The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-06-26
THE PUBLIC'S DUTY.

There is not the slight6 st doubt
concerning the public temper so far
as Congress is concerned. The story
stares at one from the pages of about
every publication making any COM
ment on public affairs. In public
places where men congregate and en-
ter into discussion of matters polit-
ical, the burden of their complaint is
that Congress has been playing poll
tics, that the interests of tie country
have been totally disregarded by that
body aid that it is the firm determi-
nation of the speaker to make en-
phatic on election day his protest and
displeasure by voting, if possible, to
rebuke every last radical and pseudo
party man in Washington who has
flounted party Loyalty to carry out his
own pet schemes, whatever they may
have been.
The vast majority of voters is de-
cidedly hostile to Senators and Con-
gressmen who have made a mess of
public business merely because they
have felt it politically eXpedient to
do that. That the so-called Republi-
cans have striven with might and
main to negative every constructive
plan of President Coolidge, are in bad
odor with the rank and file of the
party whose livery they have disgrace
ed, appears evident. We do not re-
call single word of defense for any
Of them, either by word or mouth or
in print.
Having stated the case as it exists,
the next question is: How can the
punishment Of the wilful and incom-
petent lawmakers be bought about
The answer is, Of course, that ev-
cry last outraged voter must take off
his at and work in every way to
bring about the downfall politically
of men who hold office and who are
laws unto themselves and defiant of
all demands that they work for the
public good.
The Representatives and Senators
who have DISTRACTED scientificall
planned tax reduction plans by offer
ing botched-up makeshsifts, who have
encouraged raids upon the Treasury
by gifts to able-bodied young men to
whom the country owes no money, as
President Coolidge plainly stated, who
have aided and abetted plans to make
the Federal Government wet-nurse
to business lame-ducks, who have
backed bills to hamper, hamstring and
hold up business, who have given en-
couragemert to radicals and support
to subversive measures harmful TO
business and the industrial and eco
nomic health of the country generally
in brief, all those who have stood
stubbornly for the worse while fight
ing to prevent the accomplishment of
things constructive and good, must be
taught that in such a course is to be
found political death and not political
life.
This year good citizens have all the
best reasons that can be cited for
taking an interest in matters polit-
ical. This year they have no excuse
for refusing to protest against the
scrambling Of public business and this
year they have the opportunity to
make their protest emphatic by refus-
ing to give support in any way to any
party which would condone or coun-
tenance what has been done by the
present Congress. The temper Of the
public is right for an exhibition of re-
sentiment that will everlastingly tell
gabsquirts that they cannot make
monkeyshines of public business and
prosper politically.-New York Com
mercial.