Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-02-26

SauCuScS Ill tHc ISL WaTu, AT the Court
House; I'd Ward, at Holdridge's office; 3D.
Ward, at Clarkc's drug store, and the 4th
Ward, at Lake & Harmon's office, will
also be held tonight Immediately follow
ing the city caucus.
Let there be general turnout, and good
nominations.
THE Conservative, referring to our state
ment last week, that the people of indie
pendence demand Il change of NUM-
cipal administration in the interests of law
and order, says:
The people would like change, says
the BULLETIN. There is Handy, City
Marshal; Bruckart, City Solicitor; George
Warne, City Treasurer; Thos Sherwood,
City Assessor; Gates, City Night Watch,
all Republicans, and majority of the
Council are of the same faith; and let us
say these offices were all filled by the Re
publicans Now, us the BULLETIN thinks
there should be Il change, let it come out
and assist in electing an independent Citi
liens ticket. If it is honest and so terri
bly, set against the present government as
it pretends to be, it will most assurcdly do
this.
Without the courage to assert it boldly
the, Conservative intends to insinuate
above that the Republican city officials
named are in some degree responsible for
the lax and inefficient enforcement of the
ordinances that now disgraces our city
Let us examine the record The City
Treasurer and Assessor, having no sort of
authority or responsibility for the enforce
ment of law, may be left on: of the dis
cussion. Our neighbor dare not say that
they have not performed every duty re-
quired of them faithfully and well. The
City Solicitor is required to prosecute all
suits brought by tie proper authorities in
behalf of the city He also has done his
whole duty and stands ready to meet
every responsibility imposed upon him by
law. There remains the City Marshal
and Night Watch, and as these are APP
pointed officers, and the question of their
fitness has no bearing upon the coming
election, we might leave them out of the
discussion also. But we do not propose
to dodge the issue in any shape. If the
Democratic Mayor the chief executive
officer of our city, who practically has
control and direction of Marshal and
Night Watch, had shown disposition
to meet his responsibilities half as faith
fully and well as those officers we should
not have had reason to complain of the
defiance Of law and Wholesome regulation
now existing Last spring, shortly after
the passage of the ordinance fixing saloon
licenses, and prescribing rules for the
government of such places, Marshal Handy
in pursuance of his duty, arrested the
prOprietOrs of two saloons near the depot,
for keeping open and vending drinks on
Sunday, contrary to the ordinance. The
penalty fixed in the ordinance is fine not
exceeding 500 and the forfeiture of their
license. The charge was fully proved,
and the parties convicted. Now, what
was the penalty imposed by our Demo
cratic Mayor. Just 81 and costs each,
and the offenders were suffered to retain
their licenses, contrary to the plain word
ing of the ordinance. What encourage
ment is there for the Marshal to be vigi
liant and watchful, in this lenient and I'M
lawful judgment. Again. the fact is no
torious that our Democratic Mayor has
not only winked at violation Of the
ordinances but has interposed his au
thority to prevent their enforcement
The law requires that saloons shall be
closed at 10 O'Clock P. NJ. Mr. Gates, the
night Waterman, has desired to enforce
this regulation to the letter, but has been
directed by our Democratic Mayor not TO
close the saloons at 10 o'clock if they are
quiet. Here we have the spectacle Of the
chief officer of the city, whose duty 1t is
to see the laws executed, stepping in with
the weight of his authority to obs,ruct
them, and this in the interest of Il o;e
sinks of iniquity, from whence come all
the crimes that atllict the community
We need only refer to Tom Ryan, selling
whisky without license the proofs neces.
sary to punish him and break up his den
taken down from his own lips by the hand
of our Democratic Mayor, and yet he is
not disturbed. Prominent Democrats do
not hesitate to aver that the attention of
the Mayor has been repeatedly called to
the vile gambling hells in full blast in our
midst, one of them an important attach
ment to the principal, and par 'rcellence
the decent saloon Of our city. Yet our
Democratic Mayor makes no move to
abate these disreputable haunts.
With this disgraceful laxity of admins
tration-to call it by no harsher name
in view, is it strange that the friends of
law and order demand Il change? Is it
not time that the whisky dens that infest
our city, demorallzing our youth and
spreading misery, crime, suffering and
death, shall be deprived of the fostering,
nurturing care of the municipal authority?
The Republican party of this city goes
into the fight this year under the banner
of enforcement of the ordinances in
their letter and spirit, without fear Or favor.
Those who desire this consummation
should rally to the the support of its
nominees, who will be pledged to do their