The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1913-04-25

lucky the voters have always made
big noise over the election of Jail
ers and clerks-and these officials
are really not half as important as
our magistrates.
Nearly all of a county clerks or
circuit clerks duties are purely cler-
ical, and the jailer's office demands
little more than honesty and ordi-
nary horse sense, whereas practically
all of the fiscal court affairs of the
county are in the hands of the magis-
trates.
Magistrates spend practically all
county funds.
They say how much shall be set
aside for all the various departments
and they choose many important Of
ficials, the most important of which
and one of the most important of
all county officials-is the road en-
gineer.
The fiscal court is to a Kentucky
county what the General Assembly is
to the state and Congress is to the
nation, the only vital difference be-
ing in the power to enact statute
laws.
The progress Of county depends
more upon its magistrates than upon
any other set of officials, and yet
every since Kentucky became a state
we regarded them as the least i'm
portant cogs in the county govern
ment.
But we are learning better.
A great many people have already
learned that in order to be a good
a man must have a level
head and be abreast of the times
Those who every four years get ex-
cited over the election of other Of
ficials because they receive good sal
aries and for no other apparent rea-
son, must now help elect good men
to the fiscal court.
They must also help persuade good
men to seek the office.
A busy man must sacrifice valu-
able time If he attends to the duties
Of magistrate, but it is a very no
BILE sacrifice, and in the future 1t
will be much more appreciated than
in the past.
Conditions are changing in Ken
lucky.
Public opinion. even in the most
quarters. is getting
away from the fogeyism which hela
US back for 30 long q time.
Candidates for office are no longer
afraid to EXPRESS progressive ideas
or propose vital changes in institu-
lions regarded as perfect twenty
five years ago.
Everywhere we see signs of a new
era Of progress, and We must read
Just the machinery of government to
meet changing social, educational
and industrial conditions. 'a
Our fiscal courts, We now know.
mean as much as probably all the
other departments Of the govern
ment put together. except the educa-
tional.
We must have better roads, better
public health service. better methods
Of taking care of the poor. and i'm
provements in many other depart
ments under the control of the fiscal
court and we must have the best
men for magistrates.
This editorial is no reflection upon
my member OF the present fiscal
court or any ex-member.
This is not discussion Of person.
llities. 1T
1t deals with a rule not excep-
ion.
1t is a discussion Of fact about |
general conditions which for a CEN
ury have prevailed in nearly every |
county in the state.
And it is a plea to the people in |
very magisterial district in which |
he Hustler is read to try to get |
heir best men for the office of mag
strate.
We need the very best men for tie
'ffice, and the of 10, IS splen-
i'd chance for the Invaluable public
ervice.
At Loggerhea
Greensboro, KY, April 21.-Owers-