Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-11-03
FOR REFORM In LUZERNE.
COUNTY CANDIDATES SHOULD WIN
EASILY ON TUESDAY.
Democratic Candidates Arc Worthy OF
the Support of Every Honest Citizen.
Ability, Integrity and Character Ought
to Be Considered.

to DO Considered.
over Pennsylvania and gathering re-
cruits by the thousands for Mr.. jerks
and his colleagues, no voter should for
a moment lose sight Of the fact that
reform Is also needed in our own county.
The Republican machine has sway in
Luzerne which is less repugnant than
the state machine, of which it is a part,
only because its field OF operation is less
than the corrupt model after which it is
patterned.
Since the county was turned over Il
few years ago by the voters to the Re-
publicans, it has steadily headed down
ward-hnancially, morally and other
wise. The bonded debt has been
enormously increased, the tax rate is
higher by far, and the county officers,
instead of being the servants of the
electors, are, in many instances, using
their offices and their powers for self
| aggrandizement and unblushingly ask
that this course be approved next Tues
day.
| What is needed in Luzerne county is
thorough cleansing in the department
which controls the expenditures OF the
| peoples taxes. A man is needed In the
controllers Office who is hohest-who
does not waste thousands of dollars of
the county funds in litigation over qnes-
| tions beyond his jurisdiction, whose
ideas of honesty will apply to his own
salary the same as applied to a back
township constable and who has some
regard for morality and honor.
Luzerne county has not such a man
in that office, but the voters have an
opportunity to place an honest man
there by voting for George Shiffer. He
would not draw an order for over So, 900
salary on the first day of his entrance to
the Office and charge 1t to alleged back
pay due him while the courts were de-
Gliding upon the constitutionality of tho
act creating the office. He would not
needlessly increase the tax rate OF tho
county, nor would he become silent
partner in county contracts. George
Shiffer owes no poor district money or
dored paid by the court for expenses in
taking care Of victims, because his sense
of honor and regard for morality is
above those sins which cannot be named
in decent newspapers.
A county is judged by the character OF
fore, Luzerne voters should look to their
regulations next Tuesday and refuse to
vote for men whose lives are hypocriti-
cal, immoral, dishonest and disgrace
to the county. Let it not be said that
Luzcrne will honor the wolves that
prowl about clothed in the garb of
sheep. If this has been done once,
more the shame on the manhood of the
county If it is permitted again.
The Office of sheriff is another impor-
tant department in county such as this.
Our heterogeneous population, our di-
versiiied industries and our enormous
business interests call for man who
can administer the duties OF the position
with TACT honor and care, who can be
depended upon to quell disturbance
without needless loss of human life and
the plunging of the county into expense
and disgrace.
Fortunately, the law does not permit
sheriff to succeed himself, or in all
likelihood the present incumbent would
have been foisted on the Republican
party by the machine. Nevertheless,
while Martin is not a candidate, it is
fair to presume that the powers which
openly rule the Republican party in
Luzerne have planned that his success
sor shall become in their hands as pill
able and subservient as was Martin.
Corporation interests in this county, If
continued on present lines, demand a
biased man in that office, but they
never succeeded in having their desire
in this respect gratifed until Repub-
lican filed the chair.
Democrat after Democrat successfully
resisted the Establishments, the threats
and the pleas of coal companies while
acting as sheriff, and preserved and
protected life and property without
bloodshed in times of greater uprisings
than in September, 1897. Their party
teachings and training served them well
during labor troubles, and they did JUS
tiee between man and man, regardless
of which was the capitalist and which
was the toler. Yet the first trial given
Republican found him wanting in all
that which the position requires him to
possess, aud no further experiments
ought to be made with Republican
sherilfs
In Joseph J. McGinty the voters have
man whom they have twice trusted in
public Office. AS recorder of the county
he performed his duties with degree
of efficiency seldom equalled In similar
positions. He was no figure head while
in the service of Luzerne county, but
| worked conscientiously for the salary
paid him, instead of adopting the pres