The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-05-11
Gen. w. r. Roberts for Auditor.

[Iredell Voter in Statesville Landmark
Before the Convention meets to gel. ct
our standard bearers for the apI ro;t4 hing
campaign, allow private in the ranS> to
make a few statements and suggt>- ions
about he Office of State Auditor
The people of North Carolina have 5rs-
quently in the past selected men TO lcgi-
late for them whose mental capacity did
not equal that of Solomon, the is. but
they have always exel cised great care in
selecting men who were to handle their
money, and to this fact a. much as any
other We must attribute the honorable
name We bear in the financial world
The office of Auditor is one Of the most
important connected with the State gov
ernment Every dollar that is pail INTO
or paid out OF the State Treasury is paid
upon his warrant. He settles with every
body who owes the State and everybody
the State owes. His duties are multlfxr-
iOus and exacting. He must underrt an /
the exact financial situation of the govern
ment and be familiar with all laws appro-
prlating money or levying taxes Many
Of his duties can only be learned by long
study and experience. Put ali ineNne1i-
enced man in this office, no matter how
honest he may be, he ls apt TO commi,
errors and make mistakes to the det triment
of the tax payers
Now the point | wish 70 make and i'm
press upon my fellow citizens is this: THAT
IT Is SOMETIMES BEST TO LET WELL BNOC6H
ALONE; that our present Auditor. Gen. y.
P. Roberts, is gentleman Of the highest
character and intelligence; that he has
made and is now making q del officer
attentive to his duties, scrupulously cor
rect and honest, and looking after the
peoples money as closely rs If II war l>
own.
This man Roberts has a record thai
should please every white man in the STATE
When the war began it found him, though
beardless boy, in the saddle as private
in the Second North Carolina Cavalry.
When it ended it found him still in the
saddle but with the stars OF brigadier
general on his collar, which were won by
the most intrt pid and daring galantry on
half a hundred battlefields. After the
war was over he did not sit down 10 bewail
his fate or wait for ''something to turn
up" but went to work between the plow
handles for living, rs hundred. and
thousands Of his brave companions did oil
over the South. AND HE STAYED BETWEEN
THE PLOw HANDLES until the voice of the
people, recognizing his mo1esty and worth,
called him to the honorable and RESPONSE
BILE Office he now fills. While the people
cause they belong to this or that profes
sion or calling, and while all good men
should deprecate any attempt to array
class against ciass, or to put men in Office
for any cause except fitness, yet the fact
that Gen. Roberts is now and always has
been a FARMER, should not be against him
in the Democratic party, nine-tenths Of
whose voting strength is from men belong
ing to that honorable and honored calling.
AS a soldier Gen. Roberts was asuccess;
as a farmer he was and is a success; As q
public officer he is a model-kind and
courteous to all people, obliging and affa
BILE to those who have business with him
and exceedingly careful and pains taking
with all matters which concern the peoples
money. In the east where he is best known
he is a popular favorite and will add much
to the strength of the Democratic ticket.
In the interest of the Democratic party
and honest government (for the two, as
we all know, are inseparable,) We should
unite in keeping this tried and faithful
servant in the Office he fills so we'll, and
old Iredell should help to keep him there