The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-07-05

Gals who have secured legislation and
formulated and put into effect pol
icies that were repugnant, distasteful
and contrary to the wishes of the ma
iority of the citizens of the state, but
owing to the power of patronage, the
indifference Of the people and more
than else the senseless cry "he is en-
titled to reelection or reappointment"
as q matter of precedent, courtesy,
because he is already "in", has con-
tinued them in position where they
could further misrepresent and mis-
govern.
Simply because man already holds
an official position is no reason why
he should not reelected or re-appoint-
ed and it is no reason why he should
be either. The offices belong to the
people; official positions were created
for the sole purpose of serving the
people; personal or financial benefit
to the holder were never taken, or
should never have been taken into con-
sideration, at the time Of their crea-
ton. If an office is created for the
benefit of any certain individual, that
fact alone should cause its prompt
adjustment. Service is the only thing
that should be taken into considera-
ton in official choosing. If the pres
ent incumbent of an office will serve
the people better than a new man, he
should be continued in his position;if
another man will give better service
the incumbent should be supplanted,
it matters not whether he has held one
term or dozen.
Theer is not the slightest doubt but
that as soon as great many men are
placed in office they begin to surround
themselves with on "Official Crust"
And when once encased in this they
cease to be public servers and become
self-servers, and the greatest misfor-
tune that can befall any official jur-
isdiction is to be presided over by
self-starting official.
So thoroughly is this fact realized,
that many states limit the tenure OF
their officials to a certain number OF
terms. .
Personally we think that all official
terms, both elective and appointive,
should be so limited, that after man
has served reasonable term or num-
Der of years of public service, ne
should be declared ineligible to that
same office for a certain period and
should be sent back to his constitu-
ents in order that his "Official Crust"
might be cracked by contact with the
people.
Most, if not all, of: the evils of mis-
government, is due to this Official
Crust" that has enveloped officials by
reason of long continuance in public
service. There are at least two for
mer state officials who are serving
prison terms who would today be use
full and valuable members of society
if they had been sent back to the peo-
ple before this crust had had time tc
encase them.
Soon the voters of this state vii
again be called upon to select new
men or renew the terms of the Old
officials. Thy shoulde bear in mine
that service is the only true test OF
worth. If the present incumbents viii
serve them better than new men re-
tain them; if new men will render bet
ter service, displace the present hold
ers regardless of the number of terms
thew have served and if signs are dis
cerned that ony office holder is taking
on an "Official Crust" and voters must
be blind if they cannot discern such
symptoms in some of them, the thing
to do is to crack it with machine fire
of ballots