Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-03-01
SIGNING NAMES.

81 have bro't yer riverence paper,
which hope yer reverence will sign for
a poor man."
This he says as he fumbles in his pock
ct for a paper. He pulls out a cotton
handkerchief, then a crumpled mass of
newspaper, and certain queer and crushed
bits of white paper-white once, at any
rate but dirty enough now. 1t is not
there. Another pocket is emptied. In
third is found the "dockyment."
1t is request that Pharaoh McCrum
bo appointed "on the police" 1t goes on
to state that each one of the signers is
personally acquainted with the candidate
that of his own personal knowledge he
is man of good morals and upright life,
temperate and industrious and every way
fitted for the trust solicited for him.
"Well, my friend, what do you want
of me?"
"If your honor would sign the paper"
"But am not acquainted with YOU"
"Yes, yer riverence; but these gentle
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 |
know that you are sober or industrious
or trustworthy? hope you are; but l
know nothing about it. | have never
seen you to my knowledge till this mo-
ment."
"Yes sir, that's true; but you might
know from thm," pointing to the names.
"Sure they wouldn't sign anything that
wasn't true"
"My friend, cannot sign the paper
1t would be falsehood. / should say
knew man never saw. No, no; you
need not plead. will not sign it,"
The man goes away in bewildered
state. He has heard, he assured me, that
| was kind-hearted gentleman; and he
could not imagine why would not help n
poor fellow, and no doubt, reported when
he got home that | was not the man he
took me to be.
Another man says: eff you would be
kind enough to give me letter TO MIR.
ClaAin, | know that he would give me n
place"
"But sir, do not know anything about
you, and cannot recommend you"
but hero are papers, sir, that certify
my character"
"Very well go and show the papers to
Mr.. Clahin, and if he needs another man
and is satisfied with your credentials he
will take you in."
"But your name, sir, would settle the
matter"
Not long after it was understood that
certified things or recommended men that
/ knew nothing about.
They happen to all mon of any position
or influence. Men are solicited to lend
their names ina manner that cannot be
justified by honor.
The fact is now notorious that men
have put the signing of their names out
Of the ordinary code of morality. Men
will sign merely to get rid of n man.
They will recommend book which they
know nothing about rather than hurt
some ones feelings by refusal. They
will recommend men as highly fitted for
positions which they positively know they
are untitled for. Nay, men will give to
candidates the strongest letters for an of
fee, and then write secret letters TO head
quarters to say that tho letter is not to bo
regarded. Indeed it is said that in Ger
tain cases politicians find it necessary to
have it understood that no letter is TO be
regarded unless it has some distinctive
signs upon it which have been agreed
upon.
Is there not need of better public SEN
timent on the subject of signing names z
The laxity Of the practice is fast taking
all value from documents bearing emil
nent names. Such loose policy MS is
now pursued ought to be ranked with
falsehoods, deceptions and conspiracies to
dcfraud.-Henry Ward Beecher.