Amador ledger., 1906-09-07
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
The democratic local platform, adop-
ted at the convention held last Satur-
day, appears in another column. We
ask our readers-whether democrats
or republicans-to read it carefully.
If they can make out anything out
of it, it is more than we can. 1t is
the nearest approach to saying moth
ing that we have stumbl across in
proclamation of that character in
many moons. 1t was significant that
not one of the candidates nominated
stated that he endorsed the platform
Probably they were in the same diIem-
ma as the spectators-they did not
know what it meant. They did not
care to plant themselves on lot of
hot air. We cannot call it a tissue of
glittering geneIalities, for there Is
no glitter about it. 1t processes to
pledge all its nominees to an econom-
lcal administration of affairs, and at
the same time endorses and COM
mends present democratic officials in
their conduct. This verbiage, there
fore, if it means anything, merely
seeks to perpetuate existing condi-
tions, as far as they are concerned.
They are the ne plus ultra of
efficiency. This sort of taffy will
hardly go with the voters. 1t can
and will be shown that we are long
way from the goal in this regard.
Then again the fling about the assess
or having his Office at the county
seat open all the year round during
Office hours, insidiously adding, ''as
The law contemplates. :" Where does
the law, either in express terms or
by implication, require the assessor
to do this. Did the trainers of this
ultra partisan platform imagine they
could make point in favor of their
candidate, and against the present
republican assessor by such a plank
misleading and untrue. The county
government act says:
The following officers must reside
at the county seat of their respective
counties: County clerk, auditor,
recorder, sheriff, district attorney,
tax-collector, and treasurer. All
county officers must have their offices
at the county seat, and the sheriff,
clerk, recorder, auditor, treasurer
and district attorney must keep their
Offices open for the transaction zof
business from a. m. until p. M.
non judicial days excepted
The assessor being omitted from
this list, the only inference to be
drawn is fatty contradictory of the
democratic platform, namely that the
law does not contemplate that the
assessors shall have his office open
during office hours at the county seat
all the year round. There is nothing
to be gained by Misrepresentation
even IN democratic platform, which
according to tradition is generally
meant to hoodWink the voters.
There is nothing to be gained by the
assessor having his office open as the
platform wants. 1t would increase
the cost of government without any
corresponding benefit. From August
to March the assessor has practically
nothing to do with taxpayers. His
books are Turned over to other
officials. Perhaps the democrats are
figuring to fasten another berth on
an already over burdened community,
In the shape of deputy assessor "aII
the year round" 1t is a move in the
direction of extravaganza and sine
cure officers, rather than of economy
and the public welfare.
Then again the proposition of each
county being lowed representative
OF its own in the state legislature, is
another utterly practicable idea.
1t would sweep away the time honored
and correct method of representation
according to population. Amador
has suffered, inasmuch as she has
not been dealt with fairly according
to population in the present IegisIa-
tive apportionment. Still we must
admit that we are not entitled to an
assemblyman alone. We must grow
some, and keep pace with other
sections.