Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1899-08-04
AN OPEN LETTER.
To PIKE COUNTY VOTERS:


the right of suffrage, excr-
cises his privilege. 1t is high duty
to vote for the person best qualified
to fill the Office not to vote for
as friend, neighbor
or good fellow or because of a
or real obligation to HIM,
or for favors shown or promises of
such in future. That is not the real
purpose of proper ballot. By your
vote you signify your willingness to
cntrust a man with your private af-
fairs, i'll fact your pocket book. The
county work is your work, done
through your agents. For every
dollar of tax you pay it is your duty
to see that the office holder utilizes
his best efforts to see that you re-
ceive dollar in service rendered.
Would you retain in service Il
man to whom you paid dollar II
day if he gave you only rs cents of
work in return? Ask yourself, has
he done his work the best he can,
not Tor the advancemerhSof eny
member of his political party or in
the interests of his own election,
but for the best interests of the tax
payers generally. There has been
deal of mud singing" in the
present campaign but it has mad
little effect on the general public.
A personal grievance does not inter
est the people as whole. 1t may
benefit the aspirant to use his sur.
plus energy III abusing his oppon-
ent but it does not prove his own
ability or discretion.
A man who has no higher aspira-
tion than to obtain an Office for the
sake of the gain there is in it, when
he can control the time spent, and
therefore his compensation, and
whose only wish is to make out of it
his living, and who has no other
occupation, has aspirations which
should be repugnant to the people
because they are opposed to their
best interests. Would you build a
ten rail fence if seven would serve
the same pdrpose How many
county officials have we had who
would not take, say 1875 days at sc
much per diem rather than crowd
the work into 20 days if possible
My contention is that our officials
on per diem compensation should
have some other occupation than
the office. unless the work demands
their time. They must live, board
clothe and maintain their families
and support whatever extrava'
gances they may be addicted to
and if they have no other means
who but the taxpayers must foo
the bills?
The several candidates by vigor
GUS canvassing have probably madt
themselves known to rs out o
every 100 voters. Some by per
sonal canvass and others by writ
ing. The former class has probably
spent an expensive month in til,
business. Horse hire, time, board
lodging and incidentals which mus
be in some way regained. How
Each taxpayer must contribute t,
the successful one who has thu
electioneered. If he has spent, sa.
5000, he must put in the days to ge
it back before he can really be- il
to count wages for services render
ed. He must first even up with tn
game by making extra time, wheth
er there is work or not. The busi
ness man cannot afford the time
and will not incur the expense c
such methods, hence after his day
work is done he writes at sma
expense, and if elected he does nc
begin his term with his fellow-citt
zens largely in his debt fo
electing him. He has no grea
expense account which must b
balanced to make his start ever
If he has business of his own,
elected, he cannot afford to spen
more time than is actually necessar
in the public service, and woul
economic time, your time, as if
were his own. Which of the tW
classes will you by your vote t.
morrow choose to vote? ! am airiu
no grievance against any particula
person. My theory is that the pc
pie should elect to the Office of con
missioner only men who have son
other occupation than Office holdin
Those who have successfully ma
aged their own business, shou
be themselves active, industrio
economical energetic and capable
individual affairs. Such men a
desirable to manage public busine:
if we wish to be free from debt al
to relieve taxation. There are shir
! in Scotland, corresponding to o
! counties, where instead of the DE
pie paying taxes the public fun
CONTINUED ON FOURTH PAGE.