Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1949-07-22
The Peoples Employees

The Peoples Employees
4 CONGRESSMAN was at home
- for 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 60
ing in Washington, and how the op-
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 it wise to prblicly admit such
a mission.
Ostensibly 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-
CHEESEMAN'S stooges. To it were in
vited the most distinguished citi-
zens of the district. I had an oppor-
tunity to attend, as did the public
generally, and I was among those
present. I wanted to see what kind
of a reception the people present
would give to one of their elected
employees. Especially so, in view
of the many criticisms of that en-
ployee.
In that audience were mer-
chants, manufa cturers, profess
sional people, farmers and So
cial leaders, along with
limited number of employed
workers. 1t was a mixed crowd
of men and women. To his face
they gave 70 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 not de-
handing 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 commendable
job than was the congressman.
We, as people, are inclined to
be subservient, to hero worship
those we elect to public office. We
put them on the pedestal they &C.
cupy because they asked for the
job. Few of our 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
job that would pay them $4,000
year, plus places for their
relatives and friends, plus
travel and other expenses. Dur
ing my years of acquaintance
in Washington I 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 job outside of pol
itics that demanded demonstra-
ton of ability. Because we. the
voters, the employers, gave them
job, does not call for subservience
on our part; no reason why we
should worship at their shrines.
They are entitled to that
same consideration we accord
our personal employees. Those
who are efficient should be kept
on the job, regardless of party.
replaced. To fawn over them
merely because they hold IN
elective office, to withhold crit.
cism when criticism is due
does not make for good govern
ment. We, as voters, should
consider such officials as EN-
ployees, 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.
When the American people will
do less hero worshipping and more
practical demanding, we can ex-
pect more results from those we
elect to public office We should
put our employees on the job of
actually working for us, for we pay
the wages. and are entitled to their
first consideration.
We no longer are drifting, we are
plunging, toward the precipice that