The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-09-02
Editorial Department.
by F. w. Meyers
FOR DEMOCRATS ONLY

For twenty years the democratic par
y has practically had charge of every
branch of our county government
There have been few republicans G.
lected from time to time, but the con-
troll has constantly been lodged with
the democratic party,
On the 18th of this month the demo-
cratic party is to assemble in conven
ton. 1t would be we'll if the ,
democrats should at that time give an
account of their stewardship, what have
they done; what shave they accomplish
ed; what have the people to show for
the vast sums of money that this rich
county has poured into the hands of the
of the supervisors? Do they point to
the bridges of the county? There is not
another county in the state that has as
few really first-class bridges, bridges
built to last beyond the next freshet
season. Do they point to the roads?
Has not the board directly violated the
law which provides one mill levy for
PEI 11lanent road improvements.to be made
under the supervision of the b>ard?
Where is there bit of permanent road
work in all the county that the board
has done. Do they. point to the public
buildings? What is there but the Jail
and the poor house, and these built. not
by economies from the regular taxes,
but by special levy. Do they point to
the county out of debt? What county
could not be as nearly out Of debt as
this, if it had as little to show for its
money?
In truth and in fact the problem of
countyIgovenrmenti in this county seems
to be, how can the money OF the county
be absorbed in salaries and by favorites
of various kinds. How little can be Civ
en- for the money? How much strain
will the people bear without revolt?
In the past few years, made bold by
success, the democratic control of this
county, has grown absolutely reckless
in its open defiance ard disregard for
law. Repeatedly has the board violat-
ed the law, laughed at exposure and
trusted to the blind spirit of partisan
ship to condole excuses.
The party organ of democracy has at
tempted no defense, 1t has refused to
print the facts. In place of argument
it has given abuse. Whenever forced
to admit the facts, it has undertaken to
deride and belittle them. We have nc
hope therefore that these affairs OF
county government will receive fair and
honest consideration from the Bulletin
and we would now appeal to the demo-
cratic convention for that candid con.
sideration of the case which the cause
of good county government deserves
If the statements as to the misgovern
Fment of the county, as made by the
REVIEW and as repeated now are un
true, it will doubtless give democracy
pleasure to deny them in toto
If the charges are true, the Democrat
of this county, the large majority o
whom are at heart in favor of good gov
ernment, and who are just as much in
terested therein as any republican cal
be: cannot afford either toignore or t.
deride them. They may do both ant
still win through partisanshlp; they Cal
do neither and retain their own respec
as good citizens. We would therefor
ask democracy to consider these mat
tiers, not lightly and as political fakes
but as serious charges, demanding tn
serious attention of serious men
would be better for democracy if
should itself turn upon the incompe
tents it has raised to power, rather tina
that it should await the action of o
outraged people. Should democrat
ignore these charges, answer them wit
abuse instead of facts, renominate mf