The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-09-20
MAIN issue IN
SPOKANE COUNTY

An earnest Of the chief features
of the campaign contemplated by
the democrats of this county may
be seen in the platform adopted by
the party convention on the 28th of
last July. There are no national
or state issues at stake of any de-
gree of Importance in comparison
with the purely local issues. The
interests of Spokane county and her
taxpayers stand forth with distinct
ness.
Much county history has been
written in the past few years
more than has been made public,
except as the public has wormed
its way into the records on file at
the county courthouse. This ele-
ment in the present campaign is
succinctly stated in the democratic
platform in this language:
'In county affairs we arraign be-
fore the bar of public opinion the
present county officers of Spokane
county, better known as the court
house ring, as being incompetent,
careless, eXtravagant and unbusi-
nesslike in their conduct of public
affairs land we pledge our candi-
dates individually and collectively
to reduce the working force in the
various county offices to a business
basis and to a careful, painstaking,
economical administration of public
business
This, then, is to be one of the
chief features of the county cam
paign of 1906. To this end, rely
ing on the justice of our cause and
the sincerity and integrity of our
candidates. the democratic party
appeals to the voters of Spokane
county for their suffrage.
Spokane is a wealthy community.
Her citizens in private affairs are
men of business capacity and
shrewdness. Her officials have not
conducted public business as they
have carried on their own personal
enterprises. Her business executive
powers have been for four years
in the absolute control of two men,
and public, official reprimand has
been recorded against them. Gross
incompetency" has been declared
against these men by a body of
non5partisan citizens acting as pub
lie servants. The democratic
county committee will present to
the voters for their education fur
ther facts concerning this wasteful
disposition of county funds. The
democrats want the public to know
the facts, confident that there will
be but one result-an aggressive
demand for thorough reformation
in the manner of the conduct of
county affairs under the terms of
which the taxpayers will be pro-
tected from grafters and spend
thrifts.
AS the campaign advances, ex-
cerpts from public documents and
records on file at the courthouse
will be published in these columns
excerpts written every one of
them. by republicans and concern
ing acts of republicans, but for the
people at large. Few of these ex-
tracts have ever reached the light
Of publicity. One of the main pur-
poses of these columns is the bring
ing of these secreted facts into the
light of public property for the pur-
pose of public comment. 1t will be
a campaign of education The muck
rake will be used. The circum-
stances warrant it. The situation
renders its use necessary, The muck
is in the courthouse through no act
of the democratic party. which now
addresses itself to the people in the
firm belief that the taxpayers want
a cleaning out of the unwholesome
in the public halls.