The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-22
For the Good of
 the Community

JEFFERSON county voters have auth J orized the expenditure of S5, ,000,0 900 in highway construction. A great deal more than that sum will be required to build all of the 1900 miles of highways in the county, but the success or failure of the work now authorized will have it's in- fluence when the voters are asked to pro- vide for additional road building.
 The voters will be called upon in May to elect five men who will have charge of the road building and the spending of the S5,000,000. They have expressed their determination to have good roads in the county It is now up to them to select the best available men to build the roads.
 There are about sixteen candidates Some of them have been in public life and therefore, the voters have line on their qualifications for the offices to which they aspire. Others are unknown, compara- lively.
 The five men to be elected should be se- lected by the voters not because of per sonalities, nor because of political affilia- tions, nor because of their associations or friendliness with or towards clique or set of men, Fitness for the office and the work to be performed, not sympathy for
 
 organizations should be the guide to pref erence when the voter goes to cast his bal lot.
 The character and business ability of the seeker after these five positions ought to control. If he is capable honest, and has the welfare of the county at heart, he is worthy of support. If he is not this he should never be put in office.
 Too often has church, or lodge, or other association, or connection, enabled to- tally unfit man to get into office. And the municipality or county or state has al ways been the sufferer. e ..- s.a sss
 Certain candidates for the board of revenue are said to have the endorsement of very strong organization. That does not of itself argue against their fit ness for the office. They may be the best qualified men and if so they ought to be elected
 On the contrary, if they are not the best men in the race the voters will do them selves an injustice by electing them The five elected will be the business represen- tatives of all the people of Jefferson coun- ty, not merely of the small percentage of the voters who elect them
 If their administration is failure the entire county will be the sufferer. If their administration is failure; if the S5,OOO,- 900 appropriated for highway construc- tion is wasted, it will be a long time before the voters will authorize any further ex- penditres for that purpose, and the county will continue to stick in the mud.
 Official connection with corporation, membership in church, or lodge, or a labor organization, is not sufficient ere dentials for public office holding More than that is required, or ought to be re- 'quired.
 Bossism has been denounced from the time the political boss was first known. Bossism by an organization or fraternity or a class of men is no less desirable, and no less detrimental to the community than is individual bossism
 The man who rides into office on the votes of certain elements, banded to- gether for the purpose of putting him in office, is blind to the duties of his office. He can only see that which his particular crowd wants regardless of whether it is the best thing for the community at large.
 The sixteen candidates for the board of Cbn111I b, %o c%o% T