The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-10-20
Gon1InupiCatiorl
Editor Mathews Ionrnal-

uiSCuSSlOn 81 the proposed am |
mendments of our State co1stuti- !
on. Iregret To see that no advan-
tage has vet been taken of Your
cOmplasence.
This seeming apathy in Public
affairs is, am sorry to say. one
Of the signs of the d e c a
dence of our Republic. and
the one which leads European
nations to regard our Govern
ment as The great experiment I'm
politics and TO prOphesv our
return to depotism and back
through all the stages of politi-
cal Regeneration to limited mon
archy as the most staple form of
practical political government. til
is to arouse some interest i'm the
questions to be decided shat | am
writing this paper, for while |
have clear and delinate ideas as to
the benefits Of the existing system
and the probable disadvantage s
Of change. am also Of the
opinion that our citizens had
better decide this matter wrongly
than to fail to have any voice i'm
the out come. AS a general thing
amendments which do not APP
peal directly to the financial or
sociological interest of the voter
are decided by those professional
pOlititions who make it there
business to frequent the polling
places, personally soliciting each
voter to register his verdict in ia,
vOr of the particular interest they
have IN view. And herein lies
our danger, for the great majority
OF voters who, called upon to de
eide question in which they
have no direct interest and have
, gwen little or NJ consideration
will cast their ballot as reqested
by any one who politely but in
sistantly asks their suffrage. To
bring about dicussion and arouse
public opinion. / propose 70 reg
lster my personal view on all
three propositions.
The election OF Count r Fcasurers to
succeed themselves indefinitely.
l oppose this
Becausc it was one Of the proyison>
of the old Underwood constitution whic
vas felt to be amiss. 1t had cost citiz-
ems of the states a large sum in the
past to make good the accounts or
County Treasures of which, Mathews
County certainly had her share.
Where Treasures are called to &C
count at short intervals there is much
less temptation embeule, much less
opportunity, and much less favorateism
shown influenciat polititions in the
matter of collecting taxes.
SO much for the peoples side. ROW
for the Officials.
Every County Treasure is sure To
come in contact first with delinouents
who are influential in getting votes
rived with friends, personal friends
" no ask for pecuuiary aid indirectly.
by having their tax bills carried along
for them, and last of all with his own
mate desire TO be obliging, and ON
good terms wish every one, which every
gentleman in public life experiences.
Now the very nature of a good man
works against him for the more good
natured, and Obliglng, the more ur-
bane, and charitable, he is the harder
It Is for him to ~ no. and I will ven
ture the assertion that nine-4entbs ,f
the men in public life who get in fnau-
cial difficulties are injured by their
good qualities CT head and hea
rather than by any deliberate inten-
ton to do wrong.
If you will admit this, consider for
a moment how doubly armed is he who
can say to his friend, "Old fellow
would like to accommodate Won but
have to be ready To settle up at sucb
or such a time and can not do it,
Now arm this friend with, 'Oh no
matter we Will re-elect you and by the
time your next term is out I am sure
to have the money!, and you rob your
County Treasurer of both spear and
shield and leave him at the mercy of
MS electrate. And the better man.
the better christian, and the berter
citizen in a general way, your County
treasurer is, the more likely he is to
Il II by the wav side To sum up
then l will say,
First. 1t cost the State 500, 600 90 to
hold the constitutional convention to
make this change and after 1 spend
that much money I would like at least
10 try and get a little benefit from the