The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-07-29
Political Sardines.

The outcome at Saginaw after all efforts
to the contrary, was good. 1t was the only
one perhaps that insures positive success at
the polls i'm November next. and now that
the nominations are made, republicans
throughout the state can sweep up the pO-
litical garbage that has been dumped at
their doors for two months past and get a
breath of fresh air.
Time was when the Office was supposed
to seek the man, bnt latterly political BOOM
ers play prominent part in securing NOM
nations and the man seeks the Office, some
times with pestiferous pertinacity, disgusting
even to original friends of the candidate.
There is such thing as eagerness for office
that overreaches itself and defeats its own
ends This variety is usually INDUCED in
by set of political sardines, who, SWIM
ming around i'm the rough sea of politics,
get an idea somehow that they are whales,
but the moment they come to the surface to
elbow" their identity is discovered The
sardine is Oily-so is the whale but he isn't
packed in oil and made to go down the
throats of civilized people, but rather for
their enlightenment and improvement.
The coming county nominations will soon
engage the attention of the average voter
and the selection of men who are fitted for
the several positions is not always an easy
matter. The fact that a man has an ever
weaving desire for any Office is prima facie
evidence against him, and still he may be
all right, especially if the Office has been
looking toward the man for certain length
of time, and provided further that his pOliti-
cal record is right. The idea of putting
men into Office, who have come into the re-
publican ranks simply because it is the dom
inant party and who expect thereby to get
| l,otx iIa ino yit
enemy, is an outrage, provided there is a
lifelong, steadfast and true republican who
will accept it. This is so patent that deaf
man can understand it with one hand be-
hind his back.
Capabiity is an important feature coupled
with energy and fidelity. Take for instance
the Office of prosecuting attorney-whcl
the illustrious Pliney Lyman used to say
was "a school for young lawyers"-if the
incumbent is shftless and eXerts himself
principally i'm drawing his salary, or If he
! be neglectful and makes the county's busi-
ness secondary to everything else, or if he
| be insufficient so that council has to be en-
ployed at the expense of the county in
every important case, he should be turned
down for future reference, or put back in
the box with the rest of the sardines. g.
II. Lyon said in my hearing years ago that
there lDCtS time III THIS county Wne1
criminals who were snatched up before ouI
courts were cOnUicted and properly pun
ished." 1t may be so again. Let us hope
that it will.
Availability is another important feature
i'm a candidate. He may have all necessary
qualifications and still be unavailable. Fol
instance judge may be so shockiDgly pro
fame and dissolute as to bar him out OF
Office, or sheriff may clothe himself sc
that polite and polished prisoners would bt
ashamed of his company, or county clerk
have handwriting that would stagger 6
stenographer, or coroner not be able tC
tell whether jury's verdict of death by
visitation of Divine Providence" referred tt
disease dangerous to the public health
or not. Another very cOgent objection may
exist to qualified candidate, and that il
lack of running powers. He can't get there
and so has to be dropped along side of the
sardine box, but not ''in it."
The political sardine, however, is quite
| frequent and oleaginous and it occasionally
requires some discernment to discover him.
Laingsburg, July 25. WARD.