, 1923-09-25
Wake Up and Take Part

rhs nroblem of taxes which are increasing IN
m alarming degree is now recognized as a local
one. The burdens which have been added to the
taxpayers in recent years have been added oy
local governments which are directly and soie-
" responsible to the very people who are rais-
ing the greatest protest over high taxes
High taxes are operating to arouse the poo
nile to a realization that they have been neglect
ing their duty as citizens. 1t is emphasizing the
yery essential fact that under our form OF popu'
lar government people get just what they de-
serve. If what they get is not Just to their INK
ing. they alone are to blame. The remedy is In
their own hands. If they fail to apply 1t, sell
government is, to that degree, a failure.
Official election returns furnish striking proof
of the Indifference of the people to their govern
ment. The largest vote ever cast in a presidential
.,ect;on was cast in 1920. Yet only AZ per cent of
the legal voters in the United States exercised
the right of citizenship in that election.
It is an alarming fact, disclosed by official
election returns, that very seldom do more than
30 per cent of the total voting population take
mart In elections which determine who shall be
their representatives in federal and state offlces'
In some states within the last two years less
than 90 DER cent of the total voting population
participated In the election of United States
senators. In many cases only ten TO twelve per
cent of tho citizens took part in their local cleo
lions.
Those who complain about the manner In
which their local governments are run should
conduct a searching determination to ascer-
tain whether or not they have done their duty
as citizens.
There is another phase Of this public indif-
ference to the exercise of the rights and duties
Of citizenship. May it not be likely that some
of this indifference is due to the growth OF gov
eminent paternalism? During the last few
years the doctrine has found favor that not only
public troubles but business troubles, and In
some measure, personal troubles, should be hand
Led by some government agency.
Cftisens have acquired the habit Of running to
washington or to their state capital with their
troubles instead of first attempting something in
the why of self help. Communities have expected
state OF federal governments to do things for
them which they should do for themselves.
State or federal agencies have been expected
by the Individual to compel him and his neigh.
bors to observe laws and regulations which he
and his neighbors should observe of their own
FREQ VIII. State and federal agencies have been
expected to assume in a largo measure the du.
ties and responsibilities of parents.
Various activities and enterprises have taken
kindly to the paternalistic theory that the govern
ment owes them a guaranteed profit or a guar
anteed price, that it should save them from the
OWL of their own mismanagement and lack of in.
~ftiative. Extended to the individual, this pater-
nalistic doctrine embraces a system of pensions
and insurance which destroys all incentive to In
dividual industry and economy. 1t places the
shiftless and indolent on exactly the same basis
with the thrifty and industrious.
The doctrine of 'letting George do e." wher.
ever the conduct of public affairs are concerned
is largely responsible for the increased taxes
which afflict every community, largely respon.
sible for the lax methods which prevail in gov
ornamental affairs, for the multiplication OF need.
less commissions and bureaus and official Jobs;
in short, for n very large percentage of the eco
nomic and the political troubles which exist to.
day.
People cannot neglect their duties as citizens
and escape the evil consequences. In n repro
sentative form of government, the government
must really represent, and this is obviously inn
possible where a ridiculously small percentage of
citizens participate in elections. II the irritation
of growing taxes serves to bring the American
people back to a realization of their duty as
citizens and stirs them to greater activity and
participation in public affairs, the cause of pop.
ular government will have been well served, and