The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-12
Mayor Neely Makes Hot
l7ie Critics

the best chief Of police that Falrnent
has ever had. Being an interloper ana
not having resided here ali lby life as
you charge, / cannot answer 10 the
truth Of, this statement i do NOT
know how good or had your former
chiefs Of police have been. i iest.e to
go ON record at this time as saving
that during my administration no OF.
ficer who is diligent. faithful and true
in the discharge Of his duty shall lose
his position with my consent. atmpty
because he belongs to a political party
different from my own. MY psrsaaal
opinion is that aside from q few 10.
Htical shysters. who make their living
out Of lobbying and political prostItu.
ton, the tax payers demand Of DO
liceman or other public oficer efficient
service in return Tor mis- sala.y as Tao
first requisite Of his qualification. BY
deduction your argument leads TO the
inevitable conclusion that any one who
happens to be a Democrat, whethe.
or not he fs otherwise qualified should
be foisted on the public as an officer.
As a reward for dis political belief,
in preference to a Republican who
might happen to be in every respect
thoroughly qualified for the position.
This very policy has been the source
Of the most serious ills that this gov
eminent, this State. this county and
this city have ever suffered from.
This very policy. which has been In
force and fashion here for a number
Of years is largely responsible for an
enormous debt that now hangs over
our tax payers like a pail. In fact this
system had become SO popular o few
years since that 1t took Approximately
ten men to do the work of one A
street commissioner a foreman and
a half dozen street laborers (all an
pointed ON account Of tneir nollti.al
infinencel were necessary to law a
brick or set a curbstone. During the
past year the city has been gradually
deserving this policy. and as n direct
result OF so doing it is costing the tax
payers about 100000 less per year
than 1t formerly cost them for the
same services Isn't this matter of
economy more important to the poop1e
of all parties than the matter Of keep
ing uncertain political quantities IN
line BY giving them snaps at me ex-
pense Of the city? Now, and at all 9th.
err times. all other things being equal
/ should unhesitatfngly cast nv vote
for a Democrat to have a position as
against a member of any other polite.
al party But / will not vote for an an.
plicant whom know to be inefficient
and detrimental to the best interests
of the city. even though in return
therefor he should bind himself to
vote my ticket until the end Of time.
To sum this matter IN in a sentence
i am heartily in favor OF rswarding
ones political friends when 4 can he
done without violating m obliuat,on
to the people as a whole: but when
political rewards are Sought IN ha dis
tributed at the expense Of NJ, The peu-
ple. unhesitatingly saw mo Mr. Edi-
tot happen IN know that Won ,,erson-
ally have a loyal Republican in .y,ur
employ who has been with yo1 for n
number Of years and Won hay. never
thought of tlischarging or srnplanting
him with some adherent Of VIM, own
political faith, simply because ne Is
a Republican You Womb mot and
could not afford to make that change
1t would be spending money cut Of
your own pocket sp,. what might t,,rn
out to be inferior services slnply for
political reasons such a course would
appeal TO YOU a tight ftsted nractical
business man. as bein- noor bnli,y,
When Won tel, me 10 spnn,ant Gaorye
shomaker a cauable conr,atanr and
efIictent man who has dllir,ntlv dona
his duty. for nolit,ca1 reasons alone
! renIy that Il would bo had hn.tnoes
AN '.. :,