The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-09-01
The People Lead

Politicians have favorite alib They constantly
saying they favor this that REFORM but must
slow because of the public-the pubics hostility to
change the pubics stupidity the publics Indifference
But in fact, public opinion often is far in advance
of the politicians
This has been true at almost every international
or so-caed peace conference. The people have been
courageous and more intelligent than the gov
ernmnts which misrepresented them.
That accounts in large part for the cruel and
workable Paris peace treaties reparahons and failing
disarmament conference.-the politicians showed less
craftsmanship than public opinion.
The same is true of prohibition Only five years
after the public reaction against prohibition have
the politicians around to seeing the fall
ure of system which the mass of mere citizens
sensed before.
Now public opinion is in advance of the admin
straton congress- and of the political candidates,
in understanding this depression Proof of this to
be found in the statements this week by the Federal
Council of Churches and the National League of
Women Voters.
These bodies represent two of the largest blocs of
organized public opinion in the country speaking for
many millions of citizens.
The platform of the League of Women Voters
follows:
local units to prevent waste Establishment of budget
systems to promote efficiency.
Extension of the merit system to eliminate the
waste of the spols system. Reduction of expendi-
lures for war to release funds for other
services which now receive only 81 per cent of the
federal budget.
Maintenance of standards and opposition to de-
sructive economy which threatens essential services
SchO hea1t chill
welfare labor inspection and agricultural extension
services; which threatens commissions and agencies
designed to lower living costs and prevent unfair
trade practices; and which threatens the status of
women in governmental employ; readustment of tax
burdens.
Provision for public funds to be admins
tered by trained personnel. Establishment of a CO.
ordinated system of federal and state employment
changes one factor in the prevention as we'll as
the relief of unemployment; and regulation of pri-
employment agencies; state legislation for I'M
employment insurance
Economic international conferences on war debts
and tariffs, to remove of and maintain
standards of living. Adherence of the United States
TO the world court Devices to make effective the pact
Of Paris.
international reduction of ornaments"
In its Labor day message, the Federal Council
says
Religious prophets always have denounced the
gross inequality between the on the one hand
of those who toll in factory mine farm and Office and
of those, the other hand, Who by inheritance or
privilege of ownership speculative investment de-
rive incomes not earned by actual service.
Inequality is peril to the rich because it tempts
them to a narrowing of their sympathieS and false
scale of values 1t is to the poor because it
means misery for underpaid, rregularly employed
workers, crowded in nsanitary tenements shacks or
company houses exposed to the constant fear of ILL
ness unprovded for and old age insecure
Our economic resources our progress in invention
and the arts our social inheritance now should make
possible worthy standard of living for ALL if the
organization of production and distribution were di-
rected toward that end.
The thing that really matters in any industrial
system is what is actually does to human beings For
this reason society that would call itself Christian,
or even civilized, tolerate such unemployment as
now see in our economic life"
When statesmen think and officials act in response
to such enlightened public opinion, we shall have
really representative government