The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1954-02-04
7 he journal !
NJ all Bag
Dear Editors:
Caldwell, Ohio
Feb. 2, 1854

last March. Since its beginning
in 1851, when the county seat
was at Sarahsville, this county
has always had a full quota of
officers as have the other coun-
ties. The Governor was expected
to fill this vacancy as the law
provides but shortly it was an
nounced in a local paper that
the governor was to conduct an
experiment" in our county by
combining the two courts. Since
that time our Common Pleas
Judge has been required to at
tend to the duties of the Probate
Court. Only with the help of a
very efficient deputy has this
been possible at all as this office
requires full time for both a
judge and deputy. If this COM
bining is good we may soon hear
Of an attempt to combine all the
other offices. Where would it
stop? Is it better to combine
power and management and hire
more deputies? This is just more
centralization. Our form of
government was designed by
men who studied and knew the
experience of the ages and they
scattered the power.
A few years ago some outside
forces were discussing the doing
away with Noble County and
dividing it up among the counties
from which it came one hundred
years ago. Do We want this?
What would become of our pro-
perty values? Our citizens rallied
to the support of a new Court
House of which we are now very
proud and that movement was
"nipped in the bud". Now is this
present action the first step in
dissolving our county and county
seat? Can we afford to do this?
Why cannot Noble County run
its own affairs?
AS for myself, l was contacted
on several occasions to go on the
ticket for both the judicial Of
fices, at different times, but re-
fused because We already had
judges on both benches. This
year one was vacant and l was
again approached and urged to
accept the nomination for Pro-
bate Judge. There was no op-
position. My petitions were cir
culated by committeeman and
myself. Soon after this petitions
were circulated to bring about a
vote to do away with this office
entirely and require the Common
Pleas Judge to perform the du-
ties of both offices permanently.
l believe that, going on ticket
for an office which might be va
Gated would be ridiculous, and
if / fought to prevent the joining
of the two offices it would ap-
pear as a fight for self interest
entirely. So with the sanction
of those who realized my position
l decided to be a candidate for
the office of Judge of the Court
of Common Pleas and have cir
culated petitions for that office
instead. There was no alterna-
tive. I will be on the ticket in
November for the office of Com
mon Pleas Judge and from this
vantage point will be in position
to fight uniting of the offices. If
elected / do not want to also as
sumo the numerous affairs of the
Probate Court, even though ii
would make the pay $8400.00 by
adding an additional 100000 to
the regular salary of $4,000 |
believe it will be one mans job
to properly take care of the up
per court. Any county needs two
Judges for one can not always
be available and the duties are
unrelated.
Please do not sign the petition
to combine these two offices.
believe it is a step backward
You may not hear much of il
for quite a while as many cit
izenS have been aroused by
these petitions and are fighting
it as l am fighting it but it will
quite likely raise its head agair
as it need not be filed until Aug
ust 4, and if it should get on the
ballot consider we'll and care
fully before voting to start oul
county backwards. This has tho
appearance of a slap in the face
as if our county was fading ou'
when in truth the opposite is the
i fact. Never has it had so brigh
future. With the coming of in
dustry to this and surrounding
| communities and the valuable
services of very active Cham
Der of Commerce and excellen
newspapers, capitalists are in
vesting in property here as never
before. This is the best sign o
the trend.
Our county occupies the eXac
central part as well as the mos
beautiful of Southeastern Ohi'
and the word is widely circulat
ed that its future is assured anc
that Southeastern Ohio is deS
tined to be a second Pittsburgh
only more modern. Already near
ly every industrial site on thu
! Ohio River has been bought ul