The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-13
COUNTY AFFAIRS AND COUNTY TICKETS.

he management or county aHalrs
concerns the people more intimately
and directly than does that of national
affairs. The closer the government to
the people the more personal interest
they have in it, and the more attention
they ought to pay to it. AS a general
rule the taxation for county purposes
equals that for State purposes, and it
is Very questionable whether county
funds are as wisely and honestly dis
bursed as State funds are. There are
nearly three thousand counties in the
United States, and a majority of them
are afflicted with courthouse rings. If
it were possible to write such thing as
an inside history of county government
in the United States it would reveal
degree of political favoritism, rotten
ness, corruption, Encouragement, en-
bezzlement and peculation that would
astOund the people and cause them to
wonder why they had submitted SO long
to such misrule. Indiana is no excep-
ton to the general rule. Of the ninety
two counties in this State nearly all are
afflicted with boss rule and courthouse
rings. In nearly every county in the
State. perhaps there is not single ex-
ceptlOn. county government is loosely
and extravagantly, If not dishonesty,
administered. The counties that have
not a courthouse ring are few and far
between.
The people are getting very tired of
this sort of thing, and are demanding
reform. For years past in this State
they have been demanding fee and
salary law that would reduce the per-
quisites of county officers and the ex-
pense of county government. The last
Legislature recognized this demand, but
refused to comply with it. They in-s
suited the people by passing law that
did not afford any present relief and
which will probably never take effect.
The people are also tired of close cor
pOration government of County Com
mIssioners. They are very tired of
County Commissioners who do as
they please and snap their fingers
at the people. They are tired of
courthouse rings and county bosses.
They are tired of having county
business done behind closed doors
and county records kept in books which,
if not closed, are at least kept carefully
concealed from public view. They de-
mand a new departure and a new deal
in the management Of county affairs.
If the Republicans of Indiana are wise
they will take notice of the condition of
affairs and make their county nomina-
tions accordingly. The temper of the
people is such that the county nomina-
tions this year may have a controlling
effect on the State and national elections.
The people see that which is nearest to
them most clearly. and they are scruti-
nizing county affairs more closely this
year than ever before. We should like
to see Republican county tickets
throughout the State nominated with
view to encouraging this feeling and
giving assurance to the people that the
Republican party is in full sympathy
with the demand for reform in county
government. 1t will not be difficult
for the Republicans in every one
Of the ninety-two counties of Indiana
to nominate better ticket than the
Democrats can or will nominate. and
they should do it. Everywhere they
should break up county states and smash
county rings. Wherever there is Re-
publican county commissioner seeking
denomination who has made himself un-
popular or distrusted by the people, let
him be thrown overheard. Wherever
Board of County Commissioners has
gone contrary to the wishes of the peO-
pie let them all be discarded and new
men nominated. In short, let Republic
ans not only fall into the reform process
sion in county affairs, but place them
selves at the head of it. Let them show
by their county tickets that they are
honestly, heartily and determinedly in
favor of reform in local government.
This will increase their chances of sue
cess in the various counties and bring
strength to the national and State
tickets.