Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-09-22

tnlrIy- clgnt years ana read IN eV-
cry state of the Union, has not it
encouraged immigration and inn
provements in the way of good
roads, etc? Stood by its political
views and that OF a majority of the
citizens of its county, given the
weekly news in an intelligent and
commendable manner? Has it ev-
er failed in business? Who will
say no to these questions? Formy
part | think it will be rather diff
cult for some life long Democrats
in this county, who are reported
to be assisting this Independent
Republican paper, to justify their
positions in the eyes of those DEM
ocrats who stood by and contrib
uted to their financial and political
welfare for SO many years past.
But it is nounusual thing for men
who have by their avn acts dis
credited themselves in the eyes of
the good people, to become sour
with the world and try to injure
their former friends, and destroy
the party which gave them official
preferment."
The question of good roads will
be solved eventually, I presume,
but we evolute slowly from
methods which have been tried and
found wanting. l think our roads
ought to be built and maintained
as are our best conducted public
affairs - by contract. A road
ought to be built as a courthouse
or a Jail, or any other work that is
paid for by all the people. Put the
contractor or overseer - under
sufficient bond, and then see to it
that the service rendered is ade-
quate to it's cost. systematic the
work and place it in competent
hands. Until this is done-so long
as we proceed in a hap-hazard
way, a lick here and a promise
there-the desired results cannot
be obtained. Let there be a head
to the undertaking, with full
power to choose it's agents, and
then hold that power to strict ac-
countability. The election Of
road o%verseers, in my opinion, is
a mistake, for it relieves the other
authorities-the county court-of
the burden it ought to bear and
makes it irresponsible for their
fitness and ability. l know the
court is as DESTROYS for good roads
as is any man who finds fault with
out suggesting an adequate
remedy. Let us get together and
work together for the common
good and l believe eventually the
right way will be found. But if
we use the question of good roads
as a means toward political gain,
or in self-seeking, twill be found
that our latter state will be worse
than the first.
Louis Miller, Esq, Immediately
following the Democratic primary
election, wrote a letter to this pa
per protesting against the action
of the judges who denied him the
right to vote therein unless he
would pledge himself sto support
the ticket nominated. Said he,
"While the stars and stripes wave
over my head l will not soil my
liberty or honor by voting for an
unclean man, though you call him
a Democrat. | will pledge to vote
the Democratic ticket straight if
you will pledge yourselves to
nominate straight and true men,
who are honest, worthy and well
qualified, and not until then"
This is sweetly sentimental and
rigidly righteous, no doubt, and
ought to win for him the golden
crown and celestial harp without
his further effort. OF course his
Judgment as to who are "honest
and well qualified" etc., is
mightier far than that of all the
twelve or fourteen hundred Dem
ocrats of Iron county combined.
But that to one side, | want to ask
Mr.. Miller to name those on the
ticket who are dishonest and un-
qualified. This is a duty he owes
to his less informed fellow-citizens,
and his full devoir is not done in
merely retaining from voting for
those men. He ought to let his
light shine upon their guilty heads,
that the honest voter may not be
misled. The Democratic county
ticket contains the following
names: j. G. Horn, Marion Lewis,
w. G.. johnson, P. w. Whitworth,
Q. P. Damron, James Lewis, Jno.
w. Polk and J.. N. Lewis. Who
of these are dishonest? Who in
competent? Are they all lacking
in the superlative purity which
Mr.. Miller demands in the candi-
date suited to his suffrage? Lack
ing it in so great degree that he
could not risk his reputation by
pledging himself to abide the de-
cision of the Democratic primary?
Jake Woolem died last Satur-
day as a result of the pistol shot
wounds inflicted on him by Linn
and Fred Mueller at the Labor Day
picnic at Desloge on the 9th inst.
Thus another murder, from all ac-
counts unprovoked, stands against
st. Francois county-four in ten
months, together with II justif-
able homicide and one OIL two as
saults with intent to kill. One of
} the slayers of young Woolem is
still at large, Notwithstanding the
efforts of the sheriff and his depu-
ties to locate and capture him.
There is another man, John Nc
Carver, charged with a crime more
: heinous than murder, who is hid
: ing from the officers. Something
should be done to assist them in