The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-07-28
HIS ANCESTORS HELP HIM



Editor County Record
In yeur last issue is an article caI
toned, Lo, the Poor Candidatev i
which the author thinks that tn
shortcomings of the ancestors of
candidate often control votes agains
him and thus merit is silenced. W
think to a great extent this is error
We are inclined to the opinion tina
merit is often side-tracked and tn
rule is general that while persona
popularity is perhaps the keynote o
success, that it is not the only draw
back to getting the best men in of
fee. For illustration, how otter
do you hear voter say, / am 60
ing to vote for A.because we went tc
college together, or because he and
are members of the same church
or the same society," This we re-
gard as the most potent factor in
the selection of unworthy officials.
Now,in the selection of members Of
the Legislative branch or the execu-
tive. voter, if he seeks the welfare
of the community or State, has a
right to vote for such men as his
ideas of certain principles suggest;
they are the makers and executors
of the law. To illustrate: A man
wants prohibition or does not want
it. He should vote his convictions,
but when it comes to officials not of
that class, as Auditors, Treasurers.
Rad Engineers, etc, in fact all otfic-
ials who have not the making of
LAVISH should vote for the best
man for the position regardless OF
the candidates. opinions on subjects
not in, accor& with the wishes of the
yotas, In o.her words, the opinions
~ the candidate on matters which
do not enter into the discharge OF
his duties should not be an issue Tor
or against him, and so long as men
are 50 narrow in their views as 10
let such opinions control their votes
co long will we get inefficient othc-
ials. 1t may be said in justification
of such action, that while the candi'
date has no present interest IN the
question of, say, prohibition or non
prohibition or any other issue, thai
he will use the influence of his posi-
lion to further his ideas. II yo'
have good grounds for such a bellei
don't vote for such a man for an.
office: he is unworthy; he comes be
fore YOU asking support for acertall
Office and you give it to him. II NJ
uses that office to promote his idea
on other issues, then he has betraye'
the trust imposed upon him, to
certain extent. We are supposed Il
this land of the free to be entltle
10 our views ana when you punish
man by voting against what 20
conceive to be correct, when tn
views are not connected with the d'
ties of the office he seeks, then yo
withhold from him the right you d'
mand for yourself-the right
opinion.
To sum the matter up: We mu'
have officials to carry out the lde;
of government and when we vote "
are not voting to reward a friend
punish an enemy, but to get sue
officials as will best subserve the o.
iect of government, and that man
an enemy of good government WI
allows his friendships, association
or prejudice to control his ballot. /
we said in the beginning, vote e"o'
convictions when the office has Co
troll of those convictions, even If
doing so you get an inferior ma
but that is the only exception to tt
rule. Avoid the candidate who tri
to impose upon ignorance by pror
f,1G1l onH 9hnN