The Cairo bulletin., 1904-02-11

+ Ties. the idea Of government BIZ com
mission was Kept up Hence the ere
alton Of the county hoard OF commits
sioners or magistrates, not elected b.
I the people but appointed by the gov
ernor For the large plantations an,
sparse white population this NOR,
centralized system was well fitted FOL
the necessities OF the time aud plaza
II it did not develop statesmen In suct
numbers as the township system IN
New England II salhced 10 give lhs
country the greatest and most potent
founders Of the republic, Washington
jefferson, Madison, Marshall and Pa
trick Henry. galaxy Of leaders whose
hriliancy has never been eclipse
In any age or in any country. John
Fiske in his work on civil government
IN the United States comparing the
two systems says. eve must avoid
the mistake Of making too much OF
< This contrast. Even though Virginia
aad not the town meeting II had It's
familiar court day which was a holiday
for all the country side. especially in
the fall and spring. From all drec.
tons came in the people on horse
4 back, in wagons, On foot On the
court house green assembled, in in
discriminate confusion, people OF all
classes the hunter from the back
woods. The owner of few acres. the
grand proprietor. the Needless and
good-natured negro Old debts were
settled, and new ones made; there
were auctions, transfers of property,
and il election times were near,
stump speaking" There is little doubt
that this same habit of stump speak
ing in our ancestors did much tc
develop craftsmanship and that we
Egyptians come honestly by the rep
itation we have gained of taEing to
politics as naturally as duck takes
10 water. or as q turtle falls of log
As have said the FIRST settlers OF
Illinois brought with them the idea
If the county as the unit but they
made a clear advance on the Virginia
system by making the office OF county
commissioner an elective one by the
voters OF the body OF the county. In
the constitutional convention OF 1913
the advocates of the two systems met
in determined struggle for the adop-
ton OF thir respective systems. The
debate was spirited and long-drawn
out and the result was compromise
that gave us the law we operate IN
dor today. the option to the voters OF
each county 10 adopt the system OF
their choice. All government is con |
tinually undergoing changes in adapt !
ing itself To new conditions. Only one |
ttltu III tiir tOHhNttS III itiH'tH iNiHo"t
under commission government, and Il
is safe 10 predict that in time all will
come under the township system.
Ii liz generally conceded that the !
organization is most in har
mony with our republican institutions |
Thomas jefferson. himself Virglnian |
sald These wards called townships |
in New England are the vital principle |
u their governments and have proven
the wisest invention ever
devised by the wit Of man for the
perfect exercise OF self government |
ana for its preservation
In Alexander comfy we have con
tinued the old system. No popular
demand has ever been made for
change 10 township organization. We
are long triangular county. bordered
and indonted by rivers on either side.
Many Of our townships are fractional
ana contain but few inhabitants. The
board OF county commissioners has
been found best suited TO our wants.
Owing to the recent building OF two
great bridges within our territory and
he construction of numerous new
tines Of railroad, making Alexander
county practically the gateway to the
south and southwest, we are rapidly
in wealth and population.
These conditions may render change
to township organization desirable in
l few years.
To insure the best county govern
ment the board of supervisors or com
missioners should not be wholly under
the domination of any partisan politi-
,aI organization. There should, In my
Judgment. be fair and equitable rep |
of the minority party
lust as there Is in our state Legislature
IN county not under township organ.
zation. two of the commissioners
should come from the dominant party
md the remaining one from the OPP
position. In the board Of supervisors
/ similar ratio should obtain. This
arrangement prevents the county
,oard from becoming part Of a polit-
cal machine. insures the oversight I