The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1932-07-08
The Voters Burden
CA Contributed EditoriaD

A. Time strides across the consciousness of the Human Race
leaving behind the years, the eras, the epochs' s Clv,hza1lon
rolls down across the ages in her gorgeous chariot called Prog
ress' with inflexible will and relenung zeal AS we leave the
haunts of yesteryear and call them old fashioned we take up
o,r commorance in the precincts of today which we call "modern"
Through all the passage of fleeing time there is N TACT
that has stamped itself indelibly upon the record of human ex-
perience. 1t is that the people of any given period OF time are
only as safe as their leaders are dependable. They ire only a $
progressive as their leaders are progressive. No people, n o nation
can rise above its leadership. Worthy leadership can iii a people
far above the plane of human averages while unworthy
ship will drag them down to woe and degradation.
1t is reassuring to the peace of mind of thinking men that
incontroverttble proof that the INSCRIPTIONS politician or the
corrupt ring, which may for a time usurp the powers Oh gov
eminent. is but paving the way to its own ignomlnlous bowman
AS the rotten thrones of decayng monarchies have tottered ana
fallen. they have been replaced by a leadership "of the people, lot
the people. and by the people" The altruist may be compelled
to weather a storm of ridicule and derision for a time but uli
mately the world accords him a "place in the sun.
We are apt to assume that the political corruption IL our
dav is distinctly modern, yet history reveals the fact that 1t is pt
a faint echo of the corrupt politics of other years and other coun-
tries and other milleniums. In no phase Il human ACTIVITY ar
loyalty and honor and selfsacrifice at so great a premium Is "
nnbHc service and at no time in human history has the premium
been so great as at the present time.
The cynics sheer and the pessimists mournful wall &c ~
contrary Notwithstanding, the civilization of today is superior
to that of any other day. 1t is true that we nave IN or pohtica
system customs and practices which quite obviously belong to
the centuries which are left behind us; which have no place IN
the government of this the greatest republic the sun has ever
shone upon; which seem grotesquefy out Il place IN IN 8 ~
truth and justice, but these stains are sfauuahy ICING Vs."
ont nv the experience of the years. The world is wiser To-Day
than ever before and it is likewise better. 1t is more honoraDder
1t is more just. 1t is more merciful II as more % p'"1
honesty and integrity.
The emancipation of the mass has prospered until acknow-
lodged slavery is no more. Within half the span of a lifetime
such terms as 1.-THE Popular Vote, "The Australian Ballot oys-
tenn, 1.-THE Initiative, Referendum and Recan, etc nave peoome
familiar even to the children of our land. Ideas N principles lnclpe
which a generation ago. would have been regarded as mpracu-
cable in government circles, are now considered indispensable
to the success of any government. Any plan begotten o mSC au
avarice is now regarded as actively poisonous to the pnySc@i
structure of any nation. We are prone o owen upon Io s nr
ness of the leaders of other centuries but those who lead us |"
n the wisest. the most efficient, the most capable. in the annals
of mankind-wise or efficient or capable for good o T o en po
this is not enough. From the heights which we have gained we
catch a vision Of greater heights and our present STATUS Seo"'
low in comparison. ono
Grant to us, in time of peace, the same carefully trained
carefully tested and carefully selected leadership which we eM
meet in time of war and civilization will snow the az"
progress recorded in the history of the world. Grant to u.s. III
time of peace, the same tenacity of purpose the same unuisW
ed effort. the same unsinted cooperation which we associate
with war and we shall soon see the soWuo d moS Vi '0
nomic problems of the world.
to valor and heroism in the face of death but in time u peace,
W q need leaders who can inspire men to honor and truth ana
righteousness, despite the storms of competition ana opposnon.
How many there are who, in time OF war, Will dare I'M merry
breath of battle with unfinching courage but who, IN time Oh
peace. will cringe before the threat of financial loss n personal
discomfort or unfriendly criticism.
what a tremendous responsibility is the selection OF leaders
for the activities of war. How carefully their qualifications ae
weighed. How diligently their records are studied. have e Inc h
ability to command men? Will they prove true under tire n De
able to hold the line when the day seems all Dt bost ne
task of picking them must be left to those who know tnem ven
officially if not personally. No less important is the ecO -
leaders in time of peace. In a nation of one hundred and twenty
five millions of people the average voter VIII De perSonahy a"
ouainted with but few Of those who are to be elected II ellmnaE
0L HNhCIL1 LC 1@0
of the candidates will of necessity be left to a few. unfortunately
graft and chance will figure largely in the selection o. d Ie",
a very few-nt, fortunately, in most instances, the canuluateS
will be chosen because they are fitted for the position winch
they seek.
Mr.. Voter. YOU are about to make the final selection Oh the
leaders unon whom this nation and this people will depend
through the problems and perplexities of the next few years.
They will also lay the groundwork for the best years Oh your
ohi11ren,s lives This nation faces probably the greatest crisis
in her short existence. What a crucial test the next i've years
will present to her leadership. We dare not nope Tor a upelmaH,
We have no need for one. What we do need Is tnat or olIip+
leaders. from the lowest to the highest, shall be unquesuohaoy
loval to the interests of those whom they serve. Inc Uy
of selecting such men or such women is upon you now. NeFe'
has such a burden of responsibility been placed upon those "Ho
were so poorly fitted for it. Grant that the American peope
r capable of the most intelligent pebiscite in all time yer II
is ca obviously impossible to know the qualifications OF the var
ions candidates Because of the powerful propaganda used, 1t IS
imDossible to know them even politically. We can only 90 or
cost party reindfce has become obsolete and a careful study
Of principles and men and the principles of men has taken us
place. Avoiding the smokescreens of propaganda as much as pos
chile let IS attempt to select those who will lead us in the dF
rection of truth and right and sanity.
Sand Greek, H +. NAL