The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-01-20
TOO LATE To
CLASSIFY
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


AS we approach another cleo
ton period we hear Fumors of
this or that individual becoming
a candidate for such and such an
office. The layman, concerned
with the business of living, re-
acts to these runblings in much
the same manner as he responds
to the familiar growl of distant
thunder that foretelIs the coming
of the storm
He knows that clear and peace
full skies sooE: viii be darkened
by heavy clouds; binding rain
viii dim visibility; the rumble of
thunder will increase, the light
ming viii flash, raw winds will
howl and there will be mud to
contend with.
The tendency on the part of
those of us who have no personal
axe to grind, who seek no office,
eovet no special privilege, ask no
favors but prefer to go about our
business as ordinary citizens, IS
to seek shelter and-as far as
possible-keep out of the political
storm.
No matter which way the wind
blows, we know it is pretty apt
to be cold one as far as we are
concerned. We prefer the warmth
of sincere friendship and the light
of Truth and we have learned
that these are usually lost in the
turmoil and torrent The Shiny
mud annoys US; the fog and sleet
blind us and make clear, sane
thinking a problem.
The pldeges and promises that
drop like driving rain from the
lips of eager office seekers we
know will disappear as the dew
when calm returns and the storm
has blow itself out.
We are asked to choose leaders
authorized to think and talk and
act for US in affairs of momen-
tous import. On a bit Of paper
the politicians refer to as The
Sacred Ballot" we are urged to
make a tiny cross-mark beside
this or that name.
To all but a pitiful few the
names appearing on those ballots
viii mean nothing. Listed there
are names of men you and / new
er met-some we have never even
heard of. Others, mayhap, we
have been permitted to gaze upon
from a distance as they waved
their arms and extolled their viz
tues upon stump.
Some of these names viii ap-
pear under the caption For
United States Stockholders be-
meath the heading For Con-
gress'', For Justice of the Su-
preme Court, For Railroad
Commission" and many other Of
fees
With the thunder clapping in
our ears, the driving rain beating
down upon US, the bitter winds
about us, ankle-deep in
gutter mud, we have little oppor-
tunity for thought and reflection. /
We want to get il over with and
as quickly as possible, so We
make our MARK and go our way.
Few of US stop to ponder over
what the marks we leave behind
Us really mean.
If instead of the familiar cap /
tons listed above that ballot car
ried above these names the fol-
lowing statement, a lot of folks |
would take more time and give /
more though to their marking:
Il. John Citizen, do hereby ap-
point those designated below to
act as my agents and clothe them
with full and complete authority
to regulate my life and that of
my family, determine what / shall
or shall not do under any and
all circumstances, restrict my ac-
Invites, mold my morals. share
my earnings, throw me IN jail.
send me 70 war, question me at
length on any subject. inspect my
books, require that I pay various
licenses. tax my income, determ-
inc my dole TO charity. provide
for my old age. educate my chill
dren. determine my needs. speci-
Is my hours Of labors-in short
place my welfare and that of my
children. present and future. in
their hands. without reservation
Of eQaivoeafion. and may God
haye nerry on ny soul'
Most Of Us would hesitate 20
grant such authority to one we
had known and respected and
trusted all our lives Certainly We
would want 20 know 3 lot more
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