Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-04-26
COMMUNICATED.
County Candidates


expllcable thing imaginable that. at
every election for county offices, there
should be an uncomfortable impulse
and desire to make changes and TO
turn ont the old officers: Ii matters
not how intelligently, efficiently, or
faithfully the duties of the various
offices have been discharged. without
rhyme, or reason, or sense. changes
are demanded. The only 80 called
reasons or these changes are of the
most iiimsey and senseless character
rotation IN Office being their main
argument, and next TO that. the emol
uments of the Offices for the poor aud
needy aspirants. Why should there
be a rotation. "a long as official du
ties are discharged 70 the entire sat
lsfactiOn Of the county: And what.
Mr.. Editor. have you or to do with
the individual impecuniosity of these
various aspirants: No doubt but
that these emoluments would be very
grateful to each of rs. know that.
so far as | am concerned, | would not
object 10 them, especiallvif had not
stroke of work 20 perform. TO secure
these official perqusites But. official
service Is a cold. stubborn matter Of
business. with no place or room for
sentiment, and official duties are ex
pected 70 be conducted upon strictly
and purely business principles. and
are the citizens Of the county expect
ed 10 ignore those principles. 20 cater
90 the wishes of Tom, Dick, or Harry.
simply upon the grounds of their ne
cessities; Public offices are created
for communicative for individu-
ais.
Let us look for moment at our
different county Offices and see how
they have been conducted. and if
found TO have been administered i'm
AN improper manner and not 10 the
interest of the entire community. then
We should demand a change of Off
GERS. and not before.
We will take. first. hastv view Of
the Office of Commemorative Attor
nev and inquire if there has been any
delinquency IN the discharge of its
duties. The present incumbent has
been In office but one term. Has be
discharged or has be not DISCHARGED
his duties faithfully: We wish to
know, for. if be has not. he should
be removed aud some Que else put in
his place. The office is one of too
much importance TO be lightly dealt
with or for personal considerations TO
influence Us IN the selection of u suit
able officer. Has there ever been one
word of complaint against the in
cumbent: Has there been any other
verdict. than that Mr.. Broun has
been an able, faithful and Jealous of
tcer and that he has watched over
and guarded the interests of the coun-
I " with an eve, at all times. single 10
her welfare: Can any man say Que
word 10 the contrary: If So. WHY
don't he do so: Then. WHY should
We displace him and put Mr.. Lewis
In his place: Why give up tried
servant and one who has not been
found wanting. for an entirely un-
tried one: But We must do 50. pure
/ ly because Mr.. Lewis wants the Office
and because he would like 10 hear its
emoluments jlnghng in his pockets.
Tell me. If you please. if there be any
other reason. |. for one, in the ab-
sence of any charge of DELINQUENCY.
will vote to keep Mr.. Broun iust
where he is.
Let us look. next, at the Clerk :
office and see how matters stand there.
IL Is true that Mr.. Gibson has held
the office for II or p years and that
he has received S25. 200 or $4,000
proceeds from it. Whose business is
that: Are you or or any other cit
lzen of the county any the poorer bv
what Mr.. Gibson has received ont of
the office? We are obliged TO have a,
clerk and as long as the office is con-
Quoted. IN every respect, in a proper.
( business like manner, and without a
complaint from any source whatever
what matters it to us whether Gibson
has had the Office for p or for so
years. or. whether he has received
from it $4,000 or $4,000. What
the people If Clarke want, is com.
petent, efficient and faithful COUNTY
Clerk. The question is. have we or
have we not had such an officer IN
MIR. Gibson: 1t is presumed that the
Bench and Bar of our county know
more about our county records and
the books in our Clerks Office than
the outside peOple-they have an OBJ
/ pOrtuuity to consult and DO consult
them every day. am told thar the
Bench and Bar to man. in the
county, favor Mr.. Gibson's retention
In Office. That should be sufficient
for the rest of us. Again, | was not
aware that the Office of Clerk was At
the mercy of every popular breeze. to
be changed by the whimS of the rab
bic or the needs of the INDECENT. ola
MIR. Tom Tidball of Frederick
was Clerk of his county for ovar IN