Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-04-28
AUDRAIN co.
DEMOCRATIC
COM. REFUSES

State Democratic Committee to cir
culate petitions asking that twelve
of the recent bills passed by the Re-
publican Legislature be referred to
the people.
Chairman R. w. Berry presided and
the others present were T. M. Dowell,
If. E. Showers, Thomas Crum,- j. F.
Edwards and W. W. Johnson, L. M.
White was acting secretary. Judge
w. w. Bolts spoke on the bills as did
Judge R ID. Rodgers, William Vivion
and Judge E. A. Shannon.
Resolutions were adopted. The pos
ition taken ythe committee was that
the circulation of these petitions were
not matter for a political unit to
have anything to do with.
The Democratic committee for Aud
rain county make to the people of
gAudrain county the following state
ment:
The fifty first General Assembly,
Republican inboth branches has en-
acted and Republican governor has
signed number of partisan meas
ures for which we believe they deserve
e public condemnation. Among these
measures we briefly designate the fol-
0 lowing:
d The Kansas City Justice and con-
v stable bills.-These bills abolish the
r offices of all the justices of the peace
:, and constables, all Democrats elected
e by the people of Kansas City, and
create new offices of slightly differ
ent jurisdiction and provide that such
offices shall be filled by appointments of
tehgovemor. We doubt if the annals
of legislation in the United States
present a more fragrant piece of par
tisan legislation. Its petty character
renders it positively contemplate.
The Judicial re-districting BILL
The ostensible purpose ofthis bill was
l to reduce the number of circuits by
four, and save that much expense.
- The real purpose however was to un-
seat eight democratic circuit Judges,
elected by the people and give the
"a governor the right to appoint four re-
" publicans in their places, and to make
81 as many republican circuits as pos
. sible in the state. But this act has
y done more than it's authors intended.
% There is grave reason for believing
that every circuit judge in the state
r has been divested Of his authority.
~ The constitution expressly provides
a. thst, Whenever a circuit shall be
re abolished, the office of the judge of
80 srch circuit shall cease"
ne The Consolidation bills.--The So
"a called consolidation measures create
w long list of high salaried Cabinet
officers to perform the duties relating
to the various institutions of the
eo state, that have been heretofore per
ne formed by visiting boards composed
y If citizens without salary and provide
-. the governor with snowy cabinet Al
~ the, expense Of the state. incidentally
~ however, they provide convenient
ay means Of ousting democratic en-
81 ployees by abolishing their positions
'h' and creating new positions with thu
= same duties.
~ The Department of Budget BILL
Instead of establishing a Legislative
he budget system advocated by bot
III nnties in their prediction platforms
they have established Department
of Budget" with high-salaried Cab
met" officer and long list of assist
'eu ants and travelling inspectors o
agents to NEEDLE with every bod
'eii connected with the state government
IN ar any officer or institution thereo
MS with no authority but unlimited powe
au for mischief,
.Es' These bills were advocated in tn
ms interest of "Co-ordination, econom
eSs and efficiency" but as an example Q
the economy that they have produced
hs' thelegislature appropriated for tn
Agricultural Department" more tina
eeu one million dollars for the next tw
acii years to perform the same duties ths
'rs' cost less than seven hundred thou'
i.s' and dollars thelast two years, an
gn- appropriated for the department
ack Budget. $127, 100000 to perform pra
our tically thesame duties that the ts
'eg- commission performed for about $47
sho 10000.
frs. W. hal;avo Tho all tbesa and mar
py other laws exacted by the 51st gel
ASH eral assembly are perniciously pa
ara tisan in purpose and dangerous
70 their tendency. The democratic mer
rris bers opposed these measures and y
'pie believe the people win condemn thel
ous- The people have two means Of redref
rem They can, by circulating and signii
lter, referendum petitions in suffieie
!. - numbers, hold up the enforcement
ger, these laws until the next gener
ues- election and vote them down at t
N polls, or they can let them so into
enss feet and vote. the party responsil
ones for them out of power at the ne
aon- election. AS the official represent
Dr. tives Oh the Democratic party In Au
ched rain county, we feel that we ha
kens done our duty in calling attention
ason what We believe a fragrant abuse
nus- power BY the party IN power. Il
NJ II, %c }t,a s,ansyla III do the rest.