The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-12-23
IMPORTANT TO CANDIDATES.

Every candidate for Office during
the coming canvass next year should
read carefully the following. which we
get from Mr.. Edgar s. Wilson, Of
Jackson, manager Of the Picayune
Bureau.
Jackson, Miss, Dec Is, ie9s.
No man can hold office in Missis.
sippi unless he is a qualified clcctor.
To be a qualified clcctor, among other
requirements, man must have paid
all taxes due by him, which he has
had an opportunity Of paying, on or
before the lst day Of FEBRUARY for the
two years last past before the election
at which he offers to vote. or course
II a man has not paid these taxes, he
Is ineligible to hold Office.
This is an important matter, and
prospective candidates for State,
county, district and beat Offices, as
well as for members Of the Legislas
ture, should look the matter up for
themselves. for II such dclinquents
should be elected, it will be a hitter
pill to have somebody else spring in
on thehi and make tlicEi turn loose
the Office they have caught; after a
long and perhaps extensive chase.
1t would be good idea, therefore,
for all candidates before they an.
nounce themselves, to look into their
qualifications to vote and hold office.
And it might not be amiss while
looking into their own qualifications,
as the records will then be handy, to
look into tile qualifications Of the
other fellow. There is nothing like
u candidates knowing the lay OF the
land before lie enters political tour
nament.
There is still another thing that
needs looking Into, and that is the
qualifications Of men now In office;
from the lowest to the lligllest all
over the State, both in county and
city. Its not at all improbable that
a search OF the tax collectors records
would discover men here and there
who are holding office and who could
be put ont by quo warranto proceed
ing. 1t is not likely that this will
be done, though it would be as easy as
falling of log to do it, but a repeti-
tion of like holding II there be such,
should be looked into BY the taxpaya
crs. watching the qualifications OF all
men who aspire to office. Candidates
should not only possess the Jeffcrsos
man tcst--honesty, sobricty, capa-
bIlity and faithfulness to the c0nsti-
tution--but they should be eligible
under that constitution to hold Office.
The idea Of u man who has failed of
refused to pay his taxes being elected
and supported in Office by taxpayers
is an absurd proposition. 1t is like d
community supporting a lOafer, BAN
quoting fellow who does nothing
for himself, his State or his county.
Recently elections OF city officers ia
those cities, towns and villages that
are operating under the municipal
chapter of the code Of 1892 were held.
1t might not be a bad idea for peri
sons in these places interested to look
into the matter and see by the records
how many, il any Of the officers elec-
ted are disqualified because Of the
non payment OF taxes.
The holding Of elections Is becom-
ing IA matter OF comment also. Gen.
tlcmen from other places in the
State lave been heard to say that
they have seen men acting as elec-
tion officers that were known TO be
voters. This may or may not be
unlawful, but it Is sad commentary
upon the situation to have men who
are not themselves voters, because OF
disqualification OF their own making
holding elections and counting the
votes OF men who are qualified electors
and who bear the burden OF taxa.
tiun.
There are whole lot OF things that
need looking after in the coming
elections and the taxpayers should
see to 1t that everything is done thso
the law requires, and then zee to the
further fact that none but the very
best men are chosen for al offices.
Taxes are higher tlIan they have
been since the radicals and negroes
were driven from power. The best
and Only way 10 check this is by puts
ting u0ne but competent, honest,
sober men In positions, from governor
down.