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

backbone. We will need also the
help and the support of numerous
people throughout this county. Let
US seriously go about the business
of enlisting sufficient men of the
kind needed to do the Job. Let us
put down the groundwork this
year. Let our leadership be of such
high order that many others will
gladly, helpfully aid us.
A patriotic group of MEN OF
SPINE in FIFTY NINE can get
Dare County on the right road. 1t
has many things, which under
right management can combine to
make it one of the richest counties
of the whole coastland, with great
er opportunities for the enrich
ment and happiness of all our
people. 1 am happy to be one of
this group of five men. Some of
you have had advantages beyond
mine: in formal education, in bus
mess success, in travel across the
world. My contribution may be
only that / have had knowledge
and experience to learn some con-
ditions and people, and the things
that motivate them. Through in
sight thus gained, may be able
at the outset to see some things
first, which if not guarded against
would be pitfalls and bait to lead
you astray and out on a limb. |
hope, when demands are made
upon us for sudden decisions about
which we are not sufficiently in
| formed that we will make haste
slowly; that we will take time for
careful consideration before taking
action.
Bring Affairs Back to People
I believe our greatest immed-
late task is to steer the govern
ment of the county back closer to
its people. 1t has become too much
centralized in the hands of few.
We must spread out representa-
ton until each precinct has a
large and vital part in public af-
fairs. We need to dispense with
double-office holding; we should
never allow one man to hold two
jobs within the realm of county
government. We must make the
management of public affairs re-
sponsive to the will of the people
who own this county and who
have the right to order its af-
fairs. Control should not remain
in the hands of a few persons, or
select group. We must guard
against the efforts of all who
would defeat a modern program
for the county's betterment.
knew before the primary you
would pass the craftsmanship on
to me, for l had heard sufficient
expressions from the people to
conclude they would make their
wishes felt and consequently l did
not approach any of you to ask
your support, nor did | ask any
others persons to appeal to you to
make me chairman. If being chair
man is an honor, it is therefore
one given to me by the people as
a whole, and | should not take it
lightly, nor attempt to abuse it.
You will find some people who not
having been our supporters will
Immediately seek to create dissen-
sions, to divide and split US up if
possible, as means of gaining
ends not for the good of the coun-
ty. Some will tell you that will
control the. Board, or try it any
way. This you should receive as
an insult, a reflection on your
character and integrity. Each of
you know you will do your own
thinking. / know too that you will
strive to do your best for the BEN
eft of Dare County. You will
IIldhc yOuT OWu uSClSioito, ohait
not try to dictate nor demand a
course of action, and l believe you
will get your information from
the people themselves and act on
the basis of majority opinion. For
my part, / shall deeply resent it
when / am told ! can control this
board, or that / am expected by
some person or some group to
make a decision which l believe
cannot be in the public interest. l
shall resent this, and any other
insults to your intelligence or
your integrity, having absolute
faith, in your desire to carry out
what was unmistakbly expressed
in the Primary as the win of the
people of Dare County. The vote
said plainly they want a change
from the old system, or lack OF
system; they want change OF
control: they want more for their