Askov American., 1933-11-16

can have easy access. The state asso-
citation has representatives at these
meetings. After the open discussions,
various proposals that have been gone
over pro and con by speakers are
voted upon. In this round-table, the
common thought is ascertained, and
an accurate check of that which is
uppermost in the minds of these peo-
pie is brought decidedly to the sur
face.
A CrOss.SectiOn of Opinion.
At the conclusion of these seven
district meetings, covering all of the
81 counties of the state, "check-up"
is made which reveals the sentiment
in all sections. The total result gives
a good cross-section of opinion
throughout the state.
These people in the counties have
discussed the things of interest to
them. The live subject of the mo-
ment, as we'll as the confirmed opinion
of the years, all have gone into the
common hopper. That which is in
the minds of these taxpayer-citizens
naturally is very much a part of the
common thought of most of their
neighbors. Here, then, it is possible
to ascertain and to cultivate true sem
timent.
These district meetings deal usually
with state matters. County groups in
their own local sessions devote atten-
| tion to local affairs. The home voter
can always get quicker results in his
local field because he can go directly
to the local board, and he does not have
to devote much time to creating pub
lie opinion beforehand.
But in the annual meeting of the
state association, there are delegates
from nearly every county, and these
largely are officers of the county as
sociations. They come into one great
assembly. They discuss the tax is
sues of the day, and, the objective of
the years. This meeting is conducted
like convention, with the president
of the state association presiding.
There are credentials committees,
resolutions committees, and soon mo-
tions are made, seconded, and voted
upon.
The final decisions, as adopted by
the convention, become the policy of
the state association.
Carries Oh Campaign.
At this convention, the officers of
the state association are nominated
and elected for a period of one year
by the delegates from the counties.
The state association then carries on
a statewide campaign guided by the
conclusions of the composite opinion
of all of the local groups. This cam
paign naturally gets active support
of thousands of men in the county
groups because, in. the final analysis,
it is their campaign. The views that
they have made articulate in the dis
trict and state meetings, now are
broadcast over the entire state, both
on the radio, in the press, and in pub
| lie meetings.
When the Legislature is in session,
many officers of county associations
come clear across the state to appear
before Senate and House Tax commit
tees and to battle for the things that
they and their colleagues i'm all the
other counties voted in convention as
sembled as being necessary for tax
relief and tax reform. Their work is
cO-ordinated by officers of the state
association
When a statewide campaign is
founded on such basic strength of SEN
timent that comes directly from the
needs of the people themselves, it is
likely to produce a campaign of vast
proportions. Lawmakers will feel
this sentiment, and there is a good
chance that whatever reforms are
translated into law.
Citizen apathy in government can
be combatted only by impressing on
the average man the very direct rela-
tion between his personal welfare and
the current public problem.
Men live under the great blue sky,
and they view every night the vast
consultations of stars, but few men
ever try to learn very much about
these stars. Men suddenly become
deeply interested in the sky when
they see a tornado cloud threatening
in the distance.
When It's Close to Home.
Men are encased in individual hui
man bodies, and this human body is
an intricate piece of mechanism, 4
veritable chemical laboratory. Yet
men learn very little about their own
bodies, or how to care for them, until
disease threatens with pain or extinc-
ton. Then, suddenly they study every
symptom, and they keep the doctor
and nurse busy answering questions
or administering concoctions.
Taxpayers associations can sustain