The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-05-01
Self-COvernment

The functioning of democracy often criticised and
with round However critics. fail to direct
dapprobaon at the object against which most of should
be directed-ourselves
When most of us speak of 'the government express
sions invariably convey the idea that discussing
agency of direction and control of lives and interests
with the creation of which have had little nothing to do
that it wished has been created by some @
traneous force to utterly account
that composed of number of human being
with pretty the DESIRES impulses shortcomings
billions and nhons and the of
u.s. and that other agency-have delegated to them
the jobs that they perform accepaby not as the
may be.
For the present during emergency by the
on have vested President with powers
of the pronoun I'VE "We' have given to the
chief executive these temporary through
our representatives The President did not assume them
edct by force He possesses them through
and by virtue action certainly far the
given him have not been used slightest degree
to conavene of the preceps of democratic form OF
government.
This week. the President representa-
their approval rejection certain If
like any part of if do not like of it,
should Immediately let our representatives know give
them do favor part all of this
should also advise representative And our rep
resentave does not act accordance with the expressed
sire of the majority of explanation should be demanded
why And that is not satisfactory to the
majority they retire him from his SERVICE and get some
else to represent them.
1t is altogether too common practice to damn congress-
apt the body for its control by the
great monopoes capital industry We hear too often
statements that off without it, Certainly if
value in the least of the rights and freedom which we
individuals enjoy should permit ourselves to go to
such extreme of expression.
all realize that the special interests exercise remen-
dous congress and government whole
the selfish exploiting interests which exercise
undue influence also exercise almost complete
ordinary channels of information the daily
these instruments to msnform
the people withhold information which they must have In
order ntegenty for their interests congress
actions often fail safeguard them
properly.
However, this frequent failure of to act in
the interest all people rather than for the protection
and interest exploiting does not warrant desire
or expression that would be better off without it. Con-
gre except the eight po tax states in the SOUTH rep
esents we believe the considered choice of the majority
of the people in the nation of the they desire to represent
them To any other possibility to concede that the
majority of the people not fit for selfgovernment
The argument that majority of the people have been
sed will not hold contend that believe in segov
ably because they apathec inform themselves
have permitted themselves to be influenced by considerations
other than their vital interests by personalities other
inducements
We must not be passive in sefgovernment activities
We must militant 1t human and we shall all make
mistakes in Judgment of whom support from tne
to time congressional representatives. But
we must sight of the fact that poor representation
mmeasuraby than The congress is the pu
wark against the totatarian state WE The PEOPLE, OoI
Justify OUR CLAIM OF ABILITY FOR SELF-GOVEhN-
MENT BY MAKING 1T FUNCTION FOR THE BENEFIT Or
THE PEOPLE AS A WHOLE NOT FOR CERTAIN EXPLOIT
ING GROUPS