The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-10-25
VOICE OF PEOPLE
To the Voters of pqducah.

| The future OF BauuCan VIII De tlio
reflection of its past; its growth Is
Inherent and inevitable, whether we
desire it or not. Therefore it is for
us. as citizens, to direct the natural
forces which are tending towards
that certain result despite our recent
failures. Paducah is a corporation
civic and commercial, Que attention
should be devoted to the development
! of the character of the members Of
which 1t is composed, and in this way
enhance the moral tone Of the com
immunity of which we are an important
factor. We want and should have a
good, and vigorous municipal govern
ment, not bound by blue laws, nor
lhoneycombed with vice and venality.
| We have many striking examples OF
men who have failed to lead this
broader and truer life, and their ex-
amples have kindled a fire of almost
universal unrest in our Lar ger cities
which must be regarded with appre-
hension by even the most conserva-
tive. II is said by some The press OF
our city is not doing its full duty;
&c is the mouth piece of our city and
citizens. 1t should advise the peo-
pie. 1t should not resort to ridicule
for argument or abuse for reason. II
is never below and rarely above the
average standard of morality of the
people it serves.
Off oil
II is a false notion of any community
to suppose that its people are better
than those who represent them in
public life. If our officials betray
their trust II is a sin of commission
but the sin of those who elect them
is that of omission, which is the
least pardonable of the two. Seventy
five per cent of the people of Padu-
cab prefer law and order to crime
and immortality, but too frequently
the as per cent are too much en-
crossed in business pursuits and neg
lect the simple but imperative duties
of citizenship, while the smaller frac-
ton of the people are active and en-
ergetic in the quest for public spoils
and jobs. Too frequently the smaller
fraction wins. A man who will live
in this or any other community, re-
ceiving police and fire protection,
with the right to resort to courts for
the security OF his person and prop
erty, and at the same time does not
lgive a full share Of his thought
time and substance to the well-being
of the community in which he lives
Is not a desirable citizen, and should
be deprived of his citizenship, which
he has no warrant either to neglect
Tor abuse. Our government has nc
!. lexcuse for existence except to protect
the weak against the aggression OF
1.-THE strong. What Paducah needs Is
more civic pride and a sane and well
directed sentiment, without which nc
city can hope to be great in the
: broadcast sense. II may be a Utopian
: dream, nevertheless believe that J
! LIP. Smith, with the assistance of his
council, can and will bring an era OF
? prosperity to Paducah hitherto I'M
known. The mayor should have his
own council if you would hold him
, responsible for his promise to the
I people, he has but one-third of the
law-making power and the general
, council two thirds. Smiths charac
ter challenges criticism. his life is al
, open book in this city, and every
page has been written here. have
examined 1t from youth to manhood
!, questioning his playmates and asso'
ciates, all agree that he is honorable
has the courage of his conviction
and competent in every way to I'll
r the Office to which he aspires. Since
III is a foregone conclusion that hi
will be elected mayor, it Is time thai
you begin to examine the personne
and the records of the council tC
| serve with him, as most of the can
| didates of both tickets have records
, in the council chamber.
w. T. MILLER.