Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-13

The statement of Gov. Franklin d.
Roosevelt in his inaugural address IN
New York that 1.-The individual citizen Is
Indifferent to his local government
problems" seems to have struck a re-
sponsiye chord in many sections OF the
country, and editorial comments agree
with his viewpoint.
your average citizen doesn't take
his citizenship duties very seriously, nor
does he interest himself in the conduct
of public affairs until he feels the pinch
of taxation or suffers from some failure
or inequality of governmental machin-
ery." says the Raleigh News and CD
server ''Then he wants something done
about it. He wants reforms. He Is IN
a fine frame of mind to champion any
thing different" The Utica Observer
Dispatch, in RooSevelt's own state, says:
Gov. Roosevelt has thus given impress
sive help in what appears an almost
hopeless effort to reawaken deep, &C
tive and continued interest in local
governments"
municipalities and States are cor
porationS but they are not run on buSl-
ness methods" declares the Albany Eve
ming News, which, continuing, remarks:
"A board of directors made up OF good
business men could find ways OF saving
money without curtailing the necessary
business men pay little attention to the
problems of government. Government
is left too much to politicians. Here IS
one American weakness. And thaL
weakness can be corrected by the sub
stantial men of each community" con-
cludes the News.
In the opinion of the Newark Eve
ming News, "free government Is now
going through one of the most acute
CIlhIanfpd
country, this because of changing con-
ditions in the electorate. If the quality
of the electorate does not improve IN
the next 20 years" this paper sees
real cause for alarm" AS remedy
it suggests raising public thinking by
the processes of education and set-re-
straint. Local self government is an
ideal and a, privilege, II asserts, ala ~
IF the people default in making use OF
it by neglecting to take an interest and
leaving the management of their AFFAIRS
to small politicians it loses its virtue
To this there must be an awakening II
our democracy is to function without
decline" it concludes.
X X
Contending that cit is easier for crooks
and combinations of crooks to control
local government than it is for them TO
control larger-scale government, be-
cause the Nation Is not SO 1nullleiSilG
to the moral character of the National
Government as communities, municipal
tiles. States, are in many instances to
the quality of their local government"
the Louisville Times cites this opinion
as contrary to one often held that If
indifference is the cause of profiigate
and dishonest government the Federal
Government, remote from the taxpayer,
would be usually less honest and less
efficient than county, municipal or State
government" The Boston Evening
Transcript thinks "many States may
well examine themselves to note whether
Gov. Roosevelt's criticism applies to
them" and AYERS that "the remedy he
indicates is local leadership and reor-
ganization"
Undoubtedly it is desirable in theory
that the people should assume respon-
sibility for good government, and it is
true that there should be more general
concern for the type of men who are
elected to Office" thinks the Springfield
CMass) Union, but it calls attention
to the fact that 1.-The average citizen
has the business Of making a living
which ordinarily consumes much of his
time" And this paper holds that
this average citizen has "a right to