Grant County Herald

A Word About the County Clerkship.
Contributed.

As a general proposition a county officer should be intelligent, industrious, painstaking, honest, and a man of good habits and good morals. He should be intelligent in order that he may fully understand the official duties devolving upon him; industrious in order that those duties may be promptly performed; painstaking in order that they may be properly performed; affable in order that people having business in his office may be assured of courteous treatment, and a man of good morals and good habits if for no other reason than to set an example to others. Experience adds greatly to his efficiency and should be considered one of his chief assets.

When any county has such qualities combined in one of its officials, it is sheer folly and poor business judgment to retire him from office simply because he has served two terms and because a foolish custom has in the past prescribed "two terms and out."

No farmer, merchant, banker or mechanic would think of discharging a man from his employ who had served him faithfully and had become proficient in his work on the ground that he had already been in his employ four years. As a business proposition he would prefer to keep him in his employ because of his superior training for the work he has to do.

Is not the county's business as important as the individual's? And, if so, why should not the same principles apply regarding hired help?

The present incumbent in the county clerk's office, C. E. Tuffley, makes an ideal officer. For the past four years he has been a faithful, efficient servant of the people. His past experience in the office is greatly to his advantage, and instead of being used as an argument against his re-election, should be one of the strongest arguments in his favor.

Can any one give good reason why Mr. Tuffley should not be retained in the office of county clerk?