Show Home HODIC onie Rule Rule Rule-Au An l American Tradition PITCAIRN B By 8 RA RAYMOND National Chairman Sentinels ol oJ the Republic Dominant among American concepts concepts concepts con con- in government stands the principle principle principle prin prin- ciple of Home Rule It is perhaps the oldest of our traditions It is a healthy outgrowth of that Insistence on self govern ment which found expression In the Revolutionary War Regarded by bythe bythe bythe the founders and developers of ot America as essential to their liberty it has hIlS persisted through a a. century century- and a half of or national history That explains why a growing number of or citizens watch with grave misgiving many of the innovations in government being urged on the American people today Among these they see Efforts to force on citizens with all the authority of ot enacted law the dictates of appointed Bureau chiefs Efforts to curb the powers of the Supreme Court whenever It upholds uphold the rights reserved by our Constitution Constitution Constitution tion to the people and the states slates Efforts to centre In Washington powers and authority which since the beginning of our nation have belonged to the states and smaller communities These There attempts are already under way Others will undoubtedly fol fol- fol- fol low But in whatever alluring forms they may be presented all mean fundamentally the same thing thIng thIng- limiting the peoples people's power in government government gov gov- by taking from their local communities the right to run their own affairs In other words the weakening of Home Rule The real significance of such proposals proposals proposals pro pro- lies therefore not in what they promise but in what they threaten to take away from tram the people people people peo peo- in the way of rights and privileges privileges privileges leges and power As a a. wise President once said No o method of procedure has ever been devised by which liberty could be divorced from l local l self self- self govern ment |