The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-12-05
Demogogues Rise; Mosse.
Pitted Against Glasses

Demagogues rise to power only AFTER
they secure in some manner the support or
the masses of people. This support is ac-
hieved in a number of ways. Sometimes IL
has been given willingly in honest belief and
faith. Other times it has been forced by a
small group following the leader for the pur-
pose of self-agrandizement.
Whatever degree of support these DEM
agogues may have been able to obtain, how
ever different their methods have been, they
have all worked alike in appealing to large,
special groups, promising these groups spe...
cial concessions and favors. The "have-nots'
have been pitted against those who "have."
These things have happened in COM
paratively history in Russia Italy
Germany . Spain France and
England has barely escaped it.
There is a trend in America today very
similar to these movements in European ma
tons Steady encroachment of government on
business and regulation of profits and in
vestments is gradually bringing about a state
that is not truly democratic as we commonly
interpret the term democracy.
Organization of labor, pitting it against
capital, workers demanding and fighting for
their rights, is slowly but surely pointing to
the day when there is going to be a real
division in the great masses of our people,
definitely arraying masses against classes.
When this occurs America will be ready
for some a demagogue to come along and
take advantage of the people. The under
dog is always sold out by those for whom
he works or by those who put themselves
up as his protectors. He always gets the
smallest end of any deal.
AS proof that already this movement of
plttlng masses against the classes Is under
way we have only to note the efforts of poll
teal leaders and others who seek to have the
poll tax repealed in an effort to break up
the solid south, to make it possible for 10
and one-half million poor whites and negroes
down here to vote.
On the surface it would seem that every
man and woman should be allowed to vote
regardless of race, color and creed. That is
the truly democratic thing.
But we must go below the surface of
things if we are to know their true state.
These political leaders in congress want the
poll tax repealed not because of the benefit
those persons would get in voting but for
their own selfish schemes and profit.
Should the poll tax provision of suf-
frage be repealed the south would become a
fertile ground for ~grafters to organize the
masses of people and herd them to the polls
like sheep. Votes would be bought and
sold and corruption would reign.
Southern leaders know every person in
the south with interest and intelligence en-
ough to vote does so. The small amount of
money for poll tax supporting our schools
is little enough to pay for our privilege of
suffrage.
If we are to have the best government it
must be a responsible government. 1t must
be run by trained men capable of honest
and sincere leadership. 1t must be manned by
men who are big enough to look after the
interests of all men and all classes. It cannot
harbor hate, vice and corruption for long
without disintegrating.
If democracy is to survive in America we
are going to have to have a government big
enough to take care of the poor unfortunates
without turning it over to them to run; it
must be free enough from corruption and
politics to keep capital from exploiting the
people and labor; in short it will have to big
enough to provide for a system of reward
for those who are ambitious and industrious
and have heart enough to take care of those
who cannot take care of themselves.