The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-10-09

simply cipher in his own party, con-
tent to pocket his own stipend ana 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 elecion board of that
city at salary of three thousand dol
lars 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 prin-
cipal involved in a 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 a bank, store or mandatory. The
INSCRIPTIONS and mercenary rogue, who
would seek, at such time, to arouse
party prejudices and inflame the pas
sions of men, should be kicked outside
the corporation limits and kept there
| until he became a better and wiser
man.
It is the duty of the General Assem-
| bly,, of course, to exercise 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, fol
the people to arrange all this without
~ oS NonHi1 %0.
crat. The truth is, however, that the
necessity-if necessity there was-fol
creating election boards, police boards
and boards of public affairs. and
putting the power to fill then
in the hands of the Governor, re
suited from the discovery tha
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo
and other of our larger cities could b.
combination control political conven
tions, dictate to, and override the rura
population of the State. In other words
public interests were subordinated t.
private ends; the citizen in part disfran
chised, and the people insulted by th'
declaration that they were too viciou
and too ignorant to manage their owl
affairs.
The Republican party, confding il
the people, broadened suffrage by con
ceding to the freedman the right to vote
Shall Forakerism now be permitted t.
contribute to the undoing of this benef
cent work by abridging the privileges o
the free-born?
I submit to the Republicans of Obi
that there is nothing in all this to en-
title Foraker to third term, but mucl
to induce Independent men to strike hi
name from the ticket.
JOHN BEATTY.
Sept. 16, 1889.