The Washington herald., 1911-09-03
COUNTY OFFICE
HOLDERS PREPARE
TO GIVE BATTLE
Alexandria County Clique
Said to Be Fiction.
LIVELY CAMPAIGN DUE


Alexandria County that controls affairs
there, George H. Rucker, county clerk,
does not know it; but he does know
that the administration of Alexandra
County has no intention of sitting idle
and listening to the criticisms of its
conduct of public affairs without de-
Tending itself against the aspersions of
its political opponents, all Of which was
stated to a representative of The Wash
ington Herald yesterday regarding the
situation.
LIVELY CAMPAIGN DUE.
+ The spirit with which the defense is
being made augurs we'll for a lively
campaign and a thorough ventilation of
the entire question in the weeks before
the fall elections. George H. Rucker,
clerk of Alexandria County. spoke Of the
condition as a purely political contest.
There is no personal animus on either
side, so far as he can see. 1t Is a case,
he says. OF the outs wanting to get in
and the ins wanting to stay in"
Both sides are out to win. and the
preparations for a stirring campaign are
evident in the ranks of both parties.
Whatever may be the shortcomings
Of the administrative party. Alexandria
County, according to Mr.. Fuckers views,
is well governed as any county in
Virginia, and a good deal better than
some. 1t is one of the thirty-five coun-
ties in Virginia that gives TO the State
more than 1t gets from 1t in revenues.
the cost of criminal prosecutions in the
county.
Opponents find fault. Mr.. Rucker said,
with some of the methods Of county
finance, and say that delinquent taxes
are held in the hands of the county
clerk and paid over only once a year,
while funds are lacking for county uses.
What is done by the county clerk of
Alexandria County is in line with what
is done by the county clerks OF other
counties in Virginia. Such is the usual
practice Mr. Rucker shows that the
same custom is followed by county
clerks in Lexington, Winchester, Gull
peper, and other places.
Rucker Denies Charges.
AS for borrowing money to meet ex-
penses when there were funds on hand.
Mr.. Rucker gives emphatic denial to the
report The ineQuity of assessment can
not be charged to personal delinquency
of the late board of assessors, he as
serts, as the men who composed It are
above any such reproach. II it is the
system and not the men who are at
fault, it is not necessary to cast re-
Election upon the men when the gen.
eral plan is at fault. There is where
the remedy should be applied. Mr.. Ruck-
er thought that the late board OF as
SCISSORS can carry out any system that
may be devised quite as we'll as any
other residents OF the county.
Mr.. Rucker was especially strong in
defending the board OF assessors, which
was composed of w. c. Wilbert, 4. Duke
Torreyson. John Prosise, and George
CrOssman.
He ridiculed the idea .of a Clique"
existing at the courthouse to control af-
fairs. OF the four county officers, the
condidacy of two of them is indorsed
by the citizens committee.
That leaves two of the four of which
am one. to form a clique" he said.
There is no concerted action among the
candidates for office, so far as I know.
I am out to win for myself. l am not
trying to carry any ticket. Every candi-
date is trying TO do the same l want
10 retain my Office, just as there are
others who want to get II away from
me.
Not Awnre of Clique.
IT am not in any clique and 1 do
not know Of the existence of any.
have been aware OF the gathering Of in
formation from the records Of my Office
which Is being used against me and
others. am always ready and willing,
as a public officer should be, to give
out any information concerning public
affairs from public records. Any per-
son, reputable or otherwise, can get all
inform; 'ion on public matters from my
office withut hindrancc.
Il have never sought to prevent
any one from getting information on
any subject. I am not in accord with
the gum shoe methods that have been
adopted by some to gather information.
To have my Office rummaged over, in
cluding my private papers, in my ab-
sence, Is not quite the method that any
one would feel pleased over. Still, am
glad to see public matters thoroughly
out and Eill help all I can
to thrash them out"
Mr. Rucker expressed regret that the
opposition is unwilling 10 give inter-
views, so the name of the person sponsor
for the views of the committee can be
made known.
William H. Gaines, editor Of the Com
said that he is not aware
Of the existence Of any Clique" around