The Nome nugget., 1949-08-15
WHAT DO THE PEOPLE THINK?

(By George ;. Benson, President Hardlng COlege)
 If I were Congressman, can imagine that most of my waking hours would be spent wondering whether or not had correctly understood the will Of the people and whether they understood the nature of the issues before Congress- would be much concerned about the position of the people in my district, particularly tional issues that affect all of America In fact, the thinking of people throughout the country would be like meat and drink to me.
 am happy to believe this is the with most of our CongresSen Of course, there is chance that the peo- pie might be wrong. An informed Congressman will then act upon his convictions when the test comes But often than not, believe can safely feel that American opinion is informed public opinion. If this be then public opinion Is indeed worth the haV- ing to any Congressman.
 Once in awhile are fooled into believing that those who make the most noise about something index to what is the minds of most of the people, Those who plead special generally the most noisy Some
 times these groups with spOkesmen all sides, get the support of the public Sometimes they do not At any rate what Congressmen need to do is get the actual thinking of the people, not just listen to the fellow who has the most to say
 There's the National Education Association. For years end they have whopped it up for federal aid to education Where has it got them? We'll lot of good people have climbed their bandWagOn, and they have made plenty of headway the very halls of Congress Federal aid has become political" issue. N.E.A. a long time ago turned the heat, and to anybody who opposes them!
 What is public opinion on federal aid?" Recently the Detroit News and the Omaha World-Herald asked their readers to some questions One was: Do you favor federal aid to education? In Detroit great industrial center, the vote than three to against federal aid In Omaha center of huge farming area than ten to opposed to it. In both places only 28O7 votes for federal aid, 12,279 against it.
 Readers of these two great newspapers spoke out other questions involving more federal spending and control of people. They wrote to Congress. They opposed nearly ten to to the administrations housing bill, just passed They opposed the Grammar farm plan 20 to In Nebraska, fewer than 100 fa vored compulsory health insurance out of nearly 6OOO reporting.
 By big margin, readers of the Detroit News wanted to cut government spending and to make the federal efficient along lines proposed by the Hoover Commission report The more than 20 to one both questions together In Nebraska only token sympathy could be found avorng taxes to pay for the Truman social program All this leads me to wonder whether political leaders not pretty far behind the thinking of the people some of the most important issues
 While Congressman occasionally unaware of the will of the people, the President consistently For instance it seemed to take the President six months longer than the general public to realize that danger of further imitation past It certainly befts the President and every member of Congress to look out toward the people and see and listen It is not a ways wise to gaze at the place where the most dust Hooo ol>oI 1ooI fo ri, +bo