Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-04-26
DON'T KILL THE ENTERPRISE |

MdIttueDuEk 1d5 UtCH ludht1k ctlOnS
and repeated efforts to keep abreast with
the times, and turn its money and facili- |
ties into business enterprises. Various
organizations and companies have been
formed and strongly endorsed by the
public. For once permanent and pay
ing enterprises are promised. Their fu
ture success depends upon the liberal
support and encouragement they receive,
on purely business principles, aside from
all personal or political influences SO dis
couraging to success In public affairs.
The town has had enough of such ex-
periences and of failures in the past
No enterprise starts out under more
suspicious circumstances than the Elec-
trio Light project. The corporation sup
ports it. The business men patronize it.
Many of our best citizens invest their
money in it. The newspapers boom it.
Martinsburg is proud of 1t, and is willing
that everyone should have his due share
of honor and credit. Only such treat
ment will make its success permanent.
In view of these facts it is very discour
aging to the men who have used their
influence and their money most literally
in public enterprises for years. to see
statements like this paraded in the city
papers:
"Senator Faulkner several
months ago organized company
under the Edison System and in
the face of good deal of OPPOSE
ton carried out the Ell terprise
and made it a great success in
Martinsburg. "--Martlnsburg Letter
Of April 18th, in Washington Star Of
April 2lst.
| Senator Faulkner did the whole thing
| himself, according to the above. Nobody
believes it. He wouldn't say it himself,
and the one who wrote it wouldn't come
out over his own signature and say it. 1t
was done for effect, and the average citi-
zen knows enough of public life to trace
such cheap capital pretty closely home.
There is no precedent in any other
town for one thousand miles around.
Hagerstown, Wheeling, Parkersburg,
and Cumberland, have dozens of promi-
nent men in all vocations and parties,
and in public spirit that far eclipses our
own, but no reader of the newspapers
can point to single instance where one
man is made to stand for the community
at large.
We honor and respect Mr.. Faulkner as
distinguished citizen and prominent
politician. We honor and respect every
other man for what he is and has done
according to the means and ability pos
sessed. But we in common with all free
and independent American citizens are
opposed to any one man of any party,
creed or class, monopolizing all the honor
and glory in this world of struggle, sue
cess and reward. That Caesar who feeds
upon the vitals of society and politics and
public spirit, should have cash invest
ments by the thousands to point to and
enduring monuments of his merits, skill
and proves, -monuments of blessings
to the poor in laws for the welfare of So
ciety 4 monuments in institutions that
give life-sustenance to the laborer and
Joy and pride to the community. Where
are they. Non sleit
The opposition to the Electric Light
enterprise, claimed, is also a myth. 1t
would have been natural to expect OPP
position from the friends of gas, but we
have heard of none, and the Gas Co. de-
serves praise for its course. The only
opposition that we have heard of was
that the Corporation diG not reserve
some rights whereby it would have shar-
ed in the profits of the enterprise. But
that was exceptional criticism. as the
Corporation pays the peoples cash money
for what it needs and serves the people
best by keeping its hand out of specula-
tive schemes. Further criticisms were
against the Council calling Mr.. Faulkner
to the chair when the Light Question
was before it, and against the Council
for going to Mr. Faulkner 8 office to sign
the papers. The Council-room and the
Councilmen alone are for the transaction
of corporation business. There was some
opposition, if we are correctly informed,
but 1t was by individuals against taking
| the light on account of Mr.. Faulkner
and his friends we'll known
penchant of making all the political cap
ital out of everything within reach.
During the campaign a few years ago
candidates were discouraged from an ac-
tive canvass because it might hurt their
chances of getting work on Mr.. Faux
ner s public building, while work on Mr..
Faulkner public building was SEEM
ing inducement held out to some.
AS long as MIR. Faulkner monopolizes
politics in his own party it is none of the
| peoples concern, and when he or his
friends want a monopoly of credit for
business enterprise in which hundreds
are interested to the extent of their
money and influence, it is time to speak
a word for all to whom honor and credit
are due.
No man is an angel in public affairs,
yet every man has his friends and in
fuence. These combined keep the
wheels of business going. Men are all
human and have to be encouraged and
recognized for W hat they have done, as
an incentive to further undertakings. On
the whole, our enterprising citizens are
numbered by the dozens, and by their
repeated and united efforts the future
prospects of the town are better than
ever. All should become interested in
home enterprise and invest their money
here where they do business and draw
rents, and not send their capital South
or West for investment. There is room
at the head of home affairs for all the
money and public spirit we have, A lib
eral and successful course among men
whose interests are identified with each
| other will eventually secure the desired
results We feel confident that these
views are entertained by the people and
that they are fair and just and for the
common good.