The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-02-13


will receive courtesy, and intelli-
gent treatment while asking for
information and directions. Our
policeman is our first and best
salesman of good will. One who is
illiterate, ignorant, boorish, dis
courteous or overbearing, immed-
lately drives away friends and
condemns our people and our coun-
ty. From this treatment visitors
will be led to spare no effort in
spreading the bad word and doing
all of US inestimable damage.
AS time goes on, you gentle
men may find some offices are in
sufficiently, improperly or incom-
pentently stated, making the cost
to the people more than it ought
to be. You may find duplication of
effort, lack of adequate accounting
methods and other things that will
cry for changes, but these cannot
be made should we lack the vision
and courage to make them. There
may be several problems now,
about which none of US know what
to do, but we can learn from i'm
partial sources. We must call on
competent accountants; we will
not take advice from interested
parties, or. allow ourselves to be
swayed by those whose personal
interests may be affected by our
decisions. This further points up
the need for demanding monthly
reports from all officials who are
due to make them.
Be On Watch For Traps
There will be many devices en-
ployed to delay or to discount our
efforts, many claims made, and
some falsehoods circulated about
us. When we appoint new person
mel, some disappointed people out
of stupidity and Illustration will
brand our choices as "Republi-
cans" and various other things
calculated to bestir the popular
prejudice. l say Gentlemen, no
man is more loyal, or devoted
Democrat than l, nor with bet
ter party record. But / am not
afraid of any other person who
calls himself democrat, nor of
any group who call themselves
Democrats" for / have found
that those who cry loudest in
hope of discounting the worth of
some person who has been chosen
for public service, on close scru-
tiny is usually found to be one
who, while living a. long time on
our party's benefits has contribut-
ed little in time, money or effort
for the advancement of the party
which feeds him. l say boldly, let
it be our policy when possible to
appoint Democrats to office for
the credit of our party and to ex-
pect them to live and act credita-
bly,. But we cannot shut our eyes
to the fact that among our ablest
and most loyal citizens are many,
who out of respect for the tradi-
tons of their parents, continue to
call themselves Republicans. Mel
Their our party, nor any other en-
braces all the smart and good peo-
pie, and it is our responsibility to
so conduct this county's affairs
that our good works will convince
any and all of the worth of join
ing our party's ranks. We are here
to serve people of all parties fair
ly, impartially and efficiently
without discrimination in the quail
ity of this service. We will find
need for the ability and judgment
of people of all parties, and l say,
when they wish to serve our coun-
ty let us welcome them, and be
grateful for whatever they are
willing to do to make Dare County
what we hope to see it become
the "best-off" county in the Car
DINA coastland.
You men are so much younger
than / that you yet have time, by
serving the people we'll to go
long way in politics if you choose.
You may never do it however, if
you allow personal gain to come
ahead of the welfare of the whole
people. / believe none of you will
accept this grave responsibility as
primarily a stepping stone to a
further political career. l have no
desire for holding public office. 1t
is a costly pleasure. Every day /
spend at these board meetings
will cost two other days of my
time in the various conferences
and study that will arise there
from and all of you must yield
similar sacrifice of time. But there
will be "a profound satisfaction at
the end of two years if our hearts
assure us that we have done our
best and our eyes see improve
ments that have come from our
efforts in this office.
| think of no better guerdon to
project as our goal than that re-
ward told of in the parable of the
talents. We have been left with
something of value-in trust for
-. ..u...I. T.. 49,. ,.o.~~., o-I 1,,n,.