, 1877-09-02
THE FALL ELECTION.

OLueE A6 utl3 DeeH TcmAfEeu D6lOIo, 6LeTu0
vigilance is the price of liberty. While
some silly people are still quarreling ovel
the issue of tho Presidential election, pru
dent people hereabouts will rnther turn thei
attention to the local election which occur
this fall. To the people of Cook Count,
the approaching election is more directly
+ and personally important than any Presiden
tial election, since it involves the e1pendi-
turo OF the funds raised by county taxation
the safe-keeping of those funds, aud the
administration Of public justice. There are
to be elected five County Commissioners,
County Clerk, County Treasurer, County
Judge, Probate Judge, a Judge of the Su-
perior Court, Probate Clerk, and
Clerk of the Criminal Court; and the
politicians have lad their eyes on pretty
| much all these Offices for several months.
It is tina the people began to think of them,
too. Wo do not desire now to suggest any
names in connection with the different
places, but to point ont the relative impor-
tance Of the Offices, and set the people think
ing for themselves
The most important of all the officers to
be chosen are the five County Commission
ers. They constitute the County Legsla-
ture. Since the State Legislature last win
ter refused to give Chicago and Cook County
| any Immediate or adequate relief from the
present County Ring, the only escape from
| condition of things which constantly
threatens plunder is in the choice OF five
| men whose personal honesty cannot be
called in question. The Commissioners
whose terms expire this fall are GuES-
| THEIR, from the country; SCHMIDT and
MCCARTNEY, from tho North Division and
HOLDEN and CARROLL, from the West Di-
| vision. We understand that GuENrHER will
refuse to be a candidate, aud no observing
person can doubt that oil the others ought to
be defeated, if they shall attempt to prolong
their official career. Only one is to be elected
from the country; the other four are to be
taken from the city but We presume the
selections will be confined to the West and
North Divisions, in order to retain the
present geographical relations of the Board.
Whatever aspect the campaign may take
every taxpayer aud every honest citizen
should determine now to vote for nc man
for County Commissioner whose name is not
n voucher for honest dealing. If five honest
and plucky men caa be elected, thers are at
least three in the Board, and perhaps four, i
who can be counted upon to act with them,
and there will then be trustworthy major
ity for the people, instead of the standing
majority against the people which has ruled
with high hnnd for seve1al years.
OF the other officers to be chosen. prob
ably the most important to the people is the
County Clerk, because his position enables
him to watch the Board and impede rascality,
or to assist it materially in the development
Of any rascality. It is believed, too, that
the County Clerks Office is extravagantly |
managed and needs reforming. In selecting |
a County Treasurer, the people may gain an
advantage in the choice of man who will !!
not merely watch over the funds vieilant1y. |
but one who will be an enterprising Col |
lector, and who will expose and oppose anv |
unlawful use Of the moneys under the in
structions of the Board, as Mr. HUGE. the !
present incumbent, has DONE. The duties
now performed BY one Judge will henceforth
be divided between two,-the County Judge
and the Probate Judgc,-and the peculiar
tiduclary characteristics OF both places re-
quire the selection Of men of acknowledged
and wen~known personal integrity.
The vacancy which occurs in the Superior
Court will probably be filed by the election
Of the Judge whose term expires, if he will
continue in Office.
In the contest for these places, it is prob
able that tho struggle will be made, Us usual.
between Republican ticket and Demo-
cratic ticket, but under somewhat different
The Democrats can rare1v
nave any hope in Cook County election
ont this year their weakness is more apparent
han ever. President HAYES policy and the
character OF his Administration thus far have
hlorded the Democrats no opportunity for
the Republicans on political
grounds; on the contrary, the general salts
action which the people Of both parties feel
II what President HAYES Administration
lis done and is doing will induce the
Democrats to avoid party fight as much
IS possible. Ihey will be further encouraged
o this course because the local Democratic
'arty is held responsible for the bold and
persistent County Ring which the people
|ave been vainly fighting for the past wear
Y two. 1t is not unlikely, therefore, that
he Democrats will seek to make a combins-
ion with the workingmen, and enaeavor tn
lect their ticket under that cover. They !
ill not hesitate to pander to the Commu-
lst sentiment, if they think that sentiment =
an be used to their advantage The disguise '
ill be thin one, however, and, if aeeres- d
i've, it may do tho Democrats mora I'M
han good There is no doubt that the Re- =
ublicans can elect their county ticket easily t.
lis fall, if they nominate none but good
len; but if they nominate obscure, weak. =
suspected men, they will court The dofeot s
h'ch, indeed, they will deserve under those y
c
we tender our service. as pcaceuakcrs be-
Feen our esteemed contemporaries, the 1YorId :.
I'd sa"- With the mercury boiling over, the y,
1rk1sh war raging, Democratic conventions n
dorsing the Presidents policy, BRtGn.x h
DUNG beyond the reach of Federal warrant