Amador ledger., 1902-03-21
LOCAL POLITICS.

county is favorable for the republi-
cans. For the first time in the his
tory of the county, the republicans
enter the campaign with a strong
party majority. Amador county
for the past four years has squarely
planted herself in the republican
column. In the presidential elec-
tion of 1900 the county gave a ma
iority of $50 for the republican
ticket. This majority has been in
creased, rather than decreased,
since the last election. Republican
principles and policies are steadily
growing in public favor, while dem
ocratic theories and fallacies are
becoming weaker. In national af-
fairs the republicans have demon
strated that their policy secures
prosperity; the democrats on the
other hand have developed capaci-
ty for bringing about depression and
distress by their governmental
methods. This well-defined cleav-
age in national affairs, also reacts
in favor of the republicans in state
. and county matters. The ability of
a party to govern wisely and we'll in
the national field, ought to help the
same party in local affairs. With
the strong ascendancy of 'republi-
can sentiment in. Amador county
there ought to be no difficulty in
landing every candidate on that
ticket-from judge to constable-a
winner in the coming campaign. To
do this the party must show solid
front, and present an acceptable
ticket. Ehe anomaly is presented
in Amador of the republicans having
majority of voters, and the demo-
Gratis holding the majority of the
elective offices.
This state of things shows that it
will not do in local politics to de-
pend too much upon the predomi-
nance of party sentiment. In vot-
ing for local officers the majority
are governed by their friendliness
toward the candidates, or their ideas
of their fitness for the positions to
which they aspire. There are al
ways enough of this class of inde-
pendent voters to swing the election
one way or the other. This is really
the controlling element in all local
elections. While it is true, that the
success of the local and state tickets
has a strengthening influence upon
the party as national organization,
it is also equally true that very few
men of feither party can be pursuaded
to support local candidates simply
because by so doing they are assist
ing the party as whole. On the
contrary, the average voter argues
that if the party of his choice wants
his support for local officers it must
present him with candidates worthy
of his support, and at least equal in
all respects to the nominees of the
opposing party. The republicans of
Amador county want an acceptable
ticket-a ticket put up to win; a
ticket composed of straight-out
party men, who if elected will see to
it that members of their party be
given the preference in any patron
age that they may have at their dis
posal. Aside from personal fitness,
this is the most essential qualifica-
tion to be considered in the selection
of candidates. The application of
so-called civil service rules in local
affairs is not in favor; trimming
under this specious guise is not cal
culated to mark the road to victory.
We must shake off this trucking
spirit, and show ourselves worthy of
the great party to which we belong.
By so doing, we shall become as
strong locally as We are in national
issues, and sweep our nominees into
Office. There is no lack of suitable
men. 1t is libel on the party of
the majority-the party that alone
has demonstrated its capacity to
govern-to say that it is weaker in
material than the party of the
minority. We have men for every
Office to be filled, equal, if not su-
perior, in every particular to any
that can be trotted out from the
ranks of democracy And with the
stalwart spirit at the helm, they
will not hesitate to face the issue,
and place Amador county where it
belongs-in the republican column
locally as well as nationally. Just
try it, and see what change it will
effect in the political situation.