Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-03-07
THE PROBLEM SOLVED
EXPERIENCE IN OFFICE
Necessary Qualification for
Candidate---ROtati0n
lis Selfishness.
Arkansas Developer. !


The present political campaign
presents the most critical period in
the history of Arkansas, viewed from
a sound business standpoint. Within
the past three years the State has
been judieiously advertised and has
become favorably known not only in
all parts of America but in every
part Of the globe as well. Emigra-
ton turned to Arkansas at last, is
rapidly increasing, and bids fair to
people every section and cross sec
tion OF land before it ceases. Capt.
talists, naturally timid, while APP
prehensive OF success in other States
have been fearlessly investing in Ar
Kansas enterprises. This wonderful
development of the States more won
derful resources places additional re-
sponsibilities on every public official
and calls for the selection OF men
whose known ability and integrity
will inspire the greatest confidence
and give promise OF the most bust
ness-like, most honorable admins
tration of the duties OF the positions
which they may he chosen to fill.
The ordinary newspaper and the
average politician are incapable Of
taking such view of the campaign,
however. At the present time both
are buslly engaged in trying To con
vince the general public that there
should be rotation in office That
the man who has held minor offices
and demonstrated his fitness forpro-
motion should be side-traeked for
some candidate whose only known
qualification is that he hasnever had
any experience That the man who
has filled position for one, two or
three terms with credit to himself
and the entire satisfaction OF the
people, should be thrust aside in or
der that some chronic Office seeker
should draw the salary. The motive
which actuates such newspapers and
8 such politicians springs from tile
3nost debased OF human passions,
seAdshness, and denotes total dis
regard OF the public good and the
States prosperity and growth.
The principles which they lay down
have no place in the commercial
world ard are without precedent in
the thriving and more successful
communities OF the country. In bust |
ness affairs the capable and consci- |
tious employee is advanced step by |
step and the employer continues to |
derive a benefit from the money he
has paid him for services in the past |
bccause his experience has become
more and more valuable with each |
promotion.
The people pay to educate the office
holder in the duties of his position
and every time change is made they |
lose the capital invested in his eXpe
rience. There are in every commun-
ity evidences of innumerablem mistakes
made by experimenting on public
positions with men Of unknown quail
ifications and untried integrity.
All such talk as "pass the office
around. give some other fellow a
chance che has held office long
enough, . etc, is made a set of poll
ticians andYoiced by subsidized news
papers who do not and will not
believe the "public office is n public
trust" 10 them the public office
should be a rat hole into which the
peoples money is poured, and they
clamor loudest for the defeat and
retirement of the official who dis
charges the duties OF his Office with
strict economy and the greatest re-
gard for the public good. The limi-
tation of terms of Office was inaugu- !
rated BY the trainers of the National
and State Constitutions solely to en-
able the people to make change of
officials when public policy, incom-
potency or rascality required it.
The people as a rule favor the re-
tention and promotion OF faithful
officials whose services have become
valuable because of the very fact
that they have held Office before, but
the politicians oftentimes thwart
the public will, and in this lies the