The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-10-17
Citizen Opposes Amendments.

the Seminal our attention has been
called to proposed amendment to our
City Charter which is in part to be COM
mended, however we beg here and now
SO register our disapproval of that part
delegatng to the Mayor and the Board
OF Aldermen the power of appointing
other officers who are of no less i'm
portanee to the people than this body.
First, last and all the time, we are
unalterably and unqualifiedly opposed to
even this much concentration OF power.
Our forefathers fought, bled and
die to free themselves from the die
tai Of King, not because he held
the title of King, but because of the
power delegated to him oy virtue of his
Office; in other words, because of the
concentration of power. We have pur-
chased at terrible cost the privilege
of naming by ballot those who shall
serve US in public capacity, and at
this late day let us not even attempt to
revert back.
| We dare not question the motives of |
even one of our Board, nor do We claim |
that Individually, one of them dis
agrees with your humble servant in his
views on this question, but the high es-
TEEN in which we hold them permits US
to say that they are among our very
best citizens (even though they were
elected by the people) and that now
and hereafter they will be for what
they conceive to be right.
We are pursuaded, however, that
when they give this section of the pro-
posed amendment serious considera-
ton they will say, Nay verify. By way
of calling attention to the spirits of the
masses, as heretofore manifested at the
polls, we refer to the goodly majority
with which the elective Judiciary carri-
ed, by a people who claim to be COM
petent to elect the sub-ordinates of
! their own creature.
, Contrary to custom in vogue for a
number of years, at the polls. demand
was made that the legislature should
|, surrender the power of electing our
United States Senators.
Il Right in our immediate midst, only a
! short while since, our people voted on
whether or not the power of appointing
the city recorder should be vested in
the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, at
which time the vote was: for, &C.,
; against, 160 the same being about two
and a half to one against the project,
!, or majority of ninety-four in COM
! munity where any elective officer rarely
!, ever gets a majority of as much as
I twenty. :.
When this was submitted to a vote
+ we presumed that the purpose was tc
y gel an expression from the people ant
do their bidding, but Whether or not i
was remains yet to be seen.
# True it is that sometimes the vote
I, makes a mistake in whom to elect tt
/. office, but these cases are rare, an6
= more so, in proportion, than those o
is our governors, for who would have thu
IS temerity to assert that our chief exc
d cutive, in each and every instance
A. selects man solely because of his quail
1t ifications to fill so important place a
1t circuit or chancery Judge?
G. Oftentimes our juries are severel
III criticised for failure to do their dutie
lie but if any one will only take the troubl
-e to refresh their memories little, the
lie will recall instances where the jury di
ID their whole duty, and the governor G
t. supreme court set aside the verdict o
lie some flimsy technical error in the tria
of thereby thwarting the very purpose
is the law.
he We refer to this only to point OF
er that the fact of man getting electe
he to office does nor make him over, nelti
RS er does it endow him with any speci
in qualifications that would render him Il
he fallable in selecting officers, and he
he no better equipped for same than wht
If he donned the robe of office.
o. In our opinion, this feature of Il
US change would invite turmoil and strlt
tn where now all is as near peace al
| for ,tnAar at
Ut. system. 1t has been suggested tn
fl the appointive power would give US be De
in ter officers. Granting that this be tr
by then we pray you tell US why dscrn
mt nate by applying it to one and exemE
II, ing another?
ow Suppose we ask the governor to a
en- point the whole crew? Surely he COZ
on not select better Board from among
as, people who he knows not. We a
led proud to point to this instance whe
ion an appointing power would not ha
us given US better men.
ere 1t is argued that an officer will eX.
ent else more care where this responsiblli
lie, is his. To any who might be inclin
the to put any duty of this nature pal
nat mount to an honest and conscientlo
casting of his vote, let us admoni
sed YOU to put a higher premium on yo
the franchise.
,ey If the appointive poweri is the rig
,l,- procedure to get hetter officers, as tr
CHI, citizens let's advocate putting it IN
be Grafton in other quarters, by asking G
the legislature to appoint to rule over
the less competent people, Govern(
fed Supt. of Education and state auditor
no Then, coming down the line, let's
it mand that our supervisors appoint
any sheriff. chancery and circuit clerks, a
to supt. of education, so that we will 6
and better officers.
one If the system is good in the city
the is better in the county, and by
ven means the state should follow suit.
off What is good enough for the gr'
who state of Mississippi is good enough
all the people; then why not let q
en- gress appoint the President and all s.
der ordinate officers?
dol By comparison, we think that no
,ch. or town in Mississippi excels ours fr
.@I 90, r{V..n ~