The Mena weekly star., 1917-04-19
roLK COUNTY oN CAsn RAsIs.

Polk county has money in it's treasury to cash at foo cents on the dollar every outstanding warrant, and when that is done will have enough left to meet expenses for some months to come.
 Rather startling, isn't it?
 A situation that has been talked about and dreamed about for years and years.
 It has been the basis of political campaigns and political promises.
 Inc first impulse is to shout:
 "Hurrah for Polk Countyw
 Bute-and here's the place to think bit:
 How did it happen?
 Who did 1t?
 Well, of course the taxpayers did it--they dug and delved and labored, each in his own way, to pay Polk countys debts.
 But they have been doing that for the last fifty years, and never be- fore did they seem to get anywhere. The debt usually piled up faster than the taxpayers could cut it down.
 Someone will naturally ask the reason.
 The shortest answer is that one way and another, the officers these same taxpayers placed in charge of the business of the county, spent more than the income.
 Was that necessary?
 Sometimes it was necessary and sometimes it was profitable.
 But on the whole, it was not ne- eessary There were instances of mefiicieney, indifference and will ingness to allow someone to make more profit ill dealing with the county than good business would justify.
 No use now in citing instances. Most everybory can recall plenty of these. The Star has told of such a good many times.
 And, then, there always was an element in our county that made lots of money by keeping Polk coun- ty in debt That was the crowd and it has existed as long as the county indebtedness-that speculat- ed in the countys paper, bought it at all sorts of discounts, from to as high as 75 per cent and then ar ranged, by being "on the spot and on the inside" to cash it at par, or at great profit.
 But that crowd is out of job now and when a man serves his cOun- ty he can very soon go to Treasur- CT Anderson-thin of it, folks, go to tine county treasurer-and get 100 cents in pay for 100 cents in service. Pretty nice, isn't 1t?
 And, if things go right, when the cash on hand is exhausted, along next fall or winter, a farmer, labor CT. officer, printer or anybody who earns money by serving the county, and receives a warrant for same when the money is not ready for him, can register his warrant with Treasurer Anderson, and the first money that is paid into the Treasurer, perhaps from the sur plus fees of the county or circuit clerks offices, the first man regis tered can step up and get his money, and the next and the next, all in proper turn as registered. No cor poration or bank or scrip speculat- or or officer will have any stand in" or "pulr' by which he can get his money while the little fellow waits.
 Again. mighty fine, isn't it?
 Now, who did this?
 Welt, friends, there is one man, if we are to go to the bottom, that has done more of this than any other, or any dozen others.
 That man is your present County judgeA. E. Wear
 Judge Wear has fought your fight -has fought your despoilers- has fought the grafters and those who have grown fat by and thru keeping your county in debt. It has not been pleasant fight for Judge Wear, nor an easy one, but he has stuck by the job you gave him.
 Is it too much to suggest, Three Cheers for Judge Wear?
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 \ CALL TO THE NATION.