The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-10-07
Of a dozen men exerting their influence

The deputies go in with the promise
that in return for their help they shall
be elected as the main official at the ex-
piration of certain time. The offices +
are farmed out years in advance, and
the result is a close corporation which
no man can break through. This not
only breeds bossism and ringism, but |
it deprives the officers of the right of
free thought. If they wish to be re-
tanned they must see through the same
spectacles as does the county boss.
There are men in the court house today
who, if they dared to express their
honest convictions, would be the first
to repudiate the fat money plank of
their county platform. That they dare
not do this is because they hope by
subservience to the will of the dictator
to retain their offices for an indefinite
period.
If the desire to hold county office is
an honorable ambition, and we hold
that it is, it is only just that this ambi-
ton should be held out to all and not
confined fol years to chosen few.
The same men who pirate about the
streets that there is no opportunity for
the young men of today, are the very
ones who would close to them this field
OF honorable ambition.
1t is fact that long tenure in office
breeds indifference, carelessness and,
oftentlmes, dishonesty. We do not say
that this has proven the case in this
county heretofore, but that is no sign
that it may not in the future. and the
best security the people can have, bet
ter than bondsmen, better than prom
lses, is to have frequent changes when
the books and moneys shall be turned
over to a successor after a thorough ex-
animation. We know but one instance
in the state of Iowa where an officer
was found to be a defaulter after his
| first or second term, but we do know of
many cases where third and fourth and
4 fifth term men have been found short
in their accounts and the county has
suffered severely for its misplaced con-
| fidence. Last year we made state
ment somewhat similar to this during
the campaign and an attempt was made
to prove that we had questioned the
honesty of one of our officials. This
was and is the furtherest from our
thoughts, but we do MAINTAIN that the
principle of retaining men in executive
/ dnE. Of
is dangerous one, for however good
and honest the present officials may be,
who can tell that their successors,
serving for long time under the pre-
cedent set, will also be faithful and
honest? This principle has been recog-
nized in our national government, and
was SO strong that even the great Gen
eral Grant was unable to break through
this invisible but irresistible barrier of
public opinion. 1t is therefore without
any shadow of disrespect that we con-
denim this system of perpetuity in
office. Take the case of MIR. Carey, for
instance. For five years he served as
deputy in the court house and when
Mr.. Rasp retired he fell heir to the Of
fee which he has held for four years
and now asks to hold for six. Nine
years ago Mr.. Carey was a young man
OF moderate means and it was perfectly
right and proper that he should be
recognized by his party in the way he
was. Now, not through dishonesty,
but by economy and good business
ideas. Mr.. Carey is a well-to-do man.
Is it not time that some other young
man of the type that John Carey was
nine years ago be given a chance? Or
must Mr.. Carey be on the county for
life? He has doubtless been a good
official and an honest man, but there
are others, yes others in his own party,
who have been fighting the battles OF
democracy without reward while he has
grown rich from party favors. We are
glad that John is well-to. do but we feel
that 1T is but justice that he should re-
tire in favor of some other good demo-
crat, and that failing to do this, that
the people should retire him. The
same may be said of Mr.. Kruger, an
other honest man, who no longer needs
the Office and who should be willing
that some other man should have the
opportunity which he himself has had.
The second resolution adopted by the
republicans of the county relates to
economy in county affairs. The re-
publican statement is plain bold ut
terance without bubble, without any
loophole for extravaganza. 1t favors
''rigid economy" in county affairs.
Contrast this with the hypocritical
declaration of democracy which favors
reasonable rigid economy" in county
affairs. This is simply economy with a
string to it, and the people have long
ago learned that extravaganza if given
an inch will take an ell.
Thoso aro tho couptv ;so,,oo orotod;od