Amador ledger., 1904-11-25
INDEPENDENCE IN POLITICS.

cal manipulators hereabouts to put
on their thinking caps. 1t is the
first instance of a candidate running
entirely on an independent basis in
Amador county being elected In
this particular case, not merely his
election is cause for surprise to
the party hacks, who have imagined
that by virtue of the ties of party
ism they held sort of mortgage on
the offices, but he was elected by
such a decisive vote that left not the
shadow of an excuse for contest
The outcome has nonplussed the
machine politicians. They are still
wondering how it came about, and
what effect it may have upon the
future political history. The real
truth is, in local affairs the people of
Amador county are getting heartily
sick OF the way things have been
running for years. They are fully
alive to the evils which have grown
up in our local government. They
realize that no matter which party
is in control, no effort has been made
to correct these evils. EVERYTHING
has tended to heap more burdens on
the taxpayers, more spoils for the
hn
are, an observing class. They note
that, as rule, those who do politics
as business are of the non- -taxpay-
ing order. 1t matters nothing to
them whether taxes are high or low.
Their contribution toward the ex-
penses of government is paid priu-
cipally in iawbone. at the same time
drawing down fat salaries for politi-
cal jobs. This indifference to the
burdens of the taxpaying fraternity
was strikingly Illustrated by the
local conven tions of the two great
parties that met in Jackson last
August. A county convention is ex-
pected to formulate a platform on
local affairs; to lay down a policy
for the correction of any wrongs
that may exist, and the amelioration
of public burdens that are possible
of remedy by legislative action. But
what did either the republican or
democratic convention have to say
on these matters so vital to the
interests of the county? The repub-
Iican body was absolutely silent on
local matters, creating the i'm
preston that from the standpoint
of the platform makers either there
was nothing to correct, or if there
were grievances the party was not
going to promise anything in the
way of redress. So a string of
platitudes, extolling every Office
holder of the party, was made to do
service as platform, and the con-
vention let it 60 at that. Turning
to the democratic gathering we find
the same disregard of local affairs.
One resolution condemned the man
agement of the county hospital. This
was the sum-total of recognition &C
corded the county government; and
the condemning body knew at the
time of the passage of that resolu-
ton that the management of that
institution had been changed, and
things were moving along as orderly
and satisfactorily in the hospital
as could be wished for. Now in face
of this silence, Indicative of de-
termination on the part of both
parties not to advocate reform
measures, it is hardly surprising
that the people, when an oppor-
tunity is presented, turn to an indie
pendent candidate. The supportac-
corded him is protest against the
failure to accomplish anything
through the agency of party organi-
cation. And party manipulators
will do well to give due weight to
this warning note. The republican
party is triumphant in the nation
to-day because it represents a we'll
defined and settled policy-a policy
that has brought prosperity to every
industry. But as local organiza-
tion it cannot claim the support of
the voters merely on the achieve
ments of the national party. 1t has
a duty to perform in its limited
sphere of operations at home, namely
to devise measures to relieve, not to
Cypress the people. This is the plain
path for any organization aspiring
for governmental control. The obi
CATION is so obvious that it cannot
be Systematically ignored without
reaction. When a party acts,
either nationally or locally, under
the idea that there is nothing more
in issue than the mere capture of
few offices of emolument, the con-
fidence of the people in it's ability to
govern is impaired, and with loss of
confidence the party followers melt
| awau That ic tho nonditinr of 4lo