The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1943-07-29
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;ELECTING LEGISLATORS
Released by Western Newspaper Union.

| ~ Sk1OnED InOOA
WE SEND MEN to Washington as
senators and representatives to con-
stitute the legislative branch of the
federal government. 1t is their
province to think of and act for the
welfare of the nation as a whole.
Should we select them for the pur-
pose and with the expectation of
their securing special advantages
for the people of their states or their
| districts without regard for and con-
sideration of the interests of the ma
| ton as a whole, we would not be
worthy citizens of the republic. We
would not be entitled to that free
dom our form of government pro-
vides.
It happens all too frequently that
those selected as candidates for
these responsible places In our gov
eminent are picked because of what
we believe they can, or what they
promise to, secure for us. They pro-
pose to get their fingers into the
government purse and dig out
money for our special benefit. They
propose to find jobs for those who
are neither qualified or worthy They
propose to secure the location of
government institutions within the
state or district that would be better
if located elsewhere.
It is seldom that men nominated
and elected for such reasons have
any definite influence in the shaping
of national legislation, and it is well
they do not. The republic survives
and functions despite them rather
than because of them.
The republic must stand or fall
on the action of the legislative
branch of government. Should that
branch for any appreciable time fail
to be dominated by men of broad
vision and ability the republic will
die. That will be especially true
throughout the next few years dur
ing which we must pass through
period of national and world re-
adjustments. To surmount the diff
6culties that will confront US, states
manship of a high and practical
character will be needed. If we
are to deserve the blessings the
republic has provided, and may con-
tinue to provide, we will select our
candidates on the basis of their abil-
ity as practical statesmen rather
than ability as party workers, the in
debtedness of the party to them, or
their promises to bring home the
bacon for their state or district. It
is not too early to be considering
qualifications.
ENGLISH ROYALTY
AND U. S. DEMOCRACY
THE RECENT VISIT of King
George VI to the British and Amer
lean troops in North Africa serves
to again remind me of similar
visit on the part Of his father to
British and American troops in
France in 1918. have told the story
in other places, but believe it will
bear repeating.
A party of American newspaper
men, of which I was one, was
spending a Sunday with the king
and his family at the country estate
of Sandringhan. 1 had accompan-
led the king into York cottage and
we were in the billiard room when
he remarked that he understood we
were to go to France the following
week.
81 have made some visits to
France" said his majesty. For
obvious reasons never go there in
uniform or with any following, but |
only as just an English civilian. On
my last visit I, with a junior Of
ficer as guide, was passing through !
a British rest camp in which there |
were also some American troops. I |
stopped for a moment to talk with a |
British company commander, and !
near us was a British Tommy and |
one of your American doughboys.
Say, Bill, who is that boob?'
asked the American doughboy as he
pointed to me.
Shut up you id fool replied |
the British soldier, that is the king |
of England
The hell you say! Where's his |
CROWN asked the doughboy.
THAT" said the king, lis the kind |
of reception British royalty gets
from your democratic American sol
diers, and I like it.
BY WHAT SCANT MARGINS po-
itical elections may be won or lost |
is illustrated by the fact that in 80
congressional districts switch of
from 5 down to less than l per cent |
of the voters would change results
in each one of those 80 districts.
Of the 80 districts 48 are now rep
resented by Democratic congress
men, 80 by Republicans and two by
Progressive or Farmer Labor. It
is such close results that should keep
both parties seeking their best men
for the jobs. It is such results that
make for good government.
KING" VICTOR EMMANUEL
did not have to abdicate his title of
emperor" over which there was
quite an argument. The Allied
armies in Africa managed to do the
job for him.
AFTER ATTEMPTING to raise
the family food in a window box or
a 10 by 10 space in the front lawn,
the city dweller will better under
stand the problems of the farmer
who cultivates hundreds of acres as
against the tens of feet in the city
Victory gardens.
REGULATIONS
AND AMERICAN WORKERS