The daily sentinel., 1912-10-18
PEARCE TELLS
WHY HE HAS
BEEN ASSA|LED

and living up TO this motto, he has
endeavored to conduct the office of
secretary of state upon the same
business principles as he successfully
conducts his own private business af-
fairs
Naturally this policy does not
meet with the approval of certain po-
litical job hunters and Would-be
holders. who have been accustomed
to look upon political Office as
private snap, In which the public
the state-should he mulcted out of
good salary by an incompetent. in
dolent employe for no services rem
dered
The employees of Secretary of State
Pearce's office are required to report
for duty promptly on time and work
the designated hours set by the state
for its employees to work. precisely
the same as II they were working in
any business office, and why not? Six
and one-half hours per day is all
that the state requires them to work.
The employees must be competent
men and women That is insisted
upon. Political influence may obtain
position for person in Mr.
Pearce's office, but it requires ability
and faithful service by the appointee
to retain the position.
A number of people have so OBJ
tained position. and proving incom-
petent. indolent and untrustworthy
employees, have. after a sufficient tri-
al, been dismissed. Some of these
appointecs. Some of these appoint
ees were women of little clerical abil-
ity, but who seem to be possessed of
considerable ability in retailing scan
dal and mis-stating facts,
With the customary chivalry of
men for the gentler sex, Mr.. Pearce
has uncomplainingly withstood this
scandal and falsehood without reply
ing thereto, until now, emboldened
by no opposition these women with
the serpents tongues have enlisted
others, who are not advised as to
true facts, with them in a campaign
of scandal and falsehood to iniure
Mr.. Pearcc in the eyes of the voters
at the coming election.
II is one of the duties of the sec
retary of state to designate what
newspapers shall have the publishing
of those state notices that the state
law requires the advertising of: 1t
so happens that this year there are
numbers of Initiated and referred
bills and constitutional amendments
that must be published in at least
enc newspaper in each county of the
state prior 10 the election of Novem-
her jth, so that the voters may be
advised of what measures they are
requested to vote upon. This in the
past has been considered in the light
OF n gigantic graft for the newspa-
pers. Estimates have been made that
this would cost the state at least
100000, and, if promscuously dis
tributed as has been the custom of
previous secretaries of state 1T would
cost that large amount to the tax
payers; but mark the difference. Mr..
Pearce's splendid business ability
and devotion to the interests of the
taxpayers of the state. comb bined with
his knowledge as a former newspa-
per man, has enabled him to have
this work done for $115.OOO-A
SAVING OF AT LEAST 100000 OF
THE STATES MONEY on this one
item alone.
This naturally does not meet with
the approval of certain newspapers
among others and chief in the mud
Singing campaign against Mr..
Pearce, who have obtained none of
the printing graft" that they per-
Ahbo 'iAbh-Ab lltN pubHI 10 nave.
Lies, inuendoes attacks upon private
character and every other species of
eolumny that an unprinclpled news
paper proprietor knows so well how
to use are now being employed to
malign MIR. Pearce
Are the people to endure a condi-
tion in which a public official is una
BILE TO conduct his office with econ
omy, efficiency and faithful service
to his employers, the citizens of the
state, without being subject to the
falsehoods, scandal and enmity of
political or would-be grafters, whose
only idea of office holding is that of
drawing a pension from the state or
who when doing state work desire
twice the pay for II that they would
ask or receive from business house.
or shall faithful state officer be up
held in his demand for an honest
days work for an honest days pay,
or that no more shall be paid for do
ing state work than would be paid for
like work for private individuals?