The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-11-05
ELECTIONS, OR NO ELECTIONS
WHICH

ELECTIONS, OR NO ELECTIONS
WHICH?
1t may be interesting to contrast the
excitement attendant on our annual
elections with places where there are
no elections by the people. The cleo
ton in this county the present fall has
probably been more quietly conducted
than the average in other counties in
the state; yet here there has been
much disquietude and anxiety among
candidates for the various offices and
their friends. There were in this coun-
ty ten elective county officers to be
chosen; for these ten offices there were
twenty nominated candidates, includ-
ing both the political parties. How
many aspirants for these twenty nomi-
nations before the holding of the
county conventions it is difficult to es-
innate, but it can be readily inferred
there must have been some unrest and
some sleeplessness.
There are in the state sixty-six coun-
ties, each entitled to as many county
officers as this county. Multiply this
number by twenty, giving the number
of candidates voted for by the two
parties-Republican and Democratic;
then add the candidates voted for by
the Prohibition and Labor parties, and
it will give something of an idea of
the army asking for the suffrages of
the people at the late election in Wis
consin, not including State, Congress
sional and legislative offices. Of
course, there were many unsuccessful
candidates, who were out of pocket for
various sums expended in preparing
for the contest, vast amount of NOR
LITIGATION over defeats, ill-feeling en-
gendered at the treachery of supposed
friends, and, no doubt, in some in
stances, vows of retaliation We're made
on those who had promised support
and failed to render it. The question
might properly be asked, do these ex-
elements and connections attending
general elections tend to render the
people more happy, to make them better
citizens, and to improve public morals?
AS contrast to this condition of
affairs the District of Columbia may
be cited. This District was originally
a territory ten miles square, ceded to
the United States for the seat of a
national capital by the states of Vir-
ginia and Maryland. Subsequently
that part of the District lying west of
the Potomac, in which is the old city
of Alexandria, was ceded back to Vir-
ginia, leaving the balance of the Dis
trict as it now is, over one-half of the
original territory. The government of
the city of Washington for many years
consisted of a Mayor and Common
Council. There was also Territorial
Governor and legislature. The office
of Mayor and Common. Council was
abolished in 1870, and the office of
Governor and the legislature in 1873.
Since 1878 there has not been an cleo
ton for any office, high or low, in the
District of Columbia. There have
been no political caucuses, no elections,
and no use of ballot-boxes the past
thirtean years. Every needful officer
for conducting the affairs of the city
of Washington and of the District of
Columbia is appoint,d under the au-
thority of the United States. What is
the outcome of the adjustment of all
elections by the people? 1t appears to
be satisfactory. After the setting
aside of elections there was much
fault-finding by the politicians, and
there were attempts for two or three
years to induce Congress to restore to
the people the right of self-government.
But the return to the elective system
was strongly resisted by the taxpayers
and more substantial citizens; they in
sisted that under the appointiye system
taxes were reduced, the laws more
promptly executed, more reliable police
and better security for
life and property. They also urged
that while the District had legisla-
ture there was always jobbery and
stealing, and that administrative off.
GERS Stunned their duty for fear of
giving offence to the voting people.
The restoration of the government of
,he city and the District to the people
appears to have been entirely abaEdon-
I'd, as no movement for that purpose
las been made for some years past.
These statements in respect to the [
government of the District of Column
Dia are mentioned with no intention of
holding that form of government up as
! model for imitation. There may be
reasons why such government sue
leeds well in the territory of which
Washington is the capital which do not
exist elsewhere.
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There is a useful young woman in
Walworth, and half the young farmers
n that locality have turned their ewes ii
her direction. She teaches school five
lays in a week for $40 a week, helps her
mother do the housework, and takes
ARE Of three horses and two COWS on the