LAST DITCH OF DEMOCRACY - Majority Rights

different trades and professions. That could do no harm whatsoever. Man
to represent steel workers, to be able to show he knows the workin’ of
steel; miner to know the workin’ of mines; professional to
REPRESENT his profession, really to represent his profession, the best
qualities, most acute knowledge of his profession. That would certainly
lead to efficiency, health regulations would be decided by someone who
knew something about sanitation. Rules for minin’ coal, rates per day,
decided by someone who knows coal don’t just crawl out of a mine,
while somebody sits round playin’ pinochle.
On that memorable occasion when I penetrated the dim and useless halls
of the British Parliament, TWO men said somethin’ sensible. Of course
no attention was paid to ’em. Lloyd George got up and barked, and Cecil
emitted some dribble. But one man had been down in a mine, he
explained how coal lies in the rock; one man had been in an engine
room. Of course no attention was paid to ’em. BUT if they had been
talkin’ to representatives of their own trades and professions, what they
said would have been effective.
When the interest and knowledge of a trade has been concentrated in a
proposal, that proposal should go to the kindred trades, and when there
is a clash of THEIR interests, that should work up and be decided
according to the national interest. As practically DOES not occur in the
present English and American parliamentary systems, in which the
people merely get buffaloed. Where decisions are bought, or huggermuggered
thru by what is called “pressure,” alias bribes and boycott. All
these devilments would be much harder to put over in a chamber
organized on trade and professional basis. I am tellin’ you. I am just
tellin’ you. As Jimmy Whistler said to the painter, Chase, I say I am not
arguin’, I am just tellin’ you.
You can keep the ole Constitution. Mostly sailors and landlubbers no
longer care, but as a technicality (if no more than that) I am tellin’ you.
Lots of folks want to bust it, so as to fish in the troubled waters, lots of