The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-10-08
EFFICIENCY or CHARITY?

II 10 uSplordDle IilaC Sucn an eX
preston as that contained in the Hun
terdon Democrat last week should ge
into print. An editorial arguing again
st Mr.. Higgins candidacy for a secone
term for County Clerk, says in part
I'VE would have wished that he wer,
satisfied with a generous and boun
tiful meal at the public crib"
1t is deplorable for the editor of tn,
Democrat that he should have thu.
revealed mis- personal opinion of the
serious responsibility of public office
1t is deplorable for the Democratic
party that one of its adherents shoulc
have have thus confirmed the argu
ment already being used against it.
i. e. that the Democratic bosses are
trying to monopolize office in order
that they may be rendered to its fav
orites
The people will not be slow to SEE
this. And they are no longer content
to be herded like sheep and voted "er
mass" simply because bosses of the
party demand it.
Another serious blunder made un.
Willingly, no doubt, in this editorial
was the statement: "Mr. Higgins has
been fortunate in having an efficient
and willing deputy" The writer neg
lected to add that this deputy is a Re.
publican, and that he would be imme.
diately ousted if the Democratic nom.
inee should be elected.
And so after all it is practically adj
mitted that the Democratic party is
viewing this gravely important office
as "pulm"(" a bountiful meal at the
public crib") to be held out tempting
ly to those of the Democratic party
who will "be good" The time has
passed when such twaddle will be gull
libby swallowed by free thinking peo-
pie. 1t is pure and simple reasoning
that when the "unwritten law" that
no office is to be held more than one
term is promulgated, it will lead the
office holder to wanton neglect and
Indifference to his duties He would
know that because there were no OPP
portunity for reelection that there is
no come back" against him.
When Mr.. Higgins went into office
he found an accumulation of literally
hundreds of deeds and mortgages had
had lain for years in the Clerks of
flee. When this fact was made known
to the writer, the Clerks office was
Immediately gotten in touch with and
the question was asked What condit-
ion is the Office in at present ?" The
answer was invitation to visit them
and see in person. Only such deeds and
other legal papers would be found un-
finished as were in the process of at.
tention. Perhaps you would say: "O1
course Mr.. Higgins would have the of
flee in good shape now that he is seek
ing reelection! And that is just the
point! The very fact that a man car
expect reelection is what will drive
him to honest effort and conscientiou.
work!
If Mr.. Higgins has an unusually
efficient and willing" deputy, ther
that IS all the more credit to him. A
mans ability must not only consist il
ability to do things, but also in ability
IN picking his men. Charles Schwab
the great steel magnat, has demon
strated the wisdom of this in the man
agement of one of the biggest firm:
IN the world. He repeatedly pays tri
butte to the army of lieutenants who
have worked under him. Mr.. Higgin.
is Indirectly paid a tribute by the
Democrat when they give credit to thu
Deputy Clerk. But the Democrats O.
course would discharge this man. l.
it expected that they can pick another
so capable?
This aforementioned editorial ais,
pays wonderful tribute to Mr.. Hig
gins in its enumeration of the multi
plicity of duties attended by him out
side the County Clerks office. o.
course he would have to be super
MANI fn T-ao1lxy dn Ill Al
ltorlal says SO anyway. Every con
nection Mr.. Higgins has outside is o:
intense value to the legal work tina
devolver upon the County Clerk. H,
is intimate with business methods
Facts and figures and transaction!
are tools in his hands; He carries t.
office the crystaliZation of valuable
experience. And even though his rea
activities are not fraction of what i:
credited him by the (which
by the way are beyond human posi-
bility) still they are of the nature to
insure his supporters of a wide-awake
man on the job.
The writer is honestly amazed at
the argument, pro and con, about a
second term. Nowhere else, in politics
or business, has such blinded view
been encountered. When a man makes
good in business his salary is increas-
ed. They do not fire him. And in these
days of big business it is becoming in
creasingly difficult to secure capable
men for public office. Simply because
the men who are able to give the best
results can always make more in pri-
vate industry The voters of Hunter
don County are fortunate in having
the opportunity to retain a man with
the honest ability possessed by Mr..
Higgins.
The County Clerk in Hudson County
has served two terms. Does the Dem
ocrat know that Hudson County is
Democratic? The Surrogateship in
that county has also been held two
terms by two different men. Middle
sex County has record of one clerk
for three terms fifteen years. Does
the Democrat know that Middlesex is
Democratic? They have also had a
surrogate for five terms twenty five
years. Monmouth County has had a
clerk for five terms just twenty five
years. Does the Democrat know that
this is Democratic County? Does
the Democrat speak for its party in
repudiating a principle the same par
ty has supported in state and national
politics? Is the Democrat conscious of
it's inconsistency? Does the Democrat
think that education and enlighten-
ment has not opened the eyes of the
average voter sothat he can see for
himself or herself?
And that leads US to say that the
new army of voters so newly given
IL