Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-01-19
THE POLITICIANS DREAM
BY MIILICULT PERKINS.

,"Greater Princeton and our grea
lpride was that we were well in tn
lead of our sister cities, so far as nat
ural resources were concerned. MAI
S ural gas was furnished to manufac
. turers at cents per 1000 cubic feet
Iron ore was only fifty miles away
Our business men were alive to taxi
advantage Of these resources, and in
dustries were built with local capital
Our business men were keen, shrewd
home-loving gentlemen, and were ever
alert to secure the very best In every
thing. This had always been their
Ipolicy with one exception. They were
indifferent to the selection of the city
office-holders. Men were often elected
who were totally unfit for the office
simply because they would ask for the
place, and it was the common saying:
Yes, let him have it; he can't do any
thing else and he must live some
way" and so it would be. The condi-
ton went from bad to worse until
when man made failure at every
thing else people would say: Send
him over to Princeton and they will
elect him supervisor" Supervisor was
the best city office.
The progressives, as they were
called, resolved to change this situa-
ton and to do so decided that we
would select an able business man for
this office, and have at least one term
administered upon business principles.
The man was selected. His name-was
Paulson. Paulson was born in the
county, and his reputation as dill.
gent. faithful employee in a prominent
house was above question. There was
the regular number OF offlce-seekers
for revenue only" About ten of us
young hearties neglected our work and
for our Moses. We we're
out early and late, and we we're Ger.
tainly tearing up gravel for our man
because we could see that John
Hodges was strong on votes. Now.
John had not been accused of working
for a long time simply because he
couldn't get job"
One night, after an extra hard day. !
came home about O'Clock in the
morning and was soon asleep. or
course my brain kept right on work.
ng, and my dream will always be a 4
vivid recollection with me- | was
upon a dry goods box at the
'orner OF the public square crying the
'irtues of my friend to the crowd
bout me and giving them forty rea.
ons why he should be elected. | had
cached the climax in my peroration
'hen a stranger stepped upon the box
eside me and said:
Its no use, my son; you are excit.
lg yourself to no purpose. Only one
ian can be elected at a time. and II
John Hodges turn now"
who are your" said I.
Il am st. Peter, and I considered II
est for you to know what viii han.
en- so that you may go back to your
ork"
We'll" said I, there are good, sen.
bic busienss men enough in this :
wn, who would not employ John
edges in their own offices. to elect
iulson against the entire combina. =.
IN If they will go to the polls and 3
tie, and they surely would not vote 4
Hodges. There are a number of
1ch more competent men. | would
t vote for a man for an office whom
knew could not do the same work
: me-
You do not understand the per.
rsity of human nature Men will use
entirely different method with the
bic treasury from what they do In
Fir own private affairs. It isn't a
tier of efficient service; it's a cues.
of dividing the offices among the
employed because they need it.
DIV that this is not as it should be or
e time will come when men will -
e as intelligently as they transact
ir own bushes, but that time has
yet come, and the voters of Prince.
are not yet ready for the change.
~ will howl and raise sand be.
Sc the public work is not done in
'usiness-like manner, but will 90
1t on selecting the unemployed, be.
Sc the best man has Job and
sn't need it,"
awoke and went to my work VITA
eavy heart, deploring human in.
sistency, and when the ballots vera l
nted the name John Hodge led all w., yt,J
VIII