Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-10-19
THE COUNTY OLERKSHIP

back candidate tor county clerk, is an
amusing one. He has learned a sing
song abou, economy and the interest he
feels in cutting down expenses. that is
ludicrous. He has it rs pat as the street
corner patent medicine vender and sings
it as glibly. He buzzes around every
farmer who I'M 10 town with his
promises of how much he will save. and
how much less he will work for than
Mr.. Steele. His song is a sham, a de-
fusion and a snare. In the first place
he takes care to forget to tell the per
son whom he ~buttonholes that MIR.
Steele has been a faithful officer. h
he WAS principally Instrumental in fore
ing the railroads to pay large sums OF
taxes which they owed the county, and
which they would not voluntarily pay.
That he has been active in seeing that
rich men paid taxes as well as poor men.
That he has boldly opposed sill unjust
claims against the county. thereby say
ing 10 it thousands OF dollars. That he
has been active and judicious in his
efforts 10 pl .cs the school moneys OF
the county in l safe and healthy condi-
ton. That he has been uniformly po-
lite and courteous; and that in three
years he has turned into the county
treasury. IL Of his fees, over seven
thousand dollars. These things Mr..
Wlthers SAYS should have been done.
as they were in the line of Mr.. Steele's
duties. Yes, It was his duty To do all
IN his power in the interest OF the coun-
". and he has lone his duty. There
are few words SO little appreciated as
that short one duty" That done all is
done that is required by either human
or divine law. The people know that
VIM. b. Steele Will do his duty. They
know. because they have tried him.
They know nothing of Mr.. Withers ex-
ccpt his promises. There il no question
OF economy between Mr.. Steele and Mr..
Withcrs. Mr.. Steele offers for r~e-elec-
ton a. the nominee OF the democrat
IL party OF the county. Endorsed in prl-
mary election BIZ $50 democratic votes.
Mr.. Withers offered himself first as an
independent democrat and atterward AS
the nominee OF the so-callei .reeuback
party. His principal claim. the n he
presses in electioneering, Is that he will
do the work for less money by five hun
bred dollars than the law allows as the
salary OF the office. We have shown
by the law. and by its Interpretation by
a supreme court, that his proposition is
regarded in the eyes of the law as bri-
berry and an attempted corruption OF the
voters. 1t is immoral in its nature. and
subrerSive OF free government and fol-
lowed to its logical conclusion would
render competition for office a debased
and demoralizing scramble, Il which
merit would go tor nothing as against
men who would offer to take office tor a
mere pittance. expecting to find their re-
enumeration in q betrayal Of their trusts
Further, there is no legal force in q
au office tor less than the salary fixed
By law. even though such promises
were reduced to writing and sttested
! under the forms of law. There are
! none so foolish ss to believe Mr.. With
ers SO patriotic that he would accept
the office for less than It's tull fees Il he
thought that he could secure it without
bidding tor It. HIS own or anv other
bond would be raluel"ss to secure his
compliance with. his promise as the prom
Use itself Is violation of law. Then what
security have the people, that in case OF
his election, which, OF course, Is not
within the range of possibilities. that he
would not take all the fees the law Al
lows him2 Beside what assurance have
the people that Mr.. Withers is As com
petent rs his opponent? If he is not; ii
he lacks application. industry. or zeal
for the County's welfare. would not Mr.,
Steele be . cheaper clerk even at a
greater salary? But the principal point
in the discussion is that Mr. Withers'
candidacy is wrong in itself. 1t does
n OF properly involve a question of econ
o!ny. for the only correct way either
to lower or raise salaries is by law
The people have this matter in theil
,,,n b.,}- -, .nn nI,ntIN, 81, ,t,;r 90.
reSentatIves. II it is their will that sal
aries shall be reduced, they know
how to make that will known, and the
legislator who would disregard their be
hest would be recreant to his trust
The democratic state platform asserts
that reform must be made in national
state. county and municipal govern.
ment, by the reduction of expenditure
aud taxes, and the dismissal of unneces
sary and incompetent officers and EN-
ploycs, and the enforcement of otliciaI
responsibility hat it will redeem
this pledge is shown by its past conduct
in this state. where taxes have beer
gradually reduced and salaries lowered
The people 1--WE it to themselves IL
crush out. once and tor all, the attcmp
being made to purchase official trusts
by the public offer of a money consider
alton, and We have every confidence
that they will effectually do 30 in No
vember.
CORRECTION.
In our editorial upon Mr.. Joseph l.
Thomas. last week. we used this Ian