Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-01-26

a DilllldH. @SSGlnuidSC 81 rep
resentative Alexandrians and out
of towr guests, presided over by
Dr.. Kate Waller Barrett, an Of
ficer Of the League of Women No-
ters and National President Of the
American Legion Auxiliary, last
night heard addresses by Hon
Frank W. Mondell, of Wyoming,
Republican floor leader in the
House Of Representatives, Miss
Belle Sherwir, 2nd Vice President
of the National League OF Wo-
men Voters, and Miss katherine
F. Lcnroot, Assistant 10 the Chief
Of the Children's Bureau, L. s.
Departures. Of Labor.
Or. Barrett in q graceful speech
welcomed the visitors and present
cd the first speaker. Mr.. Mordell,
following the invocation by Rev.
+. N. Delaney, of the Presbyter-
ian Church
Mr.. Mondell said that in re-
Iceiving The invitation to speak in
Alexandria he had ncsiced on The
Leagues letterheads, the pcrfec
tion of organization evidenced. He
complimcntcd the league upon its
aims and said that the field q its
usefulness was wide, not only
among women but in all classes
of citizenship, Mr. Mondell said
that Americans pride themselves
on their knowledge OF goyerrncn
but still il is astonishing 20 find
the amount of ignorance every
where on questions of citizenship
and government. The chief point
Of ignorance, re- continued, is in
understanding the division cf au-
thority and responsibility between
she tSate and Federal government.
The theories and principles Of
government are simple. stated Mr.
IMondcll, hut government Itself is
complex. Careful study is required
to keep in mind the wise division
our fithers made between the au-
thority and responsibility of The
citizen within the state and % The
state and the responsibility cf thc
citizen 10 the Federal govern
ment. Some people. the speaker
continued. had moved too rapidly
10 increase Federal powers .
Some state powers have been
transferred 70 the Federal gov
crnment, as evidenced by the Pro
hihition amendment.
Mr.. Mondell urged the study Of
citizenship in the schools and thc
teaching of the duties of citizen
toward community, school district
county and state. One need not
worry about Presidents, Congress
or Governors, said Mr.. MonlelI,
for they are only citizens raised
to office by the people. if all the
citizens have been trained in cit
izcnship in their own locality.
There can be no such thing as a
free government unless the irdi-
vidual is trained to school himself
in self government in his own
community. Mr.. Mondcll said that
government in Europe hegins with
rulers at the top arl filters down
ward. The American people vii!
be safe as long as government be-
gins with the plain citizen and
reaches up to those in higher of
fees.
Mr.. Mondcll spoke Of The hiGh
tvpe of men who hsd represented
Virginia in Congress during the
twen,.y-six years Of his service.
Men do not anticipate r"volu-
tionary changes because women
have beer enfranch;sed, declared
Mr.. Mondell. IF men anticipated
such charges they would feel 1t
rather an argument against tho
wisdom Of inviting new voters.
I,ovolutions ordinarily are rot
good things for any people. Bu.
there is nothing better than eyolu-
tion, which seems to be he course