The daily sentinel., 1906-06-29

Imaginable, that men whose char
acter and business ability are above
reproach in every day transactions
of business, whose word is accepted
without question and who can com
mand credit in every quarter, so soon
as they accept public trust, are re
viled, their honesty questioned and
they are charged with every ipagin-
able breach of faith toward the peo-
pie.
In speaking upon this question yes
terday, a gentleman said, "Oh, well,
a man is public life must not feel hurt
that he is criticised. charged with
grating upon the public business and
his every motive questioned and dis
torted. This is the natural penalty
that a man must expect when he ac-
cepts public office"
But the average business man and
citizen, whose hide is not as tough as
a rhinoceros, cannot look with COM
plaisance upon the attacks made upon
his character and dishonesty. He re-
CARDS the work that he performs as
a member of the aldermanic board, as
a duty he owes citizenship in the com
munity in which he lives and he does
not take kindly to the aspersions rnat
are made against his honesty. He is
not paid for one-tenth of the work
that he is called upon to do and he
neglects business and home comfort
to do work for the public veal.
For nearly year past the board
of aldermen of this city have strug-
bled with the preliminary work incl
dent to bringing the question of a
Mountain water system before the
people. They have met many times.
to the inconvenience of themselves
and their own private business af-
fairs. but they were strong in the
desire to respond to the demand of
the people and they worked hard and
faithfully to perform their duty. The
special water committee has done an
immense amount of labor, much more
than the average citizen has knowl-
edge of and their Information upon
the subject from the statistics COM
piled by them, is considerable.
The question was finally brought
to a point where 1t was possible to
submit 1t to the people and they now
feel that 1t is up to the people to de-
eide the matter for themselves. 1t
must be confessed that their ardor
has to some extent cooled, because of
the manner in which some few have
questioned the honesty of their inten-
tion. But on the other hand they
have the satisfaction of knowing that
ii Is proven In this case as in nearly
all others the ancient motto "Honi
Soft Qui Nal y Pense" which has
adorned the crest of the shield of the
order of Knights of the Garter in
England, which interpreted is Evil
to him who evil things" Very gem
orally 1t is accepted as a self evil
dent truth that the man who is al
ways suspicious, is one whom few
care to trust.
1t is an axiom of business life that,
he Will bear watching who everlast-
ingly doubts the honesty and motives
of his fellows. Look about you and
locate man in your mind, who can
glibely condemn everything and evry-
body, who would not trust his bro
ther behind his counter, whose eve
Is ever alert to catch his children in
dishonest practices and we will show
you man who cannot be trusted
with anything. who stops not at any
deal, wherein he is benefited finan-
cially.
In this question which is so mo
mentious to the life and future of
this city; which means so much for
progress and uplift; which will re-
move the stigma of unfit water for
domestic use, If the plans for build
ing moutain water system carry.
let us abandon the general plan of
political bias and work for the COM
mon good.
But of all things let us have faith
In each other. If any man knows or
believes he knows that any man is
preparing for graft, let him come
out boldly and make the charge
against him. In doing so he is ten
times more honorable than IL he |
charges condition which has no
more backing than a mere rumor.
The Sentinel is for the building of
a Mountain water system for the city
OF Grand Junction. 1t stands to have
IL done on the best possible basis for
the city's benefit. 1t is not particu-
lar from what source the water is oh
tained, or under what system of con-
tract the work is done, so it is done
well and every dollar of money ac-
counted for in its building. II be-
lieves that from all sources of infor |
nation available that, the Hannah
creek water affords the best source
of supply.
For twenty years this city has
wanted mountain water. the oppor. |
tunity is now presented to secure IL
and we believe that with a council |
the members of which, all men of 4
business and all men of credit i'm n h
business sense. will build this system
10 their honor and credit and to the
credit of this splendid young city,
which only needs this better water
to make 1t grow and flourish and be-
come in all things thhe center of all d
enterprise in western CoInrodo