit Of liberty aroused and fight
ing against the paternalistlc en-
croachments. OF centralized gov
ernment Il Washington. Many are
fighting biIndiy. instinctively. They
feel the coils crushing. and though
not fully awake TO the cause, their
instructive emotion Is protection OF
hsrd-wcn freedom. Thus We see all
about us men OF the class we deSig-
nate as Leading citizens. seheming
to avoid the taxes that are nominal
ly Imposed by law, but which they
repudiate because they feel they
had no hapd In the Imposing; vio-
lating the constitutional amendment
that again is the law and should be
obeyed. bat which they scorn and
deride In speech and action because ,
they feel they had no hand IN the
making.
Ii Is a situation that must be I
viewed with alarm by every think
ing American. II indicates demoe- /
racy in danger.
Paternspsm. well-meaning but
misgiideds s5has the nation In It's 1
gripping de1)s, and the spirit OF cen
turies OF NDerty-ioving ancestors Is
instinctivsiy battling against the
subtle. sdfebcating influences that
are slOwlS breaking the heart and
the spirlt9tef all American enter
prise. ~
The brih4 offered by the federal
the REIMBURSEMENT
OF the frss4om OF internal control
and decision by the states are fair
on the surface. but each will bear
the closest scrutiny beneath and
within.
The offer that called forth the
ringing protest OF Maine was wrap
ped around the Sheppard Towner
bill. designed to protect
Mothers and infants. a most worthy
,bject--but who should have more
loosely at heart the safety of their
women and the welfare OF their
than the citizens of the
'.'s., Ts. Is.s r.