The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-05-09
omce-seeking.

An election is to be held in this state next
November for two state officers a Comptrol-
Ter aud Clerk Of the Court of Appeals-and
county officers. In Carroll four members of
the House Of Delegates, Clerk Of the Court,
Register of Wills, three County Commits
sioners, County Treasurer, Sheriff, and
Surveyor will be chosen.
In a recent issue of the ADVOCATE we COM
batted the idea that office-holding or office
seeking was discreditable, as certain theorists
and purists would make it appear. We held
that. as this was government of the people,
every man had an indsputable right to aspire
to positions of honor and trust under 1t.
Every man has right to seek any place he
desires in the government, and it is neither
dscreditable nor dishonorable for any one to
do so. To hold office by the free will of the
people, is an honor, as it shows public appre-
citation and confidence.
In that article, however, it was not intended
to encourage ofice-seeking among the people.
Not one voter in twenty is capable of properly
filing public places, and it is against the in
terests Of nineteen out of every twenty that
are qualified, to accept an Office To be
honest, upright and industrious does not I'LL
all the requirements ofpublic servants, though
those qualities are requisite; nor will educa-
ton, as the term goes, suffice.
The management Of county affairs, for IN
stance, is a matter of plain, practical bust
ness. A County Commissioner should be, In
addition to being honest, upright and indus
trious. with liberal education, man accus-
toned to making contracts, handling large
sums of money, and with practical ideas in
regard to roads and bridges. He should be
prompt and positive, and possessed of sound
discretion and Judgment. He should be
Judge of men, also, in order to qualify him to
iii the various places commissioners are re-
CURED to fill, and with the necessary positive
ness to say ''no'' to incompetent applicants.
It is a mistaken idea that almost any one will
do for a commissioner. The fact is, few
men are thoroughly qualified. County Com.
missioners are the most important officers
in the county, and county government is
good or Indifferent as the Commissioners
are competent or incompetent. They col
lect and disburse in Carroll upwards OF &c.,
600 year, and in addition have a county
debt to manage. They have many miles OF
roads to look after, and the appointment OF
several hundred road supervisors and their
accounts to examine. They have many
bridges to keep up, and are continually put
ting up new ones. They have the appoint
ment Of collectors of revenue, and must see
to It that they do their duty. They appoint
constables, who are the conservators OF the
peace. It fact their duties are numerous and
onerous, and are not confined to their
stated meetings, for which only they get paid,
but are practically continuous, as they are en-
gagged in county business of one kind or another
nearly every day.
No man should aspire to any position unless
he feels absolutely certain that he is compe-
tent to discharge its duties, and if people
would stop and consider there would be fewer
aspirants for office.
When the desire for Office seizes hold upon
a man he should ask himself what qualities
he has; what public good he can subserve,
and whether it will benefit himself Any
Office, faithfully administered, requires care
and energy. Public positions are not soft
places, with large pay and no work.
While every man has right to seek Office,
it does not follow that every aspirant will be
chosen. But few, comparatively, can be
chosen as the places to be filed are few.
And there would be fewer applicants, if the
applicants would learn of the duties of the
positions they desire, and examine themselves
as to their qualifications.
Office holding, too, has ruined many.
Some have suffered financial loss, and it
often units people for other business. The
terms are short, and the principle of frequent
changes is so strong with the people that few
are allowed to remain longin Office. Having
broken up business for public position, they
are soon thrown out without means of liveli-
hood. There is a fascination about office
holding. too. Those who once hold office,
rarely ever like to go out. If barred from
one place they seek another, and in time be-
come disheartened and dissatisfied, for they
cannot always hold on, and are often regarded
by the public as political hacks and political
paupers. 1t would be better, therefore, in a
majority of instances, to let Office alone.