The herald., 1898-06-28
PEOPLES PARTY CONVENTION

The Peoples party county convention
of selecting delegates to its state conven-
ton, to be held July 18th. and of elect
ing chairman and the necessary commit
tees to effect a new county organization.
In addition to these matters, this conven-
tion will be called upon to decide for or
against fusion with the Democrats and
Silver Republicans upon a union ticket
AS we view the present political situa-
tion in this county, this is by far the most
important question that will come before
the Peoples party convention for con-
sideration and decision, and while we
claim no right to dictate the action to be
taken by it, yet the interests of the Dem
ocratic and Silver Republican parties for
good government are so closely inter-
woven with those of the Peoples party
upon county issues, that the former par
ties cannot but hope that the 4embers
of this convention will give to the ques-
ton of fusion that serious and careful
attention which its Importance demands.
The issues in the county are not nu-
merous, but they are of vital Importance
to the people. The courthouse ring
must be broken up. The extravaganza
in various departments of county govern
ment must be stopped. The practice Of
making deputyships the source of reve-
rue for disreputable political methods.
and the kindergarten for educating the
Republican push, must be abolished.
The gradual increase Of the expense of
county government must be checked.
Salaries must be reduced. The useless
offices must be abolished and others con-
solidated. The number of deputies must
be cut down to actual needs. The rate
of taxation must be reduced. The coun-
| ty books must be checked and balanced
by others than carefully selected Repub-
| lican book-kecpers. A new county gov
ernment bill must be enacted in the inter-
| ests of the people, rather than for the sole
benefit of Republican officials. The ras-
calls must be turned out. In fine, the
| issues are and must be Reform, Re-
| trenchment and Republican Rout''
In determining the best course to pur-
sue, therefore, the members of the Peo-
ples party convention must always keep
| in view the real objects to be attained by
| fusion. With an independent ticket, the
Peoples party could not hope to elect their
nominees and thus put into practice the
reforms above named, and it is extremely
doubtful if either the Democratic or the
Silver Republican party, in sngle-hand-
ed fight would be able to rout the legons
have the county treasury with which to
fill their ranks with the push of every
party and to provide all the munitions of
political war.
| If, therefore, there are abuses in our
county government to be corrected and
reforms to be inaugurated, and if the
correction and Inauguration can only
come by driving the Republican rings
and ciques from the court house, then
the question of fusion has resolved itself
into one of good government, in which all
honest citizens have an interest.
That the Peoples party, as we'll as the
Democratic and Silver Republican par
ties, is in favor of good, clean, economical
government, there can be no doubt. Judg-
| ing by its platforms, this is the goal of
| its ambition
The Republican party is the obstacle
to good government in this county. Every
Republican legislature has yielded to its
demands. and at its biddings has in
creased the burdens upon the people AS
the County Government act stands today,
it is nothing more or less than an act to
legalze the robbery of the taxpayers of
this county. One example will be suf-
hcient to show its iniquities. Under the