Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-12-18
Friday Morning Deem Der Is, 1914
NEXT YEAR IN COUNTY POLITICS

NEXT YEAR IN COUNTY POLITICS
Two weeks ago we spoke of Next Year
in Maryland Politics" with especial refer
ence to the Governorship in which we
emphasized the value. at this time, Of ad-
illustrative efficiency in dealing with the
important and complicated conditions which
have arisen out of the trend Of latter-day
legislation.
II was not intended, however. to init
mate that county affairs are less impor-
tant than those Of Statewide application,
or that there should be less care and fore
thought on the part Of the citizen with
respect to local Offices than he should ex-
ercise with respect to the more conspicuous
positions to be filled at the next election.
Indeed. the selection Of candidates for
the House of Delegates and for County
Commissioners demands the best thought
the voter can give to the subject and the
careful weighing Of the merits of those
whose names may be presented. Members
Of the House Of Delegates should possess
wide knowledge of local needs and at
the same time, accurate information Of the
affairs of the State at large. if they hope to
accomplish results commensurate with the
responsibilities they assume. The first is
needed in order that they may properly
represent the home sentiment and effec-
lively present it for consideration and the
second is needed to enable them to COM
prehend the larger questions which affect
all the communities of the State, and which
may in manner modify the local meas
ures.
Members Of the Board Of County Com
missioners should be men of solid judgment
and business training. who appreciate the
value Of real progress and at the same
time have the nerve to withstand the i'm
portunities for hasty and ill-consdered
measures which result in the waste of the
public funds and in undue burdens of taxa
ton. There is, indeed, no more important
Office than this 1t deals with the everyday
affairs of the people. The public roads
both as to construction and maintenance
the support of the public schools, the care
Of the INDECENT, the assessment of property
the levying Of taxes, are functions which
affect us at every turn. and which men of
scant knowledge and limited experience
cannot administer with intelligence and
with satisfactory results.
Montgomery county. as much as any
county in the State. and more than most
Of them, requires in this office men Of broad
views and calm and deliberate cOnsidera-
ton of affairs The proximity of the Fed
eral Capital and the tendency of its inhabi-
tants to overflow into the county, bringing
with them metropolitan notions of conven-
fence and luxury, involve responsibilities
and an outlook that are imposed upon few
counties whose industries are so purely
agricultural as ours. This condition is likely
to increase rather than diminish as time
passes, and the duties Of our County Com
missioners will become more exactng and
their responsibilities heavier with each
succeeding term.
II goes without saying, that these two
offices-the Legislature and County Com
missioner-are emphatically the peoples
own, and bosses and leaders of factions
should have no sway over the men who
I'LL them. Here, as well as in Governor or
any other officer, the call is for efficiency.
II can be had If the voters 60 after it-not
otherwise.