Milford chronicle., 1949-07-15
The People 5 Employees

* CONGRESSMAN was at home
: , for a few days. He returned.
he said, that he might make a per-
sonal report to the people of the
district as to how things were go
ing in Washington. and how the OPP
position. party was sacrificing the
interests of the nation in an effort
to gain party advantage. In reality
the congressman returned to look
after some weak spots in his po-
litical fences, but he did not con-
slider il wise to publicly admit such
a. mission.
Ostensibly a number of his more
prominent constituents organized
a meeting at which the congress-
man would render a report. In
reality it was called by the con-
gressman's stooges. To it were in
vited the most distinguished citi-
zens Of the district. l had an oppor-
tunity to attend. as did the public
generally, and I was among those
present. wanted to see what kind
Of reception the people present
would give TO ore of their elected
employees. Especially so, in view
Of the many criticisms Of that en-
ployee.
In that audience were mer-
chants, manufacturers, profess
sional people, farmers and So
cial leaders, along with a
limited number Of employed
workers. 1t was a mixed crowd
Of men ard women. To his face
they gave to that congressman
an adoring welcome. They ap-
plauded his every utterance.
They did not give him consider
alton, they gave him sub
serviance. They sat at his feet
and wOrshipped him as a great
son Of the nation.
There was no evidence in that
asSemblage of citizens Of the
adored one being but an employee
who had pushed his way into the
job they had given him, and who
was now striving to hold that job.
The man who talked had done
nothing to achieve greatness, or a
place in the sun. 1t was those. in
the audience, and others of their
kind, who had boosted him to the
platform, but they were net de-
manding of him that degree of eff
cheney they demanded of those en-
ployees in their stores, offices and
plants, many Of whom were prob
ably doing a more comrnendable
job than was the congressman.
We, as a people, are inclined to
be subservient, to hero worship
those we elect to public Office. We
put them on the pedestal they oc-
cupy because they asked for the
job. Few Of orr elected officials
seek the jobs because of a desire
to serve the people. They want the
! job because it offers more pay,
and other emoluments than they
could earn in other lines.
A comparatively small per-
centage of the representatives
in congress could long hold a
job that would pay them $4,000
a year, plus places for their
relatives and friends, plus
travel and other expenses. Dur
ing my years Of acquaintance
in Washington ] knew only one
elected public official who de-
Clined to accept the salary that
went with the job he held.
Few Of those who sit at official
desks in either the senate or house
in Washington are, in reality,
statesmen. They are but humans
whose first interest is themselves.
A considerable number Of them
: could not hold a job outside Of pol
itics that demanded a demonstra-
, ton of ability. Because we, the
voters, the employers, gave them
. a job, does not call for subservience
: on our part; no reason why we
> should worship at their shrines.
: They are entitled to that
4 same consideration we accord
y our personal employees Those
who are efficient should be kept
on the job, regardless Of party.
Those who are misfitS should be
replaced. To fawn over them
merely because they hold an
elective office, TO withhold criti-
cism when criticism Is. due
does not make for good govern
ment. We, as voters, should
consider such officials as em-
pIOyees, and treat them as we
would If they were on our per-
sOnal payroll. Holding public
office does not, In itself, con-
stitute efficiency or make Of
? anyone a hero.
d When the American people wi
D 10 less hero worshiping and NOR
r practical demanding, we can e1
.e pect more results from those W
n elect to public Office. We shoul
h put our employees on the job c
N actually working for us, for we pa
al the wages, and are entitled to thei
first consideration.
m We no longer are drifting, we an
ct plunging. toward the precipice ths
ut is state socialism. Every battle
s. the halls of congress is not betwee
it. two parties. but between those /,
te the right and those of the lef
Those Of the left are found in bot
ne major parties. The people no longt
IT. have choice between parties, on