The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-08-10
WHOLE NO. 1921.
Signing Names

u have bro't yer rivcrcnco a paper,
which hope yer rivcrcnee viii sign for a
/ poor man"
This he says az he fumbles in his pock
et for paper iio pulls out cotton
handkerchief. then n crumpled mass oi
Newspaper and certain queer aud crushed
bits Of white paper-white once. a. any
rate. but dirty enough nov. 10 i not
there. Another pocket u cmpticd. In
a third l. found the "dockymcnt
10 isa request that Pharoah McCrum
bo appointed ION the police 10 goes on
TO state that each ono Of the signcra j.
personally acquainted with the candi.
date-that Of his own personal knowl.
edge he i a man Of good morals and up
! right life. temperate. industrious aud
every way fitted for tho trust solicited
for him. Well, my friend. what 10 you
want Of moY'
III your Honor would sign the pa
per -"
But ! am not acquainted with you.
yes, yer riverencc, but these gentle.
men that have signed knows me. and
sure they wouldn't mistake"
Yes, they aiEn for themselves but
how does that give me 4 personal knowl.
edge of you for ten years aud how do
or truatworthy7 I hope you are. but
know nothing about II. I have never
seen you 70 my knowledge ell this mo
mcnt'
Yes. sir. that's true; bat you might
know from thin, pointing 10 the names.
Sure they wouldn't sign anything that
was not true"
MY friend, cannot sign the paper
Ii would be a faiaehood 1 should say I
knew a man ! never saw No, no you
need not plead. ! will not sign a.
Tho man goes away In bcwildcred
state. Ho has heard. he assured me.
that ] was a kind hearted gcntleman;
and he could not imagine Why ] would
not help poor fellow. and no doubt re-
ported when he got home that was not
the man ho took me 10 be.
Another man says "If you would bo
kind enough 10 give me a letter 10 Mr
-. ] know that he would give me a
place"
"Bui. sir. I do not know anything
about you. and cannot recommend you
But here are papers. cir. that certify
my character.
Very we'll. 80 aud show The papers
10 Mr. Claain. aud II hc needs another
man aud i satisfied with your crcden-
siaAAa AAN VIII AAAAN you IN
But your name. sir. would settle tho
matter"
These things are not peculiar 10 mo.
They happen 20 all men Of my position
or Influence Men arc solicited 10 lend
their names In a manner that cannot BE-
justified BY honor.
The fact il now notorious that men
have put tho signing of their names out
Of the ordinary code of morality. Men
will Sign merely 10 got rid Of a man.
Thoy will recommend book which they
know nothing about rather than hurt
some ones feelings By refusal They
will recommend men ~ highly fitted for
positions which they positively know
they are utterly untitled for. Nay. men
will give 10 candidates tho strongest lot.
tcrs Tor an Office. and then write secret
Letters 20 head quarters 20 say that the
letter u not 20 be regarded. Indeed. it
j. said that IN certain cases politicians
End u necessary 20 have Il undcrstood az
head quarters that no letter IL 10 be 70.
Fardcd unless 10 have some distinctive
signs upon Il which have been agreed
upon.
Il there not need Of a better public
sentiment on the subject Of signing
namcag The laxity Of practice j. faht
taking all value from documents bearing
eminent names. such loose policy ~
Is now pursued ought 10 be ranked with
falsehoods. deceptions aud conapiraeica
TO dciraud.