The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-12-28

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Intentionally been unrecorded in the
public prints should be recorded. 80
all may know the facts and false and
unfounded charges may be dissipatcd
In the light 81 accurate information.
A an illustration, there was wide
interest IN the prices paid for the
fifty-four million pounds Of tobacco
purchased from the association by
Mr. Kirk. !, was entirely reasonable
and proper for the officers Of the as
ISOLATION "a make no announcement
Of these pr.~s tira, could by any
chance lead 10 false hopes or ex-
travagant anticipation But accord
ing 10 report Il has been some weeks
since that transaction was closed. the
tobacco delivered and paid for. In
our judgment every member o. the
association and every resident Of the
hurley belt had a right To know what
were the prices paid and what would
be the approximate amount for dis
tribution ~ quickly as the officers Of
the association had that information.
Tsc association Ia not only founded
onthe basis Of democracy in which
each individual has equal voice with
every other individual. but Il IL found
ed on the principle o. community
interest, and the chief plea for is
organization was that every class was
interested and would benefit through
lis successful operation.
n personal reference may be per-
Missile. we realized fully that the or
ganization ~ the association meant
direct curtailment OF the advertis-
ing revenue Of The Herald. With the
tobacco warehouses in competition.
The Herald could count on advertis-
ing patronage during the selling sea-
son 20 the extent Of thousands Of dol
lars With the association in control
Of all the warehouses. there would. Of
course. be'no such revenue. The
merchants Of Lexington and Of every
town in which there was a loose leaf
market realized tina, there would be
cur,Ailment 81 retail trade during
what had been the congcsted season
for the sale of the whole crop.
But the merchants and The Herald.
accepting and adopting the plea tina,
the association is in essence. a COM
munity organization. aided in every
way possible TO bring il into life and
20 make IL a success. and the bankers
Of the Blue Grass also rendered most
notable service. Every banker. ev-
cry merchant. whether in city or at
a eros. roads. every contractor, every
business man. has an interest 20 know
quickly the amount ~ money receiv-
ed by the association. the amount Of
debt that the association owed. and
the amount. therefore. that will be-
distributed 10 the growers. II Is not.
IN cur judgment. either wise or prop
er Tor there 10 be any further rcten-
tion Of that knowledge By the officers
Of the association beyond the day
they knew accurately the amount that
viii be distributed.
There are other incidental matters
which We believe should be made pub.
lie. II our view Of the function. the
spirit and the future Of the associ.
alton u correct. The association is,
In our Judgment. founded on the pos
tulate. and it, future depends on the
assumption. that IL will secure the ser j
vices of the very best men whose ser
vices can be purchased for every po-
sition from the most modestly paid
employe TO the highest Salssied Of
ficer 1t should not be question
Of price but question Of efficiency
and Of service rendered. and there Is
no justification for the employment
Of any man in any position. high or
low, except that he is the very best
man that can be employed. In our
opinion, no public officer Is more re-
sponsible for the future comfort. eul-
iure and happiness o. the barley belt
than the officers Of the Burnley As
soeistion. II We be correct. each
and every one o. them occupies dual ]
position that o. AN officer Of the J
association. and ~ a servant OF the
people upon whose supper. the success
o. the association depends. We
therefore think i not only wise but
incumbent upon the officers o. the
association 70 have Il a matter Of az
general knowledge as Il is in regard
to public officers, who are the Of
fcers. why they are chosen, and the
wages or salaries paid TO them.
= may BE- that meAy will differ with
Us I, may be Of course. that We are
In error. But We believe every mat
ter affecting the association that can
be made public without injustice TO
others or injury TO the association.
should be made public.