The Greeley tribune., 1906-07-05

IL Is lOU lOO Cdiiy W uaih po''''S''
bit. The usual plan Is to let the
politicians have full sway. and then
after the conventions are over, take
what the machine has given us, kick
little, go to the polls, write Re
publican,'' or Democratic on our
ballot, and then dismiss politics
from our mind entirely until another
campaign.
Meantime, we feel at perfect lib
erty to swear at the bad roads, the
waste of the peoples money, and
high taxes generally.
1t matters not so much whether
our county officials are democrats or
republicans, as whether they are
honest and capable-whether they
will use their office as a means OF
graft, or whether they will work in
season and out, wholly and solely
for the best interests of their en-
pluyers, the people.
This early in the season, before
the states of the parties are made up,
the Tribune would like to inaugurate
a little campaign of education. In
what is said there shall be no parti-
san bias. AS stated, it matters less
to the Tribune, and less to the
people of Weld county, whether
those chosen to fill county offices at
the next election be democrats or re-
publicans, than whether they be men
Of honesty, integrity and fitness for
the position they seek.
In the work undertaken we have
no axes to grind, no enemies to pun
ish, and no candidates to put for
ward. The good of the whole COM
munity is the object aimed at. II
through our efforts the people can be
awakened to a sense of their respon-
sibility in the matter and through
that awakening both parties can be
forced to nominate only men of un-
questioned honesty and ability from
top to bottom of the ticket, our OBJ.
ject will have been attained, and the
final result will justify the efforts
put forth.
In fact. we want to educate men
and women to be independent voters.
rather than partisans, in county
affairs.
II it wasn't for the men who want
to be elected to Office, and the men
who hope to be appointed to places
under the various officers. and-those
who expect to obtain soma direct
material benefit for themselves or
their friends through the election of
certain candidates, county election
would attract less attention than a
good lively dog fight. In justifica-
tion of this statement it is. noted
that at the special school election in
Greeley last winter less than dozen
people, (seven, to be exact. saddled
debt on this district of over $40, 600.
Except for the personal work of the
directors, there would not have been
so many as seven persons present.
Not that the $4,000 debt wasn't
necessary, and justitiable; quite the
opposite. But those upon whom its
decision devolved would have felt
better over the matter if more inter-
est had been taken and more voters
been present. What jolly chance
for graft If the school board were so
inclined, which, thank fortune, it
isn't.
Then there was the water bond
election. Only 300 voters out of
more than 2, 600 cared enough about
creating debt of over $50 for every
man, woman and child in the city to
go to the polls and vote yes or no.
Suppose at each of these elections
there had been five or six offices to
fill, each with good pay, and COM
paratively easy work, and each officer
had the appointment of two clerks
or deputies, also at good pay,
wouldn't things have been different? ?
There would have been from fifty to
hundred men hustling to get the
voters out, after weeks spent in try
ing to convince them that he very
existence, almost, of the city de-
pended on which way they voted.
But there wasn't; SO handful of
voters had to shoulder the RESPONSE.
bility. Is it any wonder that we
frequently find ourselves saddled
with lot of officers who are incom-
petent or dishonest, or both?
Not that the desire to hold office
is a crime, or disgrace. Quite the
contrary. 1t is perfectly legiti-
matt. ..and ,,laudable way of making
living, just as much so as raising
potatoes or keeping store or print