Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-12-09
1ga MS sMlA5lAa1D
aRsshsss
Excuses Begin

Just how large damphOOl the
public is can best be judged by the
impudence of those who trade its
credulity And their assurance is
not wholly unfounded. The apathy
of the general public has ever been
the capital stock Of the polictical
CRATER. This is a truism, not news.
You all know it, and so many of us
are color blind mentally when the
question of politics comes up that we
Immediately place halo On the brow
of any old thing that has won the
nomination at the hands of our idol
party. When they fail us, we fall
back on the old excuse, that you can't
always tell mans character by his
behavior when running Tor office.
What then? Is popular government
a failure? 1t depends, and it de-
ponds upon each and every reader
of those lines. You have all duty
to perform in the management OF
public affairs, and the recent action
of the county commissioners occa-
sions the thought that the time is
ripe for an examination conscience.
Have you given the proper atten-
ton to public affairs, or have you
been so engrossed in chase of the
elusive dime as to be blind to the
hand that was in your pocket extract
a dollar? How many good citizens
are in this position? Without their
multitudinous number, graft in pub
lie affairs would be impossible.
This little lecture is engendered
by statement in the press that
County Commissioner Geo. L. Davis,
excuses his action in furthering the
deal that will go down in history
as the "Raping of the Roads, by
saving that, no remonstrance against
this iniquity was presented to the
board, although he admits there was
considerable talk" What did Com
missioner Davis want? He knew we
had no referendum law in this state.
lie knew lie WIS elecltu, anu pdlu,
to act for the people in business
capacity-managin concern whose
annual business amounts TO more
than a million dollars. He knows that
he was entrusted with the custody,
care and management of the county
roadside build, repair and safeguard
not to give away, steal or sell, yet,
after giving them away he has the
audacity to pose before the public as
having done so because not otherwise
instructed.
Judging from this statement and
the action of Mr. Davis in this con-
nection, but one of two constructions
is possible. He either requires the
services of a guardian or was crook
ed in this road deal. He may take
hold of either horn.
He is asking too much of the pub
lie to believe his innocence when he
admits there was considerable
talk" Right there he confesses a
knowledge that the project was not
popular with his constituents, and,
under such circumstances any hon
est man would have at least investi-
gated But not SO with Mr.. Davis.
He goes into executive session for
the avowed purpose of being inform
ed of something that the public be-
lieves he knew all the time. and
comes out with his ready vote for
the looting of the roads of the coun-
ty. If Mr.. Davis wished to be plac-
ed right in the public eye, he could
at least have had the wisdom to post
pone this pre-amended franchise un-
til his constituents could have ben
heard from. But he did not, and but
one possible construction is left the
public regarding himself and his con-
fierce, Arland-that they are Gin on
the deal" or should be in charge of
the probate division of the superior
cpnrt