The morning news., 1890-06-25
Henderson and Nesh.ts's Canvass

Henderson ard Sesb.tt's Canvass
Judge Henderson. commisSioner Of zsTi-
/ culture. who IS Understood 70 lie a eSndi-
{ date for tie nomination for oommiSAole-
| again, and Mr.. r T. Nesh.tt. who wants -
/ step into the commissioners Shes. have
/ been carrying on s lively canvass for =
month or two by means q cards il the
newspapers. They have been ably assisted
by Maj. A E Woolley and Mr.. 7 :. Lyon,
the former lending a helping hSni -
Judge Henderson and the latter % Mr..
Nesbitt. The cards and conmunicSIso1s
which these gentlemen have hsd printed
have been quite lengthy, snd sufficiently
numerous to befog the public mind sad 70
put 1t IN a condition Of such uncertainty IS
to what the ISSUES between tie candidates
are as to justify the question whether they
themselves know just what they hope 10
gain by the charges and denials IN which
they indulge with such extravagance
1t is hardly probable that Judge Hender-
son has done anything contrary TO law. If
he has the proper authorities have been
neglectful of their duty in not calling him
to account. 1t is a very easy matter TO de-
termine whether the law permitted him to
raise the salaries of the fertilizer inspectors
or not, or whether he has done any other
thing that Is contrary to law and good
morals. If he has been as straight as a
string as the saying is, in the management
Of his Office, no advantage of him can be
gained by charges that cannot be promptly
and fully sustained.
What the farmers would like to know
are things like these: Is Judge Henderson
just as capable a man as can be obtained
for the Office of commissioner of agricul
turel Is he progressive mana man who
keeps abreast Of the times, so far as agri-
culture is concerned? Does he make any
suggestions which are valuable to the far
mers, and does he introduce any improve
ments into his methods of gathering informa-
ton about the crops! Are his crop reports
reliable and valuable, ana do they show that
he Is deeply interested in his work: These
and similar questions would interest the
people, and If Mr.. Nesbitt can answer them
his cards will be read with more interest
than those which have appeared already.
And Mr.. Nesbitt might tell the people
how he would run the office of agricultural
commissioner should he be SO fortunate as
to be elevated to that position, and also
what his qualifications for it are. He may
have some views as to how the Office could be
made much more useful to the people than
it is at present. If he has he ought to lose
no time in giving them to the public.
Perhaps Judge Henderson might help the
people to make q choice between himself
and Mr.. Nesbitt by asking the latter some
pointed questions as to what changes in the
methods of conducting the office of commits
sioner of agriculture he would introduce in
order to make the office the source of
greater benefits to the farmers. The com
missioner of agriculture ought TO
be able to help the farmers
great deal. Indeed, there
are hundreds of ways in which he can be of
assistance to them, provided he is well
equipped and has the inclination for doing
SO. The time ought to be past when e man
can be elected to office because he has what
is called political pull" Men ought to
be elevated to official positions on their
merits alone-especially to such position
as commissioner of agriculture.