Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-08-24

| lWHtll CdiltND anu NObt IOT nOn-
est intelligent, sincere friends of re-
form, as delegates TO the democratic
county convention, there ought to be no
reason why ticket that will command
the respect and confidence of the entire
community cannot be nominated The
| delegates to that convention ought to be
perfectly free from the influence of
politicians and bosses, having before
them constantly the one issue of over
shadOwing Importance before the people
| of Allegany county this year of the
rescue of county affairs from the miser-
able political machine which is now rul-
| ing and running us, SO that they can act
| from their own convictions of right, and
from honest and sincere motives. In
other words, the delegates to the demo-
cratic county convention must hold the
public welfare above every other con-
| SideratiOn, and must not permit friend
| ships or the political ambitions of any
individual or faction to block the way
! to the nomination OF a ticket for which
good men of all parties can vote. No
man ought to be placed npon the demo-
cratic ticket for any reason except his
peculiar fitness for the position for which
he is named. Our convention must be
free of the evils which controlled the
late republican machine made conven-
ton; there must be no bargaining or
trading; therefore, we must have in it
men of character, whose sole aim will be
the construction of ticket that will de-
serve and receive the support of all men
of all parties who honestly and sincerely
desire better county government.
| Now, if the democrats i'll the county
understand and appreciate the gravity
| 4. -,
necessity of an earnest, honest, united
effort on the part of men of all parties,
i'll order to rescue the county from the
grasp and control of the miserable
machine which is bringing ruin upon it,
there ought to he no reason why they
cannot force the nomination of our very
best most efficient and least objection
able men. If there are not sufficient
number of such democrats i'll the county
to do this, it will very clearly show the
party is not deserving of the respect and
confidence of the people.
We have never had such an oppor-
| tunity as the present to demonstrate that
we ought to be entrusted with power in
| the county. Will we cast it aside or
| ignore it? Will we show the people
| that we are not deserving of their con-
fidence and respect? l sincerely trust
not I earnestly hope the democrats of
the county will fully measure up to the
| importance of the occasion. We may
never have another such chance to make
a better democratic party i'll this county.
The manner in which the delegates in
| the late machine made convention We're
elected, and the manner in which they
| behaved after they We're elected, has
thoroughly disgusted all self-respecting
republicans, and they are ready to assist
in any honest movement to break up
ring rule in the county.
Our county finances are in most de-
plorable state. No honest man will pre-
tend to deny the fact for a moment.
The present republican machine or ring
produced this condition of affairs and
under it we cannot hope for any change
for the better. On the contrary, matters
must naturally grow worse.
The Commissioners have control of
the county pursc-strings; the county
commissioners are, consequently, the
most important of all the county Offices
They levy upon and collect from the
people about $23O,OO0 annually, and at
the same time create floating debt that
will amount next January to over
$10O, 900. Although the taxes We're raised
by the last levy, being now 81 on every
800, not one cent of this enormous
floating debt is provided for in the last
levy. The only honorable manner in
which this floating debt can be taken
| care of is to further increase taxation
and pay it, or convert it into county
bonds and leave the same to pOSterity to
pay.
| BY adopting and faithfully carrying
ont policy of rigid economy, this float
ing debt might we wiped out in course
of time at the present rate of taxation, but
we need not hope for anything of this
sort from the present machine. If the
people wish change they must put new
and differentmaterial into the Commits
sioners Board 1t is necessary to have
in that Board first-rate business men
men who heve the courage to say mo
to friend and foe; men who have both
the capacity and the courage to conduct
the cOunty's affairs upon strictly bust
ness principles, perfectly regardless of
political or party considerations. 1t
matters but little from what section of
the county they come. Such men would
not represent sections, but all the people
of all political parties in the county.
1t does seem surprising, that our pres
| ent condition seems TO excite so little in
| u1SnatlOn. Inc MINING JOU RNAI Is
about the only newspaper in the county
that has called attention to the deplor-
able conditions. Why are not the peo-
pie up and in arms against the corrupt
and corrupting political machine which
dominates the majority party in the
county? We have on our hands the
fight which the decent people of Pennsvl-
vania have on theirs. The machine which
| rules in that State is no more tyrannical
than the one which rules in this county.
l sincerely trust the democrats of AL
legany county, like the democrats of
Pennsylvania, will sink all other con-
siderations, rise above all fractional strife,
and appeal directly to all honest citizens
to unite for the redemption of our coun-
ty from the control of the political ring
which is demoralizing the community
and running the financial condition of
the county. My influence is very
limited, but | have determined to do my
duty as citizen and hence l appeal to
the good citizens of all parties to unite
for the purpose Of creating better con.
ditions and crushing out political cor
ruption in the county. | appeal to my
democratic fellOw-citizens to see that
our county convention gives us good
honest men, to vote for.
JOSEPH SPRIGG.