San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-10-28

" Come, non, and iet rs reason together.'
As our readers know, we have moi
until quito recently said much con
corning the pending county election
nor thus far expressed editorially any
preference for any candidate save for
Capt, Storey for County Judge. Al
though we have much less ut stake
in the matter than many other citi'
zens, we confess that we feel n great
interest in
THE COUNTY JUDGEsInP.
Let us look Mt this subject for a
moment. We stated early in the can
vass that we considered the Office OF
County Judge by far the most i'm
portant in the county. Why do we
so consider it2 First and foremost
the County Judge is the presiding
officer of the County Commissioners
Court and yields O paramount inilu-
encc in the samo. The members nat
urally look up to him MS their legal
adviser, "guide philosopher and
friend" if not conscience keeper.
Now, the acts of tho Commissioners
Court directly concern all the people
of the county-come home to their
business and pockets. Let us ont
line the scope of jurisdiction of the
Commissioner They control the
entire road system of the county,
laying out, vacating, or chang
ing them at pleasure. They let out
contracts for public improvements
pertaining to the county, very i'm
portant matter, and we need not say,
one liable to great abuses. They
establish the rates OF taxation
They have charge and oversight OF
the County Poor Farm and its in
mates and all other county paupers
and lunatics-a charge requiring
n rare combination of wisdom and
humane feeling. They canvass
all election returns and report the
result.
Thoao are few only Of the rospon-
sibilities of tho Board of Commits
sioners, in regard to all which they
naturally look to the County Judge
for direction and fall under his guid-
ance. Hence the vital Importance Of
having a wise, judicious, experienced,
conscientiously honest man in the po-
sition of County Judge. There IS
another most potent reason for this
While the Commissioners have al
most supreme control over the finan
ces of the county, our readers will be
surprised to learn that they arc MOI
bonded oGicers. Yet such is the fact
as wo are assured by one OF our best
lawyers, himself formerly County
Judge. Hence tho vital importance
of having perfectly unimpoachnbio
and irreproachable County Judge
at the helm.
Next in Importance in the duties
of County Judge is the adminlstra-
ton of the probate business OF the
county. This requires him to super
wise the settlement OF estates, and to
pass upon the rights of widows and
orphans and minor children general
ly. Here again the best qualities OF
mind and heart are essential. Every
one can readily perceive what havoc
an unscrupulous Judge might make
of the interests Of the helpless parties
who come under his supervision.
AS regards his other official du'
ties, the importance of having man
of integrity and firmness in the posi-
ton of County Judge is also nppHr-
ent. For instance he controls the
matter of collecting or working out
fines, and has jurisdiction OF much
important litigation in which he is
called to hold aloft the scales of just
ice withot respect of persons or his
own personal interest.
He is also made by law superin-
tendent of our school system, and
hence man of broad, liberal views,
free from all eDtangling selfish ALI
ances or cliques, is Indispensable to
the efficiency of that system.
We have not space to extend this
article further than to add, by way of
moral, if you want this vitality impor-
tant office placed in hands where you
can rest assured beyond all peradven-
ture that its duties will be Intelligent
" and honestly administered, then go
to the ! o Is on Tuesday next and vote
for Capt. JAMES q. STOREY.
DISTRICT AND COUNTY CLERK.
We had not intended saying any
thing as TO the candidates for any
of the county offices save for County
Judge. But the remarkable effort
which was inaugurated towards the
close of the canvass to defeat Mr..