The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-10-30
Chance Needed in Court House
(An Editorial)

COUNTY government in this country is notOnously bad
~ Students government have long realized that the strong
hold Of practically every rotten political the people OF America
suffer from county government with its large revenues great
oppounes for reardng henchmen and lack Of practical super
vision For every dollar handed the sraters BY the city govern
the county governments give away ten each year.
But money is thing this country need trouble itself about
great deal As far the general public concerned the worst
effect Of inefficient county government IS ITS lack OF pro-
gres oncness have its work. particularly roads bridges ana
other construction for public only h done he rst cost o
bad road e tits the increased cost Of doing business which
follows the dsntegaOn of the roadway or the lack OF foresight
the engineering that And right here IN Marion county
we have some gang examples Of that kind Of county admntra
ton The other day killed Marion county road
and when the spread around the FIRST comment OF nine per-
sons out of ten who have been the highway which the
fatality happened Il have been expecting that for some time
But the roads and bridges not the only things on which
Ring which controls county spend the Pubc money tor
the enrichment of its ayoGte There are hundreds OF little ways
in which money ted and then there are the even more
places which avorsm shown and the burden OF
government made to tall unequally upon the public anyway
you take the of which the people ought
TO keep firm hand upon is the county government
number of plans have been discussed for making more
difficult for close corporation county Rings operate but after all
there effective plan than to maintain healthy rotation
office No county officer ventures to play tavone squander
hc public funds lay down his job until he thinks ne has
reached place where he secure It Ring control OF the party
machinery and Of the floating which puts the public be damn
ed spirit the head Of the Inefficient Indifferent or crooked
county officer.
And when county officers do reach that state Of mind the
public is blame Obviously the proper remedy for the public
its control o affairs by putting new men IN Office IN
Of county affairs for many gears They make the usual reports
and they pass the community for honest but what does the
public know about what has been going behind the closed doors
Of the court house oces3 Not thing Perhaps there has not
been any pecuniary dishonesty but this does not he
tate to make the assertion that there has been plenty OF dishonesty
Of other kinds and that the affairs of the county haNe Tor years
been conaesd ii StS IKE a1net
he women of the county know that If none Others do he
Marion county Court House RING did not wake up to the neaess
Of woman suffrage until the thing upon them Within the
peod which has elapsed the election of four the
County court treated the of the county rst with ncer
cnce and then with contempt which evidenced by the sharp
practice which they Tried play regarding the custody OF the room
occupied BY the Red Cross he women OF the county at all
times ought have much consideration in the court house
as the men They have pay the taxes when they own
property But it did strike the members OF the County court
that way because they did also have vote They now have
the voe and if they do to clean up the court house they
will demonstrate that they do understand the power OF the
political weapon which has been placed In their hands
If The voters do their duty and defeat all the Democratic
candidates for county offices not only will serve TO put the affairs
Of the county upon better plane but will carry with 1t COM
pee reformation Of the political conditions OF the county Both
political parties will have clean up and stay cleaned up 1t they
would hope The confidence Of the electorate But on the
other hand if there change the court house the same old
conditions in our county government and local politics which
are such repoach the good people of the county will continue
for another four years, "
1t in the hands Of the intelligent voters especially the
woman voters They and the aosr and the vote seller are
the balance of power Tney have the kind of they
want if they will but 90 the polls Tuesday and vote the way
hey know their Will approve during the time that will
cnsue between this and the next election.