The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-04-04
Random Thoughts
; ssssai se5
of a
Busy Outsider

Il
the Outsider wrote about poetry an,
felt that such writing was the part o
public benefactor. Nearly every
body but the writer's themselves wa;
tired of the signed and unsigned com
munications which were designed t.
save the city by saving the election
for some particular party. 1t was
kindness to give the poor readers
respite, even in the line Of a somewhat
hurried essay on poetry-always sup
posing such essay was read.
Now that the country is safe again
as 1t always is when an election is
over, the Outsider has been seriously
contemplating writing On pontics. II
is really most interesting topic, even
when discussed by an Outsider.
So u
Politics is a great subject. Was it
week before last that the Outsider de.
clarei that next to religion it was the
one thing worth while? Did we say
that voter should approach the bal.
lot booth in a spirit of reverence?
Such things have been said before
ana often enough. Yet if their repe,
tition could affect the voting popula-
ton, they ought to be repeated every
day, and kept standing as head line
in every newspaper in the land.
Politics is many-sided subject,an
every man looks at it through his own
glasses. A ma1 is honestly a repub-
lean, honestly a democrat, honestly
a Citizen" just as his temperament
dictates. Some people are all for sup.
porting the man, others believe il
voting for the measure. In the eyes
of some men, politics is all econom-
les, others declare politics to be pure7
ly question of morals. Possibly tae
greater number do not take, any
thoughtful attitude at all, but just vote
because it will accommodate Bill or
Joe. 1t is all in the wayiyou have
been raised. All in your point of
view.
The Outsider can see plenty of
why party lines should be
drawn at a municipal election. On
the other hand, it is also a demonstra-
BILE fact that only good men should
occupy the executive Offices of mu-
Probably the practical
question would be what constitutes a
good" man, in the position of ruler
Of a city? Is it simply question of
keeping the Ten Commandments?
Alas, and alas! There is many man
who has done that and yet had no
governing ability about him. This
power to rule is a very worldly sort
Of characteristic and belongs to the
few.
1t might be said that a great execu-
tive is born, not made. Certain it is,
there is something of tue natural gift
about it. In any group of children
whom you watch at play, you will see
the leader. Maybe he will grow up
to be a leader of men. Perhaps he
will be spoiled in the training"
A good executive will possess clear
ness of mind, fixity of purpose. infiexi-
BILE honesty, and sufficient personal
to ensure a following.
Clearness of mind VIII enable him
to see things as they are, free alike
from prejudice and from enthusiasm.
Your zealot is rarely a good execu-
tive, because his enthusiasm befogs
him. Clearness OF mind is only an
other name for good Judgment, what
Jim Bolton calls good horse sense"
And that is a requisite every time.
- y
A good executive is never vacillat-
ing. He does not change his mind
with every wind, neither is he infiu,
enced by what people advise him to
of course everybody has some
advice to offer. But the good execu-
tive remains fixed in purpose, even
while he may listen with courtesy TO
the multitude who know lust what
Id 90 IN your place.
Infexible honesty is the great need
of the modern executive. We have
piled so nigh our fortunes in these
days, fawning press has said 50
much in favor of captains of finance,
our preachers have lauded SO highly
the character of the money-getter,
that the average man believes him
self disgraced by poverty. A poor
man in an executive Office has many
chances to make something "on the
side" Hence the good executive
needs great supply of honesty.
Neither franchise companies nor I'M
lawful places of amusement should be
able to buy their way to special priv.
ileges.