The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-03-13
OUR INQUIRY AS TO A PUBLIC
OFFICE

wy ELL, we are making some pro-
wv gress, though it be but slow
~, and over a sterile waste OF
words The clouds still hang on State
Auditor Ash, and the lightnings OF his
wrath play ircakShly abou, It's. But
no one need be unduly alarmed. 1t is
all stage thunder and simply meant to
divert the audience from the point at
issue In Our editorial OF February ~
we brought that issue down To certain
definite statements in the Comptrollcrs
Report which put the Clerks Office in
such a questionable position as to alb
solutcly demand some sort OF public
explanation. We now learn by way OF
the State Auditor that no such demand
will be hccdcd-that Our inquiry will
be treated with silent contempt.
Well, that is very high and mighty
acting and might be entirely effective
il the WING were the only party 10 be
regarded But what about the great
mass oi the people OF the county who
are properly and seriously concerned
about this affair VIII they likewise
be treated with silent contempt?
Will they be told that the conduct OF a
Are the people entitled to no cxpana-
ton. when their honest criticism OF
one Of their own officials is evoked by
so trustworthy document rs the re-
port OF the State Comptroller TO call
the WING an "lnquiSitor' III such
matter is To show a wociul ignorance
OF the meaning oi words. To attempt
TO bciog the issue by pojntlcss per.
sonal attacks is Ia cuntcmn the pco-
pies intelligence. Nobody but a silly
body is mislcd by that sort ot thing
The people ui this county are quite
capable 81 Judging = fair and intclli-
gent inquiry Md they know perfect
" well wha, the inquiry is that wc are
making We want to know, and the
people want To- know. why the Clerk at
the Court inr Cecil County is per
m'tird To- hold such q singular and I'M
cnviahlr record IN the Cumpirnl'cr's
Report. our correspondent al Feb
ruary - VA, perfectly reasonable in
asking why such drru'c' officials ere
not brought To- book. and the State
Auditor. coarse insult ui that CORES
p0udcnt dur. NOT impair the iprcc ui
the inquiry II he shall attempt tn nm.
Swcr an the people al this county. who
are asking the same question. M like
manner. he will have very narrow
circle ui desirable adhcrrut> That
why is IN many a lip That Comp
trollcr', Rcpur, has been largely con
suited The law in such cases made
and provided. J., widely discussed The
Governor own remarks. upon the oC-
4 H..
been forgotten lie said Good will
come oi the present agitation resulting
from State Nuditur N>h'> report to the
Cabinet Time aud again similar re
ports ON THESE SAME CONDl-
TIONS have been made. hui they have
been STUFFED AWAY IN PIGEON
HOLES MD FORGOTTEN" That
is Just the point, State Auditor Ash
refers 10 hi> report, that have been
flied D." lut nobody knows or cares
about report, that are simply filed
and forgotten What the people want
to know are the facts with regard to
the conduct ui the public official, Md
when those fact, d. not square with
the demands ui public efficiency and
integrity. they want a. know why they
are not made la Suuarc Nitcr the
Governor ct a. had proclaimed aloud
their determination to overhaul the
Offices At all irc-olticial> and To- bring
all dcrclict official, strictly to account.
the whole thing suddenly and myS
teriously collapsed with the reported
declaration that the State AUDITORS
report reflected on II" one hut the
Sheriff OF Baltimore CITY The people
naturally ask why" But the people
are to bc treated with silent con
tempt"