Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-01-24
CITIZENS OF THE
STATE SHOULD
ANSWER DUTY'S CALL
At the Polls at Every Opportunity
and Save the State and Nation
from So Much Criticism.

Constable to Governor in the state,
and from members of Congress to
President in the Nation will be NOM
mated, and choosing men for all OF
these offices is thereafter limited to
those placed upon the ticket at this
time or the General Election in
November.
A moments consideration shows
that it is absolutely necessary to see
that candidates are placed in nomin-
ton who are fitted for these var
iuos positions of trust and honor. 1t
weak, crooked and inefficient men are
placea on both tickets at the May
Primary no amount of earnest en-
deayor, no sulking at home, no de-
punication of political trickery can
make amends for the CRIMINAL
NEGLIGENCE of good citizens, who
have permitted themselves to be led
into this hopeless situation. Now is
the time to prevent such dilemma,
and to make it possible by our Sc
lection of candidates for every citi-
zen to go to the polls on the 4th, day
of November, and cast his vote for
honest, efficient and faithful men for
every Office to be filled at that time:
The Practical Way to Do 1t
Begin with your constable and
magistrate; select the best men you
have in mind for each of these posi-
tions. Talk it over with your neigh
bors and friends, and when you have
decided CALL these persons into the
service of their country. The same
method should be used in a larger
way by our good citizens to get men
for the county and state offices. Most
men will answer the CALL of the
good citizens coming to them in this
way, and you will rescue public Of
fee from the selfish or designing
candidate, who seeks position forper-
sonal and political reason only, and
whose controlling motives are such
that make it impossible for him pro-
perly to discharge the duties of his
office. To crystalize this preliminary
work make list Of the officers from
constable to governor who will put
into practice your highest ideals of
government, and VINO love and res
pect the Constitution of The United
States, and who will themselves obey
the law they solemnly swear to en-
force Thus, your ticket will be made
up as though the whole responsible
ity of our government rested upon
you. Show this list to your frineds,
give it to your local paper, and thus
voice the highest ideals of America
citizenship. This is independent, con-
structive citizenship, but if you wait
until selfish interests and designing
politicians do this work for you in a
secret manner, before you exercise
your political influence for nominal
tions, your choice will be limited to
their choice, your will to their will,
and your vote to their vote.
But We are too Busy 30 NEEDLE in
Politics
Laborers, farmers, business and
professional men, may well say they
are too busy about their daily duties.
But can they say they are too busy
to give sufficient time to the duties
resting upon them as citizens to di-
rect and maintain this government,
which makes their business vocations
and their success in them Are we so
busy that we deliberately leave the
sacred things of American citizen
ship to the designing politician and
the INSCRIPTIONS Office seeker, whose
only interest and purpose is to get
gain from the spoils of Office?
The Lesson of 1922
The press reported that the fall
election of 1922 was held by fifty
five per cent fthe qualified citizens
Of this Nation voting. We are
about an average state. In the
primary, however, where the citizens
of either party voted These nom
nations in many instances were un-
satisfactory to mary of our most
substantial citizens. Put, THEY HAD
STAID AT HOME ard had permit
ed themeIves to be forced into stu
alton that could not be corrected in
the campaign or general election,
I'D tha will of the active minority
elected many inefficient officers, who
and would not have been placed in
control of the governr' mt had the
suffrage of our best citizens been
properly exercised. Will the lesson
Of 1922 go UNDECIDED? Or viii WE