The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-09-17

closed and We have before us the
material from which our selections
must be made at the polls on No
vember 3. We have sufficient
timber to choose from, and if We
fail in making wise selections. the
fault will be our own. The op-
portunity is before US.
The candidates are before the
people for preferment. 1t be-
comes the duty of each citizen to
use his best judgment in making
his selections. He should above
all give this matter business-like at
tention. Fitness by ability and ex-
perience should be the only question
considered when the taxpayer takes
up his pencil in the polling booth
to mark his ballot and thus record
his choice.
Whatcom county needs honest and
capable men in the court house.
Party politics should not cut
much figure in the selection of pub
lie servants. Our best citizens
have become advocates of nom
partizan politics. Today the best
political tendencies are away from
close adherence to party lines, and
toward broad freedom of choice
in the selection of men for public
office. The voter fully realizes
that no political party is right all
the time on all questions, and that
no one ticket contains all the best
candidates for office.
The choice of public. servants
should be made solely upon COM
potency, sincerity and honesty. No
other factors should enter or shape
decision The main question to
be considered is whether or not
the applicant is worthy for the Of
flee, and whether or not he be
well qualified TO perform the duties
he seeks to fill aud whether if elect
ed he render efficient service to
the public.
Every voter in this county should
get into personal. touch with the
applicants for each office. Each
should be forced to stand the acid
test and no reluctance should be
shown in applying that test. No
candidate can offer objection to be
asked to stand the strongest test
applicable. He is seeking public
preferment and the voter il entitl-
ed to place him under strongest in
quiry possible. He seeks public
service to be paid for with public
| money. The public should not at
i all be lax in informing itself of The
public office.
The time has come when selfish
ness, petty differences and strife
in our county affairs must cease,
and the taxpayers must insist that
it's public servants get down to
a sound business basis and con-
| duct public affairs in a business
like manner
There are now too many persons
on the county pay roll. Some of
i, the offices in the court house have
too many clerks drawing public sal
aries. Ours has been a wasteful
county government The public
money has not been carefully ex-
pended and extravaganza and loose
| ness has prevailed in many places.
| 1t must stop, if not, your taxes will
| become unbearable, and the Lord
| knows they are fully high enough
| now.
The Great Architect of the Uni
verse has well done his part in CIV
ing Whateom county's people one of
the most beautiful surroundings in
all the world, bountiful and healthy
section for a man to have a home
| for himself and his family. We have
the most beautiful climate ON earth,
| the natural resources to produce
| abundant wealth for many more
We have everything to offer the
! new conner. There is plenty of
land left but we must get down to
| business and stop taxing this land
beyond endurance, and to lessen
the present burden of taxation.
| Let all get down to business and
attend to business on Tuesday, No
vember 3. Let only the men best
qualified. most capable, be elected
as our public servants. 1t Is our
| public duty to select only the best
public servants from those apply
ing as candidates on the various
party tickets. Cast partizanship
to the winds in making your choice.
The taxpayer who still clings blind
ly to his political party, right or
wrong, is a fit subject for Chris
Kings hotel. Any man who holds
/ Up mere party loyalty as a reason
for supporting any man who is
not capable and not worthy, is a
fit subject for the almshouse, and
can have no objection if his proper
" is confiscated through high tax
alton.
The office of county commission
ar demands a full measure of abil-
pirant for this office should possess
pirant for his office should possess
good judgment, keen appreciation
of public integrity. and be free from
all political bias and partiality. This
thing of trying to ''get somebody,
is most reprehensible and un-
worthy of any one who lays claim
to honor 1t is invariably detri-
mental to honest. efficient service.