Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-07-20
TRAILING In Small Communities.
From the Trenton True AmericanI


| While the Steffens, the Lawsons and all
the rest of the magazine school are engaged
! in a vigorous attack upon the system Of
grating in States and cities but little
attention has been paid to the same subject
in the rural communities, where the plac-
tices Of larger localities are not only pre-
vailing, but are extending to an alarming
extent
The matter Of adverse comment may be
neglected for one Of the three reasons.
First, because exact information is difficult
| to obtain, owing to the fact that, By reason
of close association, man, capable of pre-
senting facts, does not care to attack his
neighbors. Secondly, because the amount
Of graft, while often relatively as large as
that in the cities, is actually small in vol
ume, and is comparatively Insignificant
Thirdly, because the people who participate
in illegal practices, having no general
reputation, live in too small a provincial
zone to attract general attention.
But that there isrural graft and plenty
of it in this State and elsewhere, is of suf-
/ ficient Importance to command a word Of
comment. AS an instance the county Of
Ocean, which, with the exception Of Lake
wood, is distinctively rural county, has
been so permeated with the spirit Of graft
that the following is a story told Of a re.
form member of the Board of Chosen Free
holders. He recently objected to a bill for
ribbons for the typewriter, making the
remark, She's a lice girl, bat think the
county is under no obligations to buy her
clothes. = The story may be apoeryphai, but
it serves TO point moral.
la one Of the South Jersey COMMITTEES is a
small township not much larger in area
than the city of Trenton. Upon assuming
office the township committee discovered
that this miniature territorial subdivision
was paying the salaries Of three health
officers, all of whom, be it said, to the
credit Of the. committee, were promptly
discharged.
Every county has its scandals incident to
the maladministration of magisterial func-
tions on the part Of certain justices Of the
peace; while the fee-snatching proeliyities
of many constabes are notorious. From
one end Of New Jersey to the other, Boards
of Chosen Freeholders have scattered little
bridges, built cheaply for the purpose of
wearing out until one would think that
the State was a magnifed Venice, while
valuable franchises haye been granted for
the considerations Of passes and rebates
upon personal bills.
The situation is deplorable. Every
county, almost every township, and prac-
tically every borough, have their local
stories of men who have attained public
Office, and have fattened upon ill-gotten
gains. Nevertheless, reform is up to-
the voters, as no community is better
governed than its electorate will permit it
to be. There is a plentitude of law, and
no lack Of incentive for honest men to act.
Yet no one moves along the lines Of refor-
nation
Never was there a better opportunity
than the present. We can only wonder
how long it will be before the anti-graft
spirit now so active in the cities, viii COM
pei change in rural communities, or
whether there is any hope, whatever, for a
correction Of existing evils.