The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-05-21
LOOK into
YOUR COUNTY

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The most important, and, strange
to say, the most neglected unit in
the daily life and government of the
people of the United States is the
county, according TO the view pre-
scented to the National Conference
of Charities and Corrections the
other day at Memphis. Tenn, by
Prof. Graham Taylor of Chicago
University, president of the confer
ence.
The county, Professor Taylor
said, is the center of more govern
mental activities and human SER
vice than of any other seat of gov
eminent; in fact, it is the rural
capital of the great majority OF the
American people," But in pro-
portion of the county's Importance
and responsibility, Taylor asserted
that the county suffers from it's cit
liens neglect and consequent inef-
ficiency in administration.
Counties differ SO in area, in
population and in their interests
that their governments and the mar
agement OF their affairs have never
been standardized. Each county
and almost every office is a law 10
itself. Legislation has either ignored
the county, leaving it's form and
methods to be Outgrown and 10
restrict growth, or has still more
confused it's affairs by a patchwork
of laws making good government
impossible.
Doctor Taylor quoted the 1910
census which showed that five-six-
this of the 1852 counties reported.
We're rural. only lis having an ar
ban population of from fifty thous-
and to q million, and great cities
having over Il million population
being situated in only eight cOun-
ties.
The county is also our most pre-
valent political unit continued DR..
Taylor. 1T permeates our whole
Legislative, judicial and administra-
tive organization and being the CEN
or of party activities, which through
the county central committee, pot
emily influences the nomination and
election of officials rs well as party
policies. 1t is the executive agent
of both the state and the town in
vital statistics, preserving order and
doing justice, protecting life, open
ing and maintaining highways. To
fulfill these fundamental government
functions and the still more human
itarian service, and the county gov
eminent costs the people Of the
United States. 800 million dollars Il
year to maintain. :
THE contracts. let by county Of
ficials, and far more the fee-in-
comes of some of them, which in
some counties exceed the salary of
the President of the United States,
are tributary to the treasury of The
dominant party, supplying its cam
paign with the sinews of war. In
country counties, as well rs in
those which include great cities.
10th farmers and businessmen say:
What's the use of farmers taking
time for political busses anyway,
and Politics is no business for an
honest man.
In connection with the above re-
marks of Professor Taylor it is
| timely to say that the people of the
country districts in the state OF
Washington, ut least, are going 10
endeavor to bring about needed
changes at the coming state 'eiec-
ton, and are going to make pol
tiles their business. They are no
longer going to allow themselves to
become the political adjuncts of city
politicians and city chosen county
cent raj committees. They have
stopDed. have looked, and have list
ened to the political agitator and
trouble breeder sufficiently long ~
nOugh to have ascertained that In
order to bring the government clos
er to the people, it is necessary for
the people to assert their rights In
the choosing of public officials who
are to serve them. They are going
To attend to that duty properly at
the primary elections in September
and ut the polls in November.