, 1874-12-03
THE MILWAUKEE DEFAULTEH

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The tlefalcation Of Edward Ehlers, the
County Tfoasnrer Of Milwaukee County, pre-
sents, in a nutshell, tile whole history Of off,
cial cmbe2zlements. It is tho better told be-
enuso it is so concise; that is, the amount il
small, tho term short, and tie succession of
the various steps toward tho inevitable result
perfectly plain. It may bc useful, therefore,
to give tho case something more than pass
ing consideration.
Ehlors WIS seloon-lteepor, nnd therefore
it may be safely assumed that he was q word
politician. "Faithful service" probably
built up a constituency. He had very likely
been a leading factor in the creation Of nu-
merous Constables, Aldermen, members Of
the Legislature, Mayors, etc., etc. At last
he camo to havo "elaims" Of his own. He
found his strikers Oh every side He remind
cd ono man TINT ho Ind procured so n,auy
votes for him; another Tint he had secured
him the nomination for such oil office; aud
tho party generally that he was power
among the hummer element. His fellow
saloon-kecpers in neighboring wards probably
assisted him in the work OF tfixing" the
primaries, and it is not unlikely that ho was
nominated with h1urah. Being grog-
seller aud ward politician, he un-
aerstooa the value Of money in MI elec-
tion. Having previously been in the attitude
Of receiver, llo now became dispenser
So tho first chapter in the story tells how l,o
raked and scroped together all the money ho
had, aud all he could borrow, aud put it
where !" it would do the most good" He
was elected, iurnished his bonds and was
sworn into Office. There are few men WHO
cannot furnish bonds to any necessary
amount to take an Office, and tho swearing-i11
process is tho simplest in the world. Thus
Alr. Saloon. Keeper Ehlers came into the pos
session Of I'll the county funds, md regarded
himself as personally enjoying tho wealth of
the Indies. ue began by rein,burxing him
self mud his friends for his campaign oxpens-
cs, paid over tho money lie had borrowed,
aud put his ho,tse--that is his ealoon-into
order. But the saloon-buaincss did not
prosper so we'll after Mr.. Ehlers went
into activo politics. As wielder of innuouce
and pockoter Of yotes, ho could command
patronage. As III oftice-holder, he was OK.
pected to dispense free liquor. He challsed
down accounts only to rub them out again.
Everything went smoothly enough, however,
Until his term Of Office drew towards its
termination. 1t then occurred to Mr.. EAlers
that Ao must either DO reelected or "turn
over" Not being in condition to turn oyer,
ho determined upon recollection. 10 this
emil no took some more Of tho county funds
end distributed it freely among lis rotainers.
But change hal come over his constit,i-
ency. His llsncl1nen proved unfatllful.
Tia voters took his money aud voted
for tle other man. SO, ono day,
Mr.. Ehlors woke up to find thnt
the wealth of the Indies hal Hut1leMly
vanished. The county, nnnindfnl OF his
eminent services, lleao leertleEs demand
for it's funds. 31r. Ehlsrs had nothing to do
but assig1l his aa1oon-br,ainess, in q declining
state, to Ills bonasnon, and throw himself
upon tho tender charity Of hia follow-oitizens,
with the strong conviction that his nisfor-
tunes" entitla him to the best considera-
tion.
Mr.. E.hlcn, cannot be exotaaed on account at
any Of tho wcalsnessaa aud temptations that
grow out Of porniciolas system. Tic must
answer for his personal oftcnse against tho
Law. But tho number OF Official Ehlers ie to
ba traced to tho eaWons system, Of whieh the
milwaukee, specimen is 4 shining Light. So
long as saloon-loepcrs and warl.bummers
hare "cltdms" which the party 3D.
mits, wo need not hopo to escape
the inevitable resulta. So long aa mon
pay out all tue money they hayo
aud all they can borrow to secure til election,
we may expect that they will reimburse thou1~
selves out Of tho public funds which are so
put into their ltanda. II, then, the
Is bad, moro money must ho
forthcoming to secure ro.olection. II the
project Of re-eleotiou miscarry, tho public
must pocket tho losa. Ehlers IL an op!tomo
Of thu whole systam ot otflclal dafalaatlon.
Il may diGor IN minor particulars In differ.