The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-10-16

the city or La sale, suHerlng from an IN
jury received by being thrown from a
buggy during the last days of the canvass
preliminary to the convention. His injur-
les will preclude him from making the
close canvass Of the county that under or,
binary circumstances would be made, and
in consequence, upon his friends, both in.
dividually and collectively, is placed the
duty of presenting his cause to the voters
of the county.
| The interest felt in him and his success
at the polls, in view of the accident he has
been so unfortunate as to sustain, should be
looked upon by democrats as an imperative
duty and as such should be manfully dis,
charged There should be--there must be
no halting, but from this until the closing
of the polls nothing but earnest and honest
work Such an organization must be per.
fected and such labor performed as Will
| insure Mr.. Bartons success whether or no
he sees personally single voter through
out the course of the whole canvass. Pat
rick Barton is too good and too competent
man to suffer from lack of support of his
fellow-democrats in this, the time when
lie and his party most need their assistance.
The editor of the FREE TRADER, as a
sincere friend of Mr.. Barton, desires to dis
cuss the question as to whether the inter.
ests of the people Will best be subserved
by the election of Mr. Barton, or the cleo
ton of Mr.. Morrissey, in such way as TO
avoid everything that might be termed dis
tinctlve personalities. Throughout he has
been opposed to them, and now that there
is seeming disposition to indulge in them
he is more set in his determination to avoid
them. The question most OF interest to
the people of this county Is one that re-
duces itself to pure business proposition
and as such must be treated from purely
business standpoint. In the heat Of party
politics there is continued appeal to the
passions and prejudices of men, but such
appeals are hardly creditable, and the
propriety of INDUCING in them is, to say
the least questionable.
The position which the FREE TRADER
assumes in the present controversy is this
that, aside from all party feeling and desire
to gain victory for the democratic leaders.
the best interests Of the citizens of La Sale
county demand the election of Patrick Bar
ton, the democratic nominee to the office
of sheriff and the defeat of Lawrence Nor
rissey, his republican opponent.
Thus far the FREE TRADER has heard
but two reasons named why Mr.. Morrissey
should be elected
First--He is IA good fellow" and,
Second-He was good soldier.
The FREE TRADER is willing to admit
both propositions. Mr. Morrissey is "a
good fellow" as the term is used; but it
may we'll be doubted whether the fact that
he is "good fellow" is a sufficient warrant
for his election to the office Of sheriff of
La Sale county. "Good fellowship" has
never yet been recognized as an essential
qualification to the discharging of official
duties promptly and efficiently. Mr.. Nor
rissey's good fellowship" in itself hardly
fits him for the office which he seeks to
fill. 1t is an argument that does not touch
the point at issue. The second claim as to
his good soldier record is one that Is urged
more strenuously, anu is deserving of more
consideration; but even record to be
proud of as soldier is not in itself justifl-
cation enough to give him the office which
the republicans have nominated him for.
The main question has not been touched
upon by either Mr. Morrissey, Mr. Morris
seys friends or the republican papers that
are supporting Mr.. Morrissey's candidacy,
viz. his ability to discharge the duties of
the Office of sheriff. This is the question
of vital Importance to the voters of the
county, and the question of Mr.. Morrissey's
good fellowship and good soldier record
is of but secondary consideration.
The voters of this county must remem-
Der the importance of the Office of sheriff
of La Sale county. 1t is without question
the most important office in the county,
both as to the magnitude of the business
transacted through 1t and the interests
placed within its keeping. La Sale county
is the second county in territorial extent in
Illinois. 1t is the second in population,
having more than eighty five thousand of
inhabitants Its property interests are more
than sixty five millions of dollars in value.
1t has three important courts, and the
amount of law business done In the county
is greater than that of any county In the
state outside of Cook, which includes Chi
cago With the rights of these eighty-five
thousands of inhabitants, both as to their
person and their property, the sheriff of the
county as the servant of the three courts is
brought In close relations. In his keeping
is placed the safety of their lives and the
safety of their property. Under order of
the courts and by virtue of judgments rem
dered In them he collects and disburses
moneys. He often times has placed within
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