The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-06-28
TWO OFFICES FOR sreoNo MEN

To be elected 20 honorable Office, II
ne can get the votes, IS every mans
right IN this country there are
more men than most people think.
who want this right.
In many Of the states Of the Union
the custom has prevailed for many
years and still largely obtains. to
permit two Of the most important
Offices Of the people. that Of county
commissioner and member OF the leg.
islature to fall into the hands Of men
Of either mediocre ability or with
nothing especially recommendation of
them for these positions.
In the formative period Of the new
state. and In the conduct Of It's affairs
we. In our zest To land our man for
Governor or Constable. must not over.
look the most paramountly important
places on the ticket.
TO claim that these ere the two
most important places to bc filled boy
the peoples votes In the counties and
the state is To assert tnat which no
wcll.infurmod man will deny. but to
quicken mems minds along these lines
should be and is the star part TO be
taken by both the press and the states
men Of our country II must be seen,
too. that the man who Is clothed With
the right to spend the public's pocket.
book not only knows how to do II but
can be trusted 20 get valu' received
for the outlay He who Sis ~ iudg
ment upon the course Of county affairs
ought 20 repres nj the epitorn of the
county's statesmanship and business
acumen. II Is folly to say we have
not got such men. Every county In
Oklahoma will have men who would
make ideal commissioners. Aud ev.
cry county will be able to produce the
requisite number Of Representatives
and Senators who will know. what.
when and how TO do for their state.
as no others OF their constituents will.
Equally true IL Il of delegates to the
Constitutional convention.
There is q wide difference between
politician and statesmen, and
while all statesmen rise TO prominence
through the role Of the politician. yet
not all politicians rise TO the greatness
Of statesmen. Men of real merit and
greatness. however humble their po-
sitions In life. scorn the route 10 be
taken on the highway to political
prominence. and thus too often the
best blood remains sercnely by the
waysidc untried upon the course.
The question naturally arises. what
shall be done to bring about this re-
suit whereby the best men will be
placed In these positions? How are
we TO so eliminate politics as To pre-
pare the way for those Of real worth E?
One factor which would tend to Grad.
icaba these prospective conditions
would be To pay these servants OF the
people well-sunlciently TO enable
them 10 disengage In other pursuits.
and give all their time and attention
to the business Of the people. Another
potent factor IN this process would be
to place the terms Of the officers AT
four years, the tenure to be 80 clrcum-
scrbod by law or constitutional cn.
actmcnt as to insure the faithful per
formance of duty. Avoid cumbersome
and unwieldy system and make Il
possible 20 dispossess an oflceholder
before his term expires. II should
be provided for that much less than
malfcasance In Office would suffice TO
custer the shortcomer The fewer
politicians Of the technical stripe
would reach the once. and when men
were elected and took the oath, they
would treat with more gravity the
charge placed with them.