Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-02-28
Abuse of Magistrates and Legis-
lator Not ReIished by
Democrats.
Courier-JOurnal Record of DEM
ocracy Not Consistent or
Loyal.
PROHIBITION GIVEN A JOLT

Louisville and Jefferson county
Democrats are amazed at the as
sumed dictatorial policy OF the
| Courier-Journal in discussing the
proposed bill to remove the Magis-
trates from charge of the Fiscal
Court before their terms expire, the
Haldeman organ endeavoring to in
timidate the Legislative members
from Jefferson county by threatening
them with exile from the Demo-
cratic party and the withdrawal of
Its support in case any of them offer
for nomination in the future.
In speaking of joint letter from
Magistrates Dacher, Schulman,
Muenninghoff, Wheeler, Crawford,
Sullivan and Dorsey, written to the
Legislative members from Jefferson
county, the Courier-Journal says:
"The truth is that the fight for
the abolition of the Fiscal Court and
tts suppIantation by a compact COM
mission elected from the county at
large, was led, insofar as the press
was concerned, by the Courier-Jour-
nal, which is neither a Bull Mooser'
nor Republican, but Democrat OF
longer standing and more disinter-
ested devotion THAN THE WORTH
les WHOSE NAMES APPEAR AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE LETTER
HERE QUOTED"
This is a pretty nervy. assertion,
coming from paper which not so
very distant bolted the national
Democratic ticket and supported
Palmer and Buckner on a Mugwump
ticRet and platform introduced solely
to inSlre the Democratic party and
Its chances, while some of the above
worthless" as styled by the Courier
Journal, We're loyal enough to stay
In the party. which is direct -ontra-
diction OF its boasted caree, OF
Democracy. Then again, In the
opinion OF many Democrats the
feeble support given the Democratic
ticket by the Courier-Journal and its
evening appendage in the last cam
paign does not consistently entitle it
to assume the role of dictator to the
members of the Legislature or the
Democratic organization.
There is no denying the fact that
the past management of Fiscal Court
affairs could have been improved
upon, but the small haphazard vote
taken in the heat of a municipal cam
paign does not represent "a crying
demand for the summary dismissal
of the Magistrates chosen by big
majorities, and 1t is pretty near a
safe assertion that IL the question
was left to the whole of the voters
an opinion would be registered in
favor of the Magistrates completing
the terms to which they were elected,
nor is the average voter in sympathy
with special train junketing trips to
have them removed or their duties
eurtailed.
Quite a setback was given to the
rabid Prohibitionist bills of the
present Legislative session when the
called for report of Auditor Bos-
worth was read Thursday, showing
that the liquor industries pay an
nually to the State the sum or
$571,254.15, and their taxable prop
erty is listeo at $S52,171,2O5; and In
the event of the disruption of this
industry 1t would take an increased
tax rate of six cents on the dollar to
make up the deficit. In addition II
might also be stated that this in
dustry pays to the counties the
same amount of county taxes as
the sum paid the State. This
statement should serve to put q
quietus on rabid bills being intro
duced as we'll as the select coterie
of State politicians who are agitating
this question for self-adyancement
of their political schemes or aspira-