The independent., 1903-06-25

answers to that question.
The reformer as a rule is conser-
vative fellow; he Is exacting and nat
urally very suspicious. After the
adoption of the Omaha platform one
of the frequent utterances we heard
from its makers and disciples was.
I'VE are going to put the government
where it belongs, in the hands of the
people" These men were and are
Utterly opposed to an office-holding
class, opposed to ring as it Is termed
and they were right, If our form OF
government is to be preserved.
At Omaha, in order to protect the
party from creating among it's mem
Eers a set of politicians and spoilsmen
rather than patriots and statesmen,
il passed or adopted certain resolu-
tions, one of these was that officials
should not be delegates to conven-
tions. At first there was vigorous OPP
POSITION when an attempt to break
this rule was made, but OF late years
our county, district and state conven-
tons have been full of office-holders
who practically controlled things. The
argument that broke down the bar
riers has been that the office-holder
was better known and better informed
as to political requirements and con-
ditions than the average voter and as
result the average voter ceased to
| take much interest in matters in
which he felt he had lost control, and.
hence, becoming apathetic, many OF
those who at one time were most en-
/ II. "a g.. Po @h1 n~fxr vnn
are so Indifferent that they stay away
from the primaries and from the polls
This. observation and report teaches
me, is the condition in many coun-
ties. Expediency usurped and broke
down principle and now we pay the
price
Then on the pass question our office
holders have been most remiss; the
farmer the tradesman, the taxpayer
say and apparently with some reason,
"These politicians are all alike; a
populist elected to office is no better
than republican" many of them
take passes whenever they can get
them, and thus the voters lose sight
of other matters.
Then again, court house rings. az
they are termed, that is a certain
CLIQUE who seek to control nominations
. in a county, are regarded with hos
tile spirit of our voters. 1t does not
seem to matter how good an officer
man has been, if he is perpetually
seeking a place on the TICKET or his
friends are doing SO for him, the ef-
feet is as cold shower bath on thu
enthusiasm of the rank and file.
: do not refer to the natural promotions
that come to one of unusual abilit.
and fidelity to principle and the party
but to those who seek third term II
J some county office or who are contin
ually seeking some place ,on the coun
: ty ticket 1t is as much as saving Il
: the people: You common fellows arr
not fit for this Office we and VIC alone
can properly fill it. But as matter
of fact, and experience proves 1t. mos
of our citizens can fill well and cred
itably any county Office in the gift o
the people.
AS | said before false expeaienc.
r has become too great factor in on
/ primaries and conventions. We dar
( not nominate A because the. republ1
t cans will make a hard fight on him
j although he has always been In tn
= harness working for our ticket and |
: fully capable to discharge the duties
J.. so we nominate B whom no one cal
say for sure where he stands, becaus
he has no political enemies and be
longs to a popular secret order and !
nice man generally. The old whee
horses Mho drove over the county i
days gone by and worked to get on
the vote are passed over-"ther
would be a hard fight on them, yo
G know"
= Our republican managers do bette
4 than this: they reward the man VIII
: has stood by their co1ors, who ha
stood on the street corners and revile
!, the silver men and the popocrats
!, thus enthusiasm is kept up anon
= them and they all turn out and vote
= Success must begin at the primar
9 les; they are about to be held. Yo
. . con do much, Mr. Editor, to create
9 sentiment that will reanimate on
: sleeping legions.
: III. M. MATHEW,
Member of State Committee.