South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-07-23
DON'T WANT TT.

WHITE publishes in another column
OF the REaIsTEn this morning. has the
appearance of making a conflict with
the old adage, few die and NONE re-
slgn. We believe, that 50 far as DO.
litlcal calculations can be made in
advance, Colonel White was not
without good assurances sthat the
nomination for Attorney General
wonld again be awarded him. and TO
Withdraw from the campaign under
such circumstances, is in the nature of
resignation, which, if not out of
order, Is at least out offashion. Col.
White has made an efficient officer
one who has done good service to the
State, energetically and faithfully
dlscharging the duties to which the
people called him, and if he had been
renominated would have added
strength to the Democratic ticket.
But in whatever light the declina.
ton OF a nomination to the Office of
Attorney General Of West Virginia
may be regarded as political propo,
sltion, when it is viewed from n bus
mess standpoint and az n business
proposition, it is not matter of sur
prise that Col. White, or any other
man, who has talent and standing in
his profession, should decline it. The
plcayune salary attached to the posi-.
ton Is reflection upon the man who
accepts it, and the same is true of
many, if not all, of our State offices.
The salaries do not justify men OF
frst-class talent in leaving their
homes and their business, il they have
either, and making new residence
at the capital. Ifthey have no homes
and no business, any office would be
a good thing, but might prove bad
bargain to the State, if men of this
character were selected.
Col. Whites case affords the fairest
illustration of the insignifcancc Of
the salary TO man who has any other
business. He has onlybeen engaged
in the practice at the Ohio county bar
during his four years. term of Office
as Attorney General, and yet he pre-
ters tue practice he has acquired dur
ing that short period and will acquire
during the next four years, to the
salary OF an Attorney General
Neither must it be understood that
Wheeling opens bonanza to men in
the practice of the law. The field
here is hardly so promising us in some
OF the rural districts, but there are
few men in the profession OF the law
or any other Of the better class of
business occupations IN the country
or III the city, who do not have q
better income than is derived from
any one of our State Offices, from the
Governorship down.
1t IS true that, as rule. we find
very good men, and not int'requonIy
the very best of men, who are willnn
to take these positions at the low sal.
aries allowed, but it tends TO degrade
the Office and the officer, and very
much lower the estimation in which
the public official is held.
The difference between the State
paying a mean salary and rcspecta.
bic salary, a just salary, salary in
some FAIR measure equivalent to the
duties and laborB and dignity Of tho
Office, would be so trihing a consid.
GRAFTON in dollars and cents when
borne by the whole people that no
man would feel it, and no discerning
man who bears n good part Of the
tax burden, would begrudgc it
Nevertheless, for political purposes.
Legislatures will continue to bubble
and cut down, IS long as Their con
stituency are supposed to be ticklod
with the proces5.-W hccling Reg.
We most heartily endorse the high
compliments paid to the sterling duali.
ties OF our former townsman, Col. Ror-.
WHITE, III the above editorial, because
we know them to be ominently true and
well deserved. Old Hampshire may well
be proud OF her sons who have filed the
highest positions of honor and trust in
the State With so much credit to them.
selves and to her. As Col. White de-
clines the Office which we arc assured
would have been again rendered him in
recognition and endorsement II his able.
energetic and faithful DISCHARGE Of rs
duties during the last four years, VIC ask
that the Democratic Party shall utalize
him in the coming campaign by making
him one Of the Electors az large. and HE
native co. will seek to surpass her present
record and give Hancock larger ma
jority in 1890 than she gave Tildon il
1875. when she took the high position Of
the Banner County" Of the Democracy.
BALLoU's MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR
AUGUsT.-The leading illustrated ar
ticle IN the Augustnumber Of Balou's
Monthly Magazine is "The Water
MILL" poem that is published by the
request Of hundreds Of people who