The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-01-09
INSPIRATION, ENCOURAGING
COME FROM MANY LETTERS
hA VICTOR MEEkINS

public life he begins to receive
many expressions of opinions from
those who either agree or disagree
with him. AS a rule, those who
agree with him are merely con-
tent, and say nothing, and their
letters or verbal opinions are not
so much manifest as are those who
disagree. Once in a while letter
comes which offers impartial adj
vice, and it is from one of these
letters from a citizen nearby that
/ quote, the name being omitted
to save possible embarrassment.
| 81 am moved at this time of
year to offer few observations
which may or may not be of ben
eft to you at this time of the
year, and when you are embarking
on a program which the people of
Dare County hope will be of
much benefit to us all. 1t was plain
to everybody that the people of
Dare County by big majority
showed they wanted change and
in the election you men won. The
people had no choice; it was eth
er to elect the old crowd, or to
elect you who won; there were no
other candidates. The people evil
IDENTIFY considered the group NOW
in office could be no worse than
the old ones, and the risk worth
while.
at was apparent in the election
the people disliked the way things
had been run a long time, and that
we want more than we have been
getting for our money. If there
are any changes for improvement
to be expected then your Board
has got to make them. If there is
any betterment to be hoped for,
then your Commissioners have got
to stop doing the same way that
has been done all along, and you
have got to take complete control
from those who have continually
persisted in doing, or not doing,
for many years. 1t is plain that
the people want the old methods
stopped.
"Now the question that comes
to our minds is how long you men
are going to keep up an interest
in doing the job you were selected
to do, or will you soon lean back
and allow the same old crowd to
keep on doing as they have been
doing?
"This much you may as well
realize. The primary didn't do the
job. You have got to do it. And if
you fellows don't stay ON the ball,
the same old gang is going to
take it away from you; perhaps
they have never let it go. You are
going to find many schemes laid
to divide the board and get them
against one another. Inducements
and rewards or benefits to them
selves or their families will be Of
fered them. Pressure will be
brought on them.
"There are many people who
have always considered it fair
game to get on the county payroll,
regardless of how little they do
for the pay. There are people of
course, who feel that it is all right
to vote for someone they hope will
give them a job. In short, they
are selling their vote. Such peo-
pie will demand a job be given
them on the ground they support
ed this or that candidate
"Now you can take this piece
of advice or not, as you wish, but
you will find the people want
some Improvements, and they will
expect and demand them, and if
your Board doesn't produce them
in reasonable time, they'll turn
against you just as strong as they
turned against the old crowd. The
people had been hoping long
time that somebody would run,
but we have too many towards.
They just felt that the political
ring could defeat anybody. The
election showed how little respect
and influence the ring has when
it is put to a test. We have long
been sick of the business of pick
ing the county clean for the bene-
fit of few people. We want men
who have enough nerve to do
their duty, who are not too lazy
to earn their pay, and who have
sufficient self-respect to wish TO
live in a county that can hold up its
head in pride. You men start off
with our good wishes and the
hope that you will be the men to
prove leaders worthy of this great
undertaking."
Another letter is from a cher
ished old friend. He says he has
been praying for the success of
myself and others. Now who is
there who can discount the worth
of someone's prayers. We have
had some measure Of success, and
apparently there are many
changes of spirit. This letter is
from the Rev. Louis d. Hayman,
NH-AI