The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-04
Better Government
For American People
Can Get 1t BY Only Showing More Interest In Public
Affairs Is Opinion Of Newly Organized Society


IT think that special emphasis
fought to be given the duty OF every
. citizen to vote both at the primary
! and on regular election day." wrote
Senator Jones. 1.-The voting priv
ileEe Is not neglected by the poorer
people and those OF average fntelli-
h gence 30 much as Il IL by the bet
ter educated class OF our people. ]
believe that the highest duty of a
citizen in times OF peace IL to ex.
ercise his right In determining the
government we shall have. The fact
shows that In most instances not
more than half Of the people dis
charge their duty. This is not from
ignorance but apparently pure neg
liect and think one OF the great
things that your society can do Is
to awaken the people Of this duty
and responsibility"
Representative M. X. Reilly. of
4 Wisconsin, expressed the view that
the preservation of American in
stitutions and ideals was dependent
upon the teaching given the coming
generations.
There can be no doubt" wrote
Representative Reilly, that Amer
lean institutions are on trial today
as never before and the time has
come when men and women who
love our constitutional form OF gov
eminent and our system of econom-
ic individualism must organize for
the purpose Of selling to the new
generations those American ideals.
Not only that, but also there should
minds In this country for the pur-
pose of planning for the future IN
the way OF suggesting and backing
legislation which Is demanded by
economic changes and at the same
time retain our great fundamental
ideals. politically and economical
~"
Senator Simeon d. Tess, OF Ohio,
also thought the teaching OF Amer
lean ideals OF government to the
youth Of the land was OF great
importance.
I'm those days OF values being
measured always In concrete ma
tional terms" said Senator Tess In
his letter, "a movement that deals
with the youth looking to O proper
intellectual angle OF interest will
not only have q great effect for
the time, but II Ia likely to have
an abiding result. We are too much
inclined to deal with the CONNER
cial at the expense OF what might
be known as the spiritual. which
after oil IL the real source Of
values"
Representative A. ]. SABBATH. Of
Chicago, likewise attributed lack of
interest In public affairs to con-
centration on personal and COM
mercfaf interests. He said:
with the increasing complex
tiles Of our modern industrial life
and with the enlargement OF the
spheres OF public interest, tho In
terest that might ordinarily be
spent on public affairs and govern
ment IL centered on things more
OF a personal nature. And there
fore, the good that should accrue
to the nation. In form of added In
terest In public affairs and knowl-
edge Of governmental machinery.
IL more or less abrogated. I SIN
cerely believe that the United
states society will, by focusing at
tention on this important question.
render service to this country and
the cause Of democracy which will
be Of inestimable value"
This conflict between personal
ambition and public interest was
always to be expected. said Rep
resentative Robert q. Houston, OF
Delaware, but he though the solu-
ton OF the problem was to be
found In the training OF unselflsh
leaders for public service.
II think such q society as the
WHILE" said Mr. Houston, that Its
purposes could well be and should
be a part OF the curriculum of our
schools and colleges. What we need
Is unselhsh leadership. In public
affairs and in public Office the good
Of the country comes In conflict
with the ambitious and selfish pur-
poses Of the individual. This con-
fiict Is entirely human and always
to be expected. A thorough train
Ing Of fundamental principles for
the benefit OF the many, not the
few, Ia necessary. The people ne
cessarily will always be 10 con-
cerned with their private affairs
that they must and will depend
upon leadership. A spirit OF SER
vice, fair for public service, u
thorough knowledge OF the princi-
pies of government, the highest
Ideal Of public service and cour-
age 10 put PUBIC good above pfi.
vate ACKNOWLEDGMENT are necessary
for the right kind Of leadership.
Unfortunately many men seek pub
lie Office and political proferment
and advancement for selfish rea-
sons. They have ability and train
ing but the purpose OF this en-
deavor Is not for public good. How
can we change this disposition ?
The tAaat ne a ranuhitoaa for,, NJ
government is, of course. that the
people should be thoroughly quail
fled to know what Ii best for them
In government and TO select repre-
sentatives upon whose judgment
they may rely. We may never at
tain this ideal. Under existing con-
ditions our only safeguard Is to re-
ly on the judgment OF unselflsh
representatives. think we will
have to in the future II this gov
eminent Of ours Is to continue to