Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-19
Only Asanebrt yournal.
SIGNING NAMES.
sr HEyer WARD BErcnrR.


Il have bro't yer riverlnce paper
5 which Ihope yer riverince will sign, ior
. poor man."
Z This he says as he fumbles in his peck
ct for a paper. He pulls out cotton
handkerchief then crumpled mass OF
newspaper, and certain queer and crushed
bits OF white paper-white once, at any
rate, but ,dingy enough now. 1t is not
there. Another pocket is emptied. In a
third Is found the "dockyment.
It is a request that Pharoah MacCrum
: be appointed ION the police 1t goes on
to state that each one OF the signers is per-
sonally acquainted with the candidate
that of his own personal knowledge he is
a man of good morals and upright life.
temperate, Industrious, and every way
fitted for the trust solicited for him.
swell, my friend, what do you want of
meF"
"If your honor would sign the paper"
y "But am not acquainted with you"
Eyes, yer riverince; but these gintle-
men that have signed knows me, and
sure they wouldn't mistake"
Eyes, they sign for themselves; but
how does that give me personal knowl-
edge Of you for ten years, and how do l
know that you are sober or industrious or
trustworthy? hope you are, but know
nothing about 1t. l have never seen you
to my knowledge till this moment
..Yes, sir, that's true, but you might
know from thim"-pointing to the names
'.Sure they wouldn't sign anything that
was not true"
"My friend, l cannot sign the paper.
1t would be fslsehood should say /
knew man that never saw. No, no
you need not plead; will not sign it."
The man goes away in a bewildered
state. He had heard, he assured me, that
was kind-hearted gentleman; and he
could not imagine why would not help q
poor fellow, and no doubt reported, when
= he got home, that | was not the man he
took me to be.
Another young man says, 81 you would
be kind enough to give me letter to Mr.
Clafin, know thai he would give me .
place"
''But, sir, do not know anything abou
you, and cannot recommend you"
''But here are papers, sir, that certif,
my character"
Very well; go and show the papers t
Mr.. Clafin, and if he needs another mar
and is satisfied with your credentials, h
will take you in"
but your name, sir, would settle til
MATER
Not long after it was understood the
l certified things or recommended me
= that knew nothing about"
These things are not peculiar to me
They happen to all men of any position c
influence. Men are solicited to lend thei
names in manner that cannot be Just
fed by honor.
The fact is now notorious that. me
have put the signing Of their names out @
the ordinary code of morality Men vii
sign merely to get rid of a man. The,
will recommend a book which they know
nothing about, rather than hurt some one'
feelings by refusal. They will recon-
mend men as highly fitted for position
which they positively know they are ut
terly untitled for. Nay, men will give t.
candidates the strongest letters for an OF
ice, and then write secret letters to head
quarters to say that the letter is not to b
regarded. Indeed it is said that in &C,
tain cases politicians find it necessary t
have it understood at headquarters tbs
no letter is to be regarded unless it hav
some distinctive signs upon it which hay
been agreed upon.
Is there not need of better public ser
timent on the subject of signing names
The laxity of practice is fast taking a
value from documents bearing .eminen
names. Such a loose policy as is nov
pursued ought to be ranked with false
hoods. receptions and conspiracies to de
traud.-Neac York Ledger.