Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-04-24
County Candidates.
(Coatinaaed from Page z.l
THOS. M. PHILLIPS.

THOS. M. PHILLIPS.
 TO my Fellow Citizens and Voters of Jeffer-
 son County.
 Inasmueh as the newspapers have already borne to you, through their announcement column, the message of my candidacy for Sheriff, it is not necessary that 1 should again con- sume space for that purpose. 1 de- sire, however, to say, through this medium, a few things touching upon matters concerning my own candi- dacy as we'll as upon the claims of my opponents for this important of- flee. Claims 1 have not. for 1 hold to the principles that a life of greater fealty to the Dem ocratic cause than stands to the credit of any aspirant in the race, cannot and does not give him any claims on the party, nor does party service render him more worthy to be elected to office. The man who serves his party in any capacity and then goes to the voters prating about his service for the par ty, asking office for this cause, is like Jhe hireling asking pay for services rendered. True Democracy. like true religion, is without money and with out price.
 One gentleman bases his claims for this oftiee upon the arrogant as sumption that he brought about the straight ticket and drove negroes from the Clerks office. and with great vehemence and persistency, contends, if elected, he will be better able to serve the interests of the par ty; that as standard bearer, he will lead the party to more certain yicto- ". To his first proposition, reply, that no man nor set of men can claim this honor. It was the result of the strong hand of the united De- mocracy of this county. But, admit for arguments sake. his claim to be correct, and that for this service, he should ceivecompensation superior to that of any other member of his party, has it not been already awarded to him in four years of of fice-holding under the new regime, to say nothing of the many favors pre- yiously conferred upon him? To his second proposition, l reply that no one of the candidates for this office is more capable of leading the party to victory than the other, and his state ment to the contrary is but the claim of a demagogue, and again savers of claim of wages for services ren- dered. l submit that DO man should be made an officer to secure his ser vices for the success of his party. 1t has always been my idea that the man who is successful in securing the nomination of his party, then be- comes it's ward, and no matter what differences may have existed between the contestants, they become as one flock and gather around him, in whose favor the greatest number have spoken.
 Another one of the candidates bases his claim upon the fact of his having been constable of Naugine Township for six years, and is there by entitled to the sheriff's office. which he thinks is next in line of his promotion. Were his theory to hold good and become the rule for office holding. the vast number of true and tried Dem oerats of this county who have never held office would be ineligible to the office of sheriff.
 A third candidate for this office says he was deputy for two years under Sheriff Thompson, and there fore. better qualified than any oth- CT to fill the office. have heard it said that some of the best officers in the court house bad never held off cial position before being elected to the office they how hold.
 AS before stated, have no claims, further than the great American privilege of citizenship and the inal- ienable right to stand for office. The fact of my having known no creed, save that of Democracy, through life, of having never turned q deaf ear to her call, nor refused to go at any and all times in her inter