Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-10-03

that an element unified for the man
agement of small affairs is competent
to discharge vastly more important
duties. The fact is that the Legislation
creating these several boards is not only
unrepublican, but indefensible, and an
insult to the sovereign people Of the
State. Mr.. Campbell condensed volume
of truth into a brief sentence when he
declared that it had "taken the heart
out of liberty.
The assumption that these boards are
In the main non-partisan is shallow
pretense. The Democrat selected by a
Republican Governor, or the Republi-
can selected by Democratic Governor
for position from which public senti-'
Ment may be nodded and votes control
led, is generally the most docile and un-
demonstrative of men. In brief he is
simply a cipher in his own party, con-
tent to pocket his own stipend and cul-
tivate the good will of any dispenser OF
patronage. Hence it is that while
boards are ostensibly non-partisan, the
employees are usually members of the
dominant party, and hence it is that Mr..
Bundy-a nephew of Governor Foraker
almost, if not quite, before he had ac-
quired residence in Cincinnati, was ap-
point clerk of the election board of that
2ity at salary of three thousand dol
ars a year. If the election board in this
case had been wholly independent and
truly non-partisan, it is more than prob
able that the Governors relative would
have found harder work at less wages.
No legislation and no Governor will
ever give our cities good govern
ments. The people alone can
supply this great need, and they
may do it at once if it so pleases
them. Whenever, in municipal cleo
tions they abandon all party considera-
tions and unite in sensible effort to
manage their affairs by well recognized
business methods their troubles will
cease; their taxes will diminish, their
business will prosper, and their homes
be more secure. There is no great prln-
cipal involved in city election-no
question of State or National concern.
The better people of all parties, there
fore, should regard it as purely matter
of non-partisan business, and proceed to
the selection of city officers as they
would to the selection of the employees
of bank, store or mandatory. The
unscrupulous and mercenary rogue, who
would seek, at such time, to arouse
party prejudices and infiame the pas
sions of men, should be kicked outside
the corporation limits and kept there
until he became better and wiser
man.
1t is the duty Of the General Assem-
| bly,, of course, to exercise a wholesome
supervision over all officers, and espe-
cially to do what it can to secure to the
people of every subdivision Of the State
fair and honest elections. The end
sought in the establishment of these
election boards may be good, but as be-
fore stated the means adopted are in
consistent with the fundamental prin-
ciples of our Republican Government.
If the boards are a necessity, the power
to select them should be left in the
hands of the people coupled with such
Legislative conditions as will insure
fairness in the exercise of the popular
will. The majority should, of course,
be represented on them, and the con-
testing minority should also in justice
be recognized; but it would be easy
enough, under suitable legislation, for
the people to arrange all this without
the interposition of partisan auto
crat. The truth is, however, that the
necessity-if necessity there was-for
creating election boards, police boards
and boards of public affairs, and
putting the power to fill them
in the hands of the Governor, re-
suited from the discovery that
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo
and other of our larger cities could by
combination control political conven-
tions, dictate to, and override the rural
population of the State. In other words,
public interests were subordinated to
private ends; the citizen in part disfran'
ehised, and the people insulted by the
declaration that they were too vicious
and too ignorant to manage their OWL
affairs.
The Republican party, conf1ding in
the people, broadened suffrage by con
ceding to the freedman the right to vote
Shall Forakerism now be permitted to
contribute to the undoing of this benef'
cent work by abridging the privileges Of
the free-born?
I submit to the Republicans of Ohio
that there is nothing in all this to en-
title Foraker to third term, but much
to induce independent men to strike his
name from the ticket.
| JOHN BEATTY.
Sept. 16, 1889.