Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-03-20
CITIZEN WRITES
OF CITY MATTERS

Complaint is made that there is
a reluctance on the part Of persons
VINO are qualified 10 fill the offices
of our town to accept the nomin
alton or rather, | suppose, to agree
to accept them. Is not this unwill
ingness, which is to be regretted,
largely the result of the fact that
every candidate. to be elected.
must come under the scrutiny OF a
political party. and at once he loses
the vote Of some Of his best friends
for no other reason than because of
his party Affiliations. If he comes
out Independently and on his person
al merits and does not say subject
to the action of this or that party
he has defeat for his patriotism no
matter how capable man lie may
be.
Why might not the citizens of
each ward get together and name
one man for their councilman
and assure him that if he will &C
jcapt, his character will not be be-
smirched nor will he be bounded
hy that disloyal element that often
&etermines the outcome Of an cleo
ton? Then he can go in withort
promises or obligation except TO %
his duty. Then il a policeman
brought UP fer trial for conduct
becoming an officer OF the law,
guilt Or innocence will not be
eided On strictly party lines bu
on the merits of the case ond
town will not be Inundated b
free of a trial and the mora
the force will be maintained.
| injecting politics into our mur
! II affairs We violate the rule
practice of every other businoa
| own where our individual me-
! + concerned.
The political bias of the party
power does not help muddy stree,
&Hd crossings nor enforce the La
boarding the clearing of the pave
ments Of snow. Nor does it make
6ighy cutters any less offensive and
dangerous 10 health in summer
time.
Another thing:-If we want to
improve the appearance of our
town | suggest that where our
streets are paved an opening be
side OF the street where shade
trees may be planted. Then if the
! property holders will so together
and order trees by the carload and,
say the Chamber OF Commerce or
the Farm Bureau supervise the
planting at the expense of the prop
crty holder and the trees are all
the same age and the same kind
ne appearance of the town will be
areatly improved. And IL these
Trees are trimmed up instead OF
down as is the custom of the town
and the people in front OF whose
property we see deformed stubs of
aes. can be induced to cut them
'oHn by the roots and replace
an with trees as proposed for the
reefs where there are no trees we
II see town with at least one
feature to be proud of
There are more unsightly rotten
'abs on one tree in MartinshurS
AN can be found on all the trees
e q dozen towns up N Yankeedom.
) tree that is trimmed severely
iii soon develop rot and for this
ftoa.On we do not have large and
lately trees in our town. In one
own in the north which I recall the
,.% required the planting Of trees
very twenty or thirty feet. Now
many OF them are very large AMI
stately with scarcely a leaf lower
than thirty Or forty feet from the
GROUND and nearly meeting in the
center Of the street. Let any one
take a look at the trees on some of
our streets with their detormed
and Haa ehtly tops OF rotten stubs