The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-08-25
Ten Reasons
WHY W. I. c. RUNNELLs SHOULD BE ELECTED
COUNTY ATTORNEY.

erS and their SympathlZerS to be assured OF
this Without exception they are in oppo-
sition and it is a very good rule to go by con-
traries. The saloon-keepers scent their in
terests as keenly as a vulture scents carron,
and their interests and chief ends are not
the interests and chief ends of any good citi-
zen. He should be supported because of the
enemies he has. He should be elected be
cause of his record. AS county attorney he
was dreaded by the saloons, which is sutii-
Gent proof to right-minded men that he was
the right man in the right place. In two
terms he secured tfty-eight indictments
against liquor sellers, caused twenty three
to take sentences and collected and paid into
the county treasury over thirteen hundred
dollars. His successor i'll five terms has secur-
ed twenty-five indictments against liquor
dealers, caused eighteen to be sentenced,
and paid into the treasury of the county less
than a thousand dollars. Reckoning by
ratio of terms, MI. Brown should have in his
tiveterms secured one hundred and fortytive
indictments against liquor sellers caused six
ty-seven to BE sentenced, and paid into the
county treasury over thrty-three hundred
dollars.
Moreover, the comparison is unfair as
against Mr.. Runnells, for he had prae tically
but one term in which to work. He came
into office in place of Mr.. Sweetser resigned,
and received his commission after court was
in session. He knew nothing of the cases
on the docket, of the Grand Jury with which
he had to work: had no time to secure pres
ence of respondents, and had not word or
line Of information from his predecessor to
show the facts on which the fifty cases rested
that We're on the docket when the State
took it. As measured by the results of his
last term, Mr.. Brown is nowhere on the
visible horizon, and it is only the last term
that makes a fair comparison Mr.. Runnels
should be elected as measure of economy
Crime cannot, of course, be made source of
profit to the community. In the last seven
years more than half the county tax load
has been for the suppression of crime, or for
charges that may fairly be attributed to
crime. The only form of crime that we
have in our county to speak Of is liquor
selling, and its attendant crimes. BY actual
investigation of the records of the court it
appears that % out Of each 100 crimes fall
into this class.
But the burden may be made lighter if the
county attorney does his duty. In 1857 con-
stables We're appointed to execute the pro-
hibtory law. In ISIS. Mr.. Dlnton being
county attorney, the prohibitory law was en-
forced in this county better than ever before
OF since. IN that year the excess of charges
H.,
from the prosecution of crime, was S4.l21.
In 1890, the year Mr.. RunnellS was county
attorney the balance ehargabe to crime
s. .;i2S. In 1891, the first year Mr.. Brown was
county attorney, the balance was S1l.356.
The charge that the constables would cause
large expense to the county proved bad
divining. In the years 1887, 1855, the county
changed over from debt of some 81, 900 to
balance in the treasury. During these years
the county bore the eXpenstk of the Martha
Crockett murder trial, and Alilt the iaie1s
house. The iailers house cost S2,S21, and
the extra costs of the murder trial We're not
less than fifteen hundred two thousand
dolars.) This was due to two things the
excellent management of the county com
y
For every dollar that the enforcement drew
out, it put in three. Besides it lessened
criminal costs of drunkenness. enforcement
of the law pays.
The cry that host of witnesses is being
summoned before the grand jury. and that
for every dollar collected it Will take five to
collect it, is all dust, raised by those inter-
OF the law pays every time. It cost the
county s. 900 more last year not to have the
law enforced than it dii in 1855 to have the
law enforced. 1t cost tile county $1,000 more
last Year than year before last, and { Mr.
Runnells could have had three terms in
stead of two. the showing would have been
correspondingly better 1t pays. in all ways
consi,lered to enforce the law.
Mr.. Runnels should he elected as a vindi-
cation of popular government The people
should show good OF better ability to
choose NY popular vote men who shall adj
minister their offices in the interest of good
government, as a King has to appoint such
officers, or popular government stan Is con
victed of its nalruuary. Let every Voter
ask himself what man If sound mind having
the power to appoint, acting from proper
motives and looking toward tile interests of
good government, would appoint Nh. Brown
to the office of county attorney. if required
to choose between him and Mr.. Eunnells.
Nh Runnels should be elected a. the peo-
pies answer to the insoent query Of the
looms. ''What are you going to do about il 9''
n hon he al pt as of