Evening star., 1922-06-15
AMERICA MENACED
BY POLITICAL TREND,
Mr.. WEEKS ASSERTS
Continued from First Page.)

rect solution from the standpoint oi
the nation: but such a procedure Is
not possible in the case of one one
thousandth part of the questions
pressing for solution every year.
Another and more direct introduc-
ernment is the submission of legisla-
ton to the individual citizen through
tho referendum. Another example is
the recently adopted initiative. The
truth Is that the people are too busy
the questions are too difficult and per
picking, and the task too involved to
enable them to pass intelligently on
such matters.
Quotes Ex-President Wilson.
II need hardly say more on this
subject than to quote from a valuable
book on Constitutional Government
in the United States, written by for
mer President Wilson, in which he
says: a government must have or
gans; 1t cannot act inorganically by
masses. 1t must have a law-making
body: 1t can no more make law
through Its voters than it can make
law through Its newspapers.
I'VE have recently passed through
a great war and are experiencing the
reconstruction period following it. In
the midst of comparative plenty, In
the midst of reasonable and increas-
ing prosperity. we witness an even
greater volume Of unrest than even
ordinarily obtains. This Is evidenced
particularly In the criticism of public
officials of the immediate past and
present. There is an almost univer-
sal condemnation of Congress at this
time, and. while think there are rea
sons why Congress may be criticized
am sure that much of the criticism
laid at Its door is unjustified.
But in any case in the public mind
the legislative branch Of our national
government probably never has been
at lower ebb than it is today. It has
almost become a habit to say dispar-
aging things about Congress. Nc
credit is given for legislative actions
which are wise and necessary, and
there 10 an almost universal demand
that the President take control and
lead in legislative matters. 1t would
require too much time for me to un-
dertake a discussion of the condition
of Regulation in Congress. but in my
Judgment much of the dissatisfac ction
is not based 10 much on legislation
as 1t Is due to the present state OF
the public mind. One reason for this
is taxation and resultant appropria-
tions.
Question OF Tax Reduction.
IN it's platform of 1920 the domi-
nant party promised to reduce taxation
In some respects 1t has failed to dc
SO, not because q large number of re-
publican senators and Representatives
did not wish TO carry out the pledges
of their party, but because of CON-
bination of a part of the majority de.
voted to a special interest with the
minority in Congress and an insistenc.
on their part that income taxes. gen.
orally speaking. should not be reduced
Then. there is the constitutional
amendment relating to prohibition
Whatever may be the individual views
of citizens on prohibition. there is no
question about the disquietude result
ing from the adoption of this amend
ment and the laws for it's enforce
ment. Taxation and prohibition have
affected the individual pocketbook OF
the voter and his personal rights and
privileges. as he views them. and the
natural result Is criticism and dissatis-
faction with government. l do not
comment on the ultimate wisdom OF
the prohibition amendment, but IL is
indicative of one very palpable fact
An abrupt change in a matter affecting
so many citizens cannot be made with.
out creating violent opposition and re.
sulting in much criticism Of the gov.
ernment."