Milford chronicle., 1918-02-08

WE HAVE BEEN subjected TO the
charge that our criticisms Of the
Democratic Levy Court have not thC
basis OF fact, and are the workings oi
a partisan mind. Such criticisms are
to be expected. That our feelings
have changed from those of disap-
pointment to disgust, we have not
tried to deny; but. this change has
not been due to the disappointment
such as politicians experience, but be-
cause we hold that the question of
proper business management OF the
County in which we are so deeply in
terested is superior. in every way, to
politics; because we have fought for
years in the endeavor to have pro-
vided system OF government under
which petty politics could not thrive,
and because, when such system, after
years of effort, had been provided, the
labor has been lost for the lack of
moral courage on the part of one man.
How the Levy Court. under the
leadership Of Mr. Valiant, lost the
confidence Of the people Of this Coun-
ty is an interesting story.
A year ago, upon the organization
of the new Levy Court, the frst con-
test was over the selection Of its legal
adviser. Mr. Holloway desired to see
honored his friend Mr. Tunnel, Chair
man of the Democratic County Com
mittee Mr. Valiant opposed Mr..
Tunnel ON the ground that Mr.. Tun-
nell was too closely identified with
politics, and desired to see F. NJ. Jones
Esquire. attorney for the Levy Court,
Mr.. Jones being also the close per-
sonal friend and counsel of Mr.. Val
liant.
Thus the contest started, the Chair
man of the Democratic Committee, in
auential in Democratic politics, on the
one hand, and Mr. Jones, almost al
ways outside the Democratic breast
works, on the other hand.
This was the first opportunity the
public had to estimate Mr.. Valiant,
and to compare his campaign pledges
with his actions. He fought deter
for Mr.. Jones, and always on
the ground that he did not want the
ldOr OF politics about the Levy Court,
md with the vote of Mr.. Mustard, he
was elected, and thereby Mr. Valiant
gained great credit with those per-
ions who believed him honest in his
pledges and fearless in carrying them
,ut
The next appointments were the !
MEMBERS of the Assessment Board.
t was admitted that Governor Miller t
lad set a high standard. and every
ne expected Mr.. Valiant to insist
pom maintaining that standard. 1t
eaked out that Messrs. Valiant and |
not having consulted their t
epublican colleague, asked Robert {
!. Houston, Esquire, of Georgetown, I
lawyer of standing and ability, and 7
he leader OF the Progressive forces /
/ Sussex, to accept one of the places S
the minority appointment should be d
llotted to the Ninth District Il j
GEMS that Mr.. Valiant was the il
pokesman at the interview, but that I
Ir. Holloway did not dissent. After II
Mr.. Houston agreed to d
ccept, and Mr. Mustard after learn b
lg, to his surprise that such offer had b
cen made to Mr. Houston, heartily c
oncurred. But, and again but. when t,
lie balloting began, Mr.. Houston was o
le one man whom Mr. Valiant re- v
lsed to vote for p
Mr.. Holloway defended himself on "
le ground that he had not promised p
n. Houston, nor had he committed n
msef in any way at that famous in Y
rview, that he had simply gone to k