The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-10-18
As in 17S7 and 1862
Cleveland Plain Dealerl

Cleveland Plain Dealer)
 Only twice before in the history of the United States has the question of the relation between local and federal government been of such moment it is today This issue came within an inch of wrecking the Constitutional Convention in the sum- mer of 1787. In 1862 it preciptated the Civil War. Now for the third time it has been made an object of bitter controversy by the attempt of the New Deal to lodge all political power in the national capital
 Increasingly being warned by thoughtful men that if we continue much further down the path toward centralized government, we shall lose our democracy and return to the autocratic rule which we successfully rebelled against in 1776.
 Unfortunately the question has been complcat- ed by the World War. Too few have been able to the difference between the temporary concen- tration of authority in the hands of the chief tive for purposes of national defense and the per manent concentration of authority in Washington for the handling of purely domestic problems The founding fathers recognized the former neces- sity for any sovereign nation. But they wisely decided against the latter of oppression.
 sane appraisal of the latter situation was made recently by Attorney General George F. Bar rett of Illinois in address before the National Association of Attorneys General in Indianapolis. Recognizing that changed conditions have made necessary many federal undertakings which formerly could be left to the states and municipalities Bar rett warned however that the national govern ment today has forgotten its proper place in our federal system" and is unceaslngly searchlng TOT and more needless power.
 No one today seriously advocates" he contin- ued, "a return to a decentralized form of govern ment (such as the old Articles of Confederation because society has become too complex But there who insistent in their demand that we abandon the traditional principles which have defined the nature and powers of our govern ment from its earliest beginnings These persons seek, by gradual but powerful means to transform tha tata mt administrative autocracy
 "The history of the past gives mperous warning of what happens when free people relin- qushes its liberty to give some transient advantage or temporary relief from immediate difficulties Even when power has been centralized for the purpose of serving temporary and emergency ends it's course has been the It has always moved relentlessly toward its own continuation and per- petuation. And just soon as it has become per manenty intrenched, just that soon has it become tyrannical and dictatorial."
 The effective method of stopping this trend toward too great centralization, the Illinois ator- ney general said, is reorganization of state and local governments in such way as to meet the new needs of the times
 With the conviction that federal system of government should and must be preserved he said comes of necessity the corolary that there is a definite place in future scheme of things for our states and cities. ** The states must, however awaken to their responsibilities They must prepare to accept new functions that will inevitably come with advances in other fields of endeavor"
 This is challenge to all who believe a proper balance between national and local government is an essential of the American way of life. Thus lar those of such mind have failed to offer practical substitute for national solution of economic and social problems That substitute may very well be discardng of archaic state and municipal setups and reorganization modern lines along with better cooperation between the states in meeting nrobems which are common to them all.