Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-04

FRANK G. HARRINGTON
Augusta .
time. energy and effort that might
better be directed into other chan
nels.
indifference 10 Danger
I'VE may well ask ourselves
What Is the matter with politics."
But the dangers do not lie in the
character of our public men, nor in
the efficiency Of our political parties
as they exist today. The real men
ace lies in the appalling indifference
fairs. When we stop to remember
that in every township and city a
very large per cent Of our citizenship
takes no personal interest In the out
come Of an election. a very serious
situation is presented. American, in
situations are not safe IL a consider
able number of voters refuse to take
any responsibility in their manage
ment and control.
"The failure Of the citizen TO vote
would not be alarming if that indif-
ference were found among those who
contribute but slightly of their time
and thought to the worlds improve
ment BUT unfortunately this ipdif-
ference is found among those who
are best equipped to know what Ia
best for the Country and best able
to contribute to the successful man
agement Of governmental policies.
There are great numbers Of men and
women prominent in social circles
who never think Of taking the time
to attend either a primary or an cleo
ton. On the other hand. it is diff
cult to find a loafer, q bum, a crook
out OF Jail who has ever neglected
an opportunity to vote.
''If the reputable citizen continues
to ignore his duty in this matter,
and the other kind OF citizens con-
tinue to increase their political ac-
tivities, very soon We shall have a
most unstable government. AS long
as this indifference remains personal
and selfish, 1t IL reasonable to sup
pose that our Government will con-
tinue to function in the future just
about as it has in the past. But the
growing tendency OF our Indifferent
citizenship Is a distrust of public Of
ficials. a lessening faith in our courts,
and an open contempt for some OF
our statutes. There Is a steady, ever
widening growth in all sections of the
Country, and among all classes OF
the people of certain disdain OF
legal restraint, and q certain cynical
suspicion as to the authority, ade-
quacy and impartiality OF the whole
legal neutrality-suspicious.. lawyers and
law itself. A large number of bust
ness men in America today have the
idea that the law Is some kind of a
game that can be beaten: that law
yers are simply cunning instruments
to evade or defeat consequences of
wrongdoing; that courts and officers
can be influenced by personal or po-
litical considerations: that the whole
system is one of friendship and fay
oritism and corruption.
THE very moment that O majority
of our citizens lose faith in the three
great branches of our Government
the executive, the legislative and the
judicial--that moment we stand be-
fore the world as disorganized as
Russia, and utterly unworthy Of our
present proud place among the ma
tons of the world.
Remedy Lies With Citizens
THE remedy does not lie with
the Republican party, nor the Dem
ocratic party. It lies with the average
citizen. Awaken him to a full sense
of his governmental responsibility
and all the powers OF evil cannot
prevail against him."
Mrs. Wells opened her address by
bringing greettAgs from the Texas
Republicans to the Republicans OF
the Pine Tree State.
people Up North" she said.
seem to have a general idea that
there are no Republicans in Texas.
but / want to tell you that there are
thousands of them. And the Repub-
licafs in Texas tell me that the Dem
oorats vote the Democratic ticket,
but pray for d Republican admins
tration which will bring with II the
blessing of the protective tariff"
Mrs. Wells also had a word to say
for her home state, Missouri. ex-
pressing her pride that It swung in
to the Republican column with Gov.
Hadley's election. and has remained
consistently In that column for the
past four years under Gov. HYDE.
She spoke of the fine work on Amer
icanism that Is being done by George
Lockwood editor OF the National Re-
publican. and urged that all rank
and file Republicans familiarize
themselves with his writings.
'The kind OF Americanism he Is
country" she said.
Mrs. Wells urged that no consider
alton Of religion, color, creed or sex
be allowed to invade political or.
sanixation.
''In many states" she said, "woni-
en- are. still auxiliary members OF
political committees. and appointed
by men. I'm Missouri men and
women serve in equal numbers on
party oommittees. There we have
equal party organixattpu.
There should be women in both
branches OF our State legislature and
both Houses Of our National Con-
gresA Women should serve on all
ccmmittees and sit Ia ali conferences
where great moral issues are in
volvsd. Every thinking woman in
the country 10 deeply interested In
the great problem Of law enforce
mont. They are unanimous In sup-
port OF President HArdinr's utter
ance. The 18th Amendment Is the
law OF the land. II must be obeved,
Mrs. Wells paid tribute to the 10y
atty OF women during the World