Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1900 — Also Applies to Jasper County. [ARTICLE]

Also Applies to Jasper County.

In commenting on the bad state of affairs that has existed in Shelby county the Indianapolis Press says; The second conviction in the Shelby county “boodle” cases encourages the hope that others may follow, until the whole gang of men that have made a business of robbing the people of that county for years may be brought to justice. Fattening off their illegal gains, they have waxed strong, until it has been thought that it would be an impossible task to dislodge them. Indeed, it has seemed at times as if the whole county were so permeated with the ramifying influence of public plunder that the people had lost all desire to set things right. The trials, however, are bearing fruit in an aroused public opinion, opposed to the “boodlers,” that has been growing rapidly? and, as the fight goes on’ evidence on which to convict becomes easier to produce, as men get over their fear of the influence of the gang. Many communities have found themselves in the position of Shelby county a few months ago, with vice and dishonesty so strongly intrenched that it seemed impossible to make any headway in the effort to obtain cleaner government. Some of them have given up the effort in despair, or in the deferred hope that corrupt methods will finally bring about the downfall of those practicing them in some accidental or unforeseen way. There should be a more abiding faith in human nature. It is doubtful if there is a city or county in the United States where a considerable majority of the people would not prefer clean and honest governnent. And such goyerment they will insist on having, once they are fully informed what* they are suffering. Shelby county seemed as hopeless a case as could well be imagined, but the mills of justice have begun to grind there, and they promise to grind exceeding fine before I they get through with the job. 1 Other communities can take heart and do likewise.