The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-09-16
JOHNSON COUNTY
THE AFFAIRS OF THE COUNTY
IN A BAD SHAPE
AN INVE sTiGATION THAT HAS
UNCOVERED CORRUPTION.

VIENNA, III, September II, 1874
Tho people Of johnson county are ex.
citei. Some are jutiinut, some are indig-
uSnt, and some are crest!silen- but all are
excited.
} With the exception Of Macoupin, prob
ably no county ia tho state has been sub
I jec.sd TO such high handed robbery and
/ Wholesale gougin, a. johnson. Seven
| years ago, ten thousand dollars exceeded
tho entire indebtedness Of the county,
and taxes we're but nominal. To-day its
indebtedness is nearly two hundred ihou-
sand dollars, and taxes are exorbitant. a
part Of that indebtedness has been hon.
estly contracted, but the great bulk Of it
has been forced upon the people fraulu-
lently and in total disfegtat Of their rights
and protest. a ring composed Of the
leaders Of the Republican party in this
county, ring as interruptions and
thievish Ms tho Mtroupin county ring has
done he job. Tho county, being largely
Republicans, these ring fellows Lave, with
m occasional exception, controlled every
Office in the county ever since The close Of
the war. Prowling around our county
courts like hungry wolves, they have sue
ceeded in pushing through every scheme
they have attempted, however nefarious
! it might DO. A murmur Of discomfort has
been heard among tho farmers Of the
county for some months, and a few weeks
ago it broke out IN demand for an inyes-
| tigation into the financial concerns Of the
county. The board Of supervisors APP
pointed = committee for that purpose and,
notwithstanding every possible obstacle
has been thrown in their way, they have
pursued the investigation with vigor, de-
termination and affect. They have COM
pleled thoir work, ana snore sbominable
showing has seldom been made agsin-t an
officer Of trust than against those officers
who have been the tools OF this villkinou.
Republican ring. Contracts lc. ut eIhor-
bitant prices-county orders Issued two
three, and in some instauoes four times
covering the same claim Sherihs dslin'
quent-one TO the Insignificant amount OF
STA, 900 help TO make up the iniquitou
record. This investigation has crisshsC
the poic,r Of the ring. II has completely
Knocked the scales from the eyes O
those men who havs bhadly adhered Il
: the policy OF the Republican party, anC
voted for the candidates Of the ring il
. this county merely because they were 10
o psblicans. The ring has carried lts las
election. It's present candidate for sheriff
who was elected 20 that ot.ico two year
ago by majority Of one thousand owe
the Democratic candidate, will be dc
20 !rsted this fall hy an overwhelming major
4 ity. Our county has been under town
n ship Organization for nearly two years.
g nav thing and not easily understood, on
n people soon became dissatisfied with it
Unable 20 control the board Of sUpervIs
ors (nino IN number) - they had u,
county court, the ring follows BEGAN
e mos: bitterly opposed 10 It. 80 sGJr
La- been spArsd to prej liias the minds O
g. he people against IL, and It wAs general
'r believed it would be voted down this iAi
:, oy a large majority. Blu! this inyesdgs
vs ton Las wrought u q.ols change in IL
a. sentiment Of the people. They 800 in til
y present system the only sI''guarl agains
the outrageous corruption and pluuderin
\ that he. so involved our county and II
y creased taxation. NATHAN.