Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1902 — IT’S THE PUBLIC’S BUSINESS. [ARTICLE]

IT’S THE PUBLIC’S BUSINESS.

An exchange makes the following pertinent remarks concerning the false sentiment that prevails to some extent that the personal character and habits of a candidate for public office should be exempt from discussion, consideration or criticism by political opponents, and asks why such an exemption is desired or necessary: “The candidate whose personal character and habits are clean has no object in preventing their consideration, certainly. Then we are up to the unavoidable conclusion that it is the man whose habits and character are such as to bring reproach upon himself and his party who is interested in perpetuating the old fallacy that a candidate’s personal character should not be taken into consideration in a campaign. No more harmful or demoralizing sentiment could prevail. The habits and character of the candidate, as a matter of fact, determine his fitness for the office he seeks, and the men whoso support he asks have a perfoct right to know all about him, If he is intemperate, a gambler, or dishonest in his private life it is certainly important that the voters should know it in order that they may prevent its being carried into their official affairs. No man has a right to ask for n position of trust whose character and habits will notstaud a most searching investigation, and no party should place such a man on its ticket. Tt it does it should not comylain if a truthful statement of the facts is made by an opponent. It is high time this false sentiment which shields a man from deserved conderunaion be relegated to oblivion,”