The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1932-08-05

style TO us Dac "a pasSengers)
What Als America, And What's The Remedy?
don't know. And again don't know. You meet people every da
who can answer both questions right off the bat. Some of US ordinar
moras are not 50 fortunate. or o wise Bnt If curse most IN Of -
have observed symptoms and facts that would seem to have a direc
bearing the subject AS for myself I am like viii Rogers-"an l kno,
is just what I read in the papers" And what I read in mems facos an
actions, and the stories of their lives, and what other people sa
about them (mostly behind their backs). This applies to women aBc
except that many Of them are harder to read. Unless get them 200
and mad they put up something that is a c combination of camoufage an
DEFENSE II there is a man nearby. Come to think of it men attemp
something similar around women. But men are Sc trusting. Sooner o
later they lower their defense and the women hook EN-. But that
getting onto a side issue.
Except for political purposes, at national conventions, etc, whe
it has to be tolerated, the present is not the time for chIoroform
pleasing platitudes, rainbow theories and narrow-viewed seHishness
A cold plunge into realities will do more to bring US to our senses
We need to get our eyes wide open so that our horizon extends beyond
our own doorsteps, our own fields. Out here in the wide spaces of the
west we naturally and justhyably feel that we n big and import
ant In magnificent dimensions of promising land, pure air and blue
sky, we are And no less in boundless possibilities, opportunities ambi
un N optlnlsm- But in almighty dollars, entrenched advantages
congressional delegations and electoral votes, we little more than a
handful of pebbles OF a wide spread beach. If we count for more than
our merlc ralo allows IN the sum IF national affairs, it is because
of our western spirit, III our aggressive, ambition, or determination
to have our just dues, and perhaps then some. Because, like true "sons
tastful in range.
But here we are, some hundred and thirty million people, recognize
ed as the greatest republic on earth, a representative democracy, mill
ing around in the worst business and industrial depression we have
ever experienced. Our country has wealth, actual and potential, it
has all the advantages that invention and scientific research have
brought about. 1t offers its people marvellous opportunities for educa-
ton and training in every branch of human activity. And, although we
conditions.
But we are either too young O too old Gt is uncertain which,
and o strong enough and wise enough to stand alone. A va over
in the Old World, and our own folly have knocked us dizzy. Four years
w W Z we're wheeling uOnS at ngn speed (mucn o hlgh) Now III
not hitting Some lay the trouble to bad roads, some to poor gas and
oil, some to a weak battery, o perhaps a carburetor out of adjust
ment. Others blame some of the ew attachments and yet others the
mechanics, whose business it is to keep the machinery in first class
running order. OF course there are the usual few malcontents who
claim it was not built right in the first place.
About half of the rear seat passengers profess to believe the
driver is the guilty one They say he should keep the bus moving and
at the same time do something to set her going with old time speed
and power. He should take all their advice. Give everybody a ride that
are obstructing the economic highway. Whatever he does is unsatis
factory and they favor accepting the application of a new pilot
In government mn III cOnOu cuSteu NAV ha Ikanad mot
dependent The people themselves the whole mass Of them them oonsti
tute the parts of these public and private structures. Each has his
part to perform. Each has his chance to add to the efficiency of the
whole plan. It must be that some arc ogg o. hollis som arc gonara+or
and some ar control levers. But in the human structure places and
parts are not fixed but wonderously interchangeable
If our American machines n running badly it is because those
who II its human parts have been inefficient, unfaHhfulJ and negli
gent in their duties to the country and their own interests. Not only
just recently but from far back. The welfare of the government and
the country as a whole has been made secondary and subservient to
partisan, personal and private interest and advantage. In a word, our
patriotism has slumped miserably.
There is no denying that greed has led to special privilege and
powerful private advantage. Our boosted equality of opportunity is
badly out of balance. We live and work under a competitive system that
is ideal if the original plan is adhered to- But it seems to have be-
come warped into something that places a high premium, not alone
on industry n ambition but also on organized shrewdness in secur-
ing undue and unfair advantage through laws and circumvention of
lows. Nearmonopdy of commodities, control of markets, and cenraI-
za'loh OIL wealth. IN m actual mediums OF exchange have resulted.
These have been carried to the point where the few have overplaved
their hands and are suffering the consequences along with the rest of
oe norue winnie all mis- as going On both the voters and those en-
trusted with the authority of government have neglected their duties
and often been unfaithful. These are mild words to apply to the case.
Each reader may draw his WI picture of what has happened and is
TILL going Oh in the way of politics, corruption and disregard of law
and the demands of justice.
AS L watch the antics of Congress in critical times like the present
it almost seems a. if authority and responsibility is too widely spread
Ii, in cases of emergency Che present wheat market is a good examn1e)I
full authority could be placed in the hands of a very few who could
be held directly responsible for results, there is no doubt that Unjust
ices and inequalities of widespread and dsasuously harmful effect
would be Strengthened out with a snap. Blocking the weIlaid plans
of the government is treachery only thnly disguised and shouId baI
dealt with az such.
World affalrs have had much to do with our present troubles but
had we Kept or own house in order, and well in hand, we would be
in much better condition to pass through depressions. which m in
evitable IS proven by the history of the world. With so much liberty
such easy times compared to other countries) we fell into slothful
habits. We did not know or care how the government was run. We
contributed to it only what We had to and grabbed off from it all we
could. We spent beyond our means and were perfectly willing the
should do the same. We elected to office the men who
were ambitious to hold office. They were from among us and like
the average of us. We seldom put them to the test n checked up to
find how many of their relatives were on the secret payrors of the
government They have given us just the kind Of government most
any of II s would have given, had we been elected and power placed in
,ur hands /
1t is a sad fact that millions of blameless, helpless people who