The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-09-08

money.
Whenever any project for the bene-
fit Of the public as whole or the ad-
vancement of the city comes up in
the boards, there are always clodhop-
pers to appear and protest, protesting
with persistent arrogance that they
are the people, and must be obeyed.
II an application for e saloon license
is made, often a public official is but
tonholed by first one faction and then
the other, and assured by both that
they represent the sentiment Of the
community. and their wishes must
be respected. II the man is business
man, he is confronted with the pos
sibility of losing friends and business
whichever way he votes. If the pub
lie needs new sidewalk somewhere,
or new street opened, as soon as
the question comes up some of the
property owners who would have to
pay for the improvement hasten to
the official with the protest that the
city does not need the improvement,
that they are already tsx-ridden and
unable to stand the expense. He
must vote against it. No one takes
sufficient interest to urge the i'm
provement on behalf of the public,
and the official, not desiring to dis
please the kickers, votes against the
Improvement, and thinks he has done
his duty.
II a man wants to purchase fran
chise that would give the people as a
whole additional conveniences, when
it comes up before the august munic-
ipal bodies some one is apt TO raise a
protest because such concern would
reduce his sales and hurt his bust
ness. II it is rumored that the city
intends to compel people to connect
with the sewerage, as all other cities
do within . short time after sewer
age is built, the officials are besieged
by a class of unprogressive, ignorant,
selfish property owners who whine
that they are not able to do it. II a
stock law is talked of, a great disturb
ance is raised by our country cousins
who have come to town, and want to
make the city as near like the country
as possible as a reminder of old times.
They want the benefits of city life as
well as those Of country life, com.
bined. They talk about the widow
and orphan. say they represent the
people. and all the time are only
thinking how much it will save them
to continue to turn their cows out to
disgrace the city's appearance, and to
feed on somebody else's flowers, grass
or shrubbery.
In short, in everything that comes
mp in Psducah seeking to advance and
improve the city, there is class to
oppose il and make most intelligent
men disguised with public life, and
convince them by the number of
friends they lose and the amount Of
business they are deprived Of, that
they will be more prosperous and
happy in private life. Thus the offices
will always be left largely to the poll
ticians. the men who have a purpose,
and who are there to keep their rela-
tives in fat jobs, or assist them in
gouging the city. They have moth
ing to lose, and everything to gain.
They may lose friends, but they can
afford it. When anything comes up
that provokes q disagreement, instead
Of taking sides with those who are for
the welfare of the whole people and
the advancement Of Paducah, they are
for doing whatever will be most BEN
eft them personally. Not that they
do anything dishonest, let it be under
stood. They simply take advantage
of the opportunities that come to them
as public officers. Instances of it can
be found today, could have been found
yesterday, or ten years ago. There
are good men now and always in pub
lie office, no matter what their politics
may be, but discussing the question
from an impartial standpoint, and sp-
plying the law Of generalities, we find
the above state Of affairs to exist.
As long as the chronic kickers and
MIA w y