The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-17
THE CITY ELECTION.
The Pot is Simlnering, and, We Presume,
will Soon Boil.

The municipal election IS coming Or
apace. The date is about two months OF
vet. Still there are number Of prospec-
tive candidates, and candidates that are
not prospective, for the position of mayor.
Many of them are still in the hands oi
their friends-a very dangerous position,
politically, to be in. We heard Of gen
tlernan once in this county who was urged
bv his friends to run for the Legislature,
and finally consented, reluctantly, OF
course, who afterwards told it on himself
that he paid certain friend S5 to get "his
friends" to urge him to become candl-
date. Well, we say to be III the hands OF
ones friends, politically, is very dan-
gerous position.
But the election is coming on, and we
must have "city fathers" We presume
there will be found men enough who are
willing to make the sacrifice and serve
! the town for another year.
It seems to be understood that the pres
ent officers are not going to permit their
friends to re-elect them, or permit
them to enter the race.
The election of town council IS an I'M
portaut one to Newberry. It means much
to our town. We want good and true
men. More, we want live, energetic, pro-
gressive men. There is great deal to be
done, or, rather, that ought to be done, tc
make our town model town.
But The Herald and News is for meas
ures' now, not men. We want to kno"
the platform upon which the candidates
stand, when they ask our suffrage. SO,
come along, gentlemen, and let us have
your views on public questions.
The Herald and News has platform,
and it is with some degree of trepidatior
and fear that we present it, but we want
to know who stands on it, so that we may
know how to vote intelligently; and we
had best make it known in advance, sc
that the prospective candidates can study
it and digest it. So here goes:
We have fine opera-kouse building
that cost us some $4,000, and 1nagnltl
cent graded school at an outlay of SIS, ,oc >
These things are all right; but, then, we
want to go to these places sometimes, even
when it rains little, and as we are moi
supplied with "1nud-boats, it is of para.
mount importance that we have good
streets and sidewalks. And then, If we
had these, possibly we would not have sc
many people who remain away IRON
church because the streets are muddy.
Then, our first plank is improvements
of streets and sidewalks, even if some pri
vate property be benefited thereby.
Then. sometimes the moon does not
shine, and on some moonlight nights it IS
! very dark. It is absolutely necessary fol
people to be out at night occasionally
People have to 60 after doctors, and doc
tors have to visit their patients, and so on
As we "'prefer light to darkness, we want
better street lighting.
Our next plank, then, is electric lights
OF some system that will give US good
I light for our streets.
TIE health of our town is of paramount
importance. Cleanliness conduces tc
health. Water is essential to cleanliness
A good system of waterworks IS thing O.
great importance to us. So this make:
our third plank.
Now, Mr.. Candidate, do you think yor
can get on that platform?
It is very simple matter. To adopt
this platform will cost the town some
where about S2oo,coo. We have not beer
accurate in our figures. Just so that we
do not have to bond the town for more
than half million, will answer all prac
tical purposes. Four per cent. bonds al
the figures named would cost us in inter
est about 5000 a year, very small mat
ter-not more than a tax of or mills
We could leave the principal to be paid II
the next century, when the town ha:
grown to a city of $4,000 or 40, 900 people
Now, it is utterly out of the question
for us to enter the race. and we hope ou'
friends will not urge the matter, but VIZ
are for the candidate who is for our "neas
ures."
1t is as true as preaching that no tow
can get genuine move on her until sh'
gets a pretty good sized bonded debt ant
spends some money for public improve
nlents.
Now, we don't want all the candidate
to speak at once. Don't you think ou
platform a good and sound one?