Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1900 — Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 [ADVERTISEMENT]

A vote for the democratic county ticket is a vote to open the books. The Transvaal war, says Lord Roberts, is over. Nothing remains except to whip the Boers. Every democrat should be on his guard against the huge corruption fund of the republicans. It is not only intended to buy votes wherever possible, but to corrupt election boards as well. If Nelson Morris is to have onehalf his Keener tp., gravel road taxes remitted on condition that he drop that embarrassing lawsuit, why not remit one-half of the gravel road tax of the poor farmers of Keener? Morris is a millionaire and could make Rome howl, but those other fellows— Oh, well, we suppose the commissioners will “laugh” at THEM.

Jasper county farmers should not lose sight of the fact that prosperity has given them a sort of a left hander in the solar-plexus. During the past three years mortgages were executed in this county to the amount of $342,821 more than were paid off, as shown by official reports in the State Statistician’s office. The exact increase in number for these years was 1,2'.)5. Yes, the commissioners “laughed” when one thousand of the heaviest taxpayers of the county petitioned them for an investigation of the county records. There is an old adage that “he who laughs last laughs best.” Unless we mistake the sentiment of the taxpayers of Jasper county they will<lo the “laughing’’ Nov. 6, and the same commissioners . who “laughed” at their petition will be the objects of their merriment.

The election of the republican county ticket this fall means a farewell to all hope for an investigation of the county records - for all time. If the people want these records opened up and recover the thousands of dollars that has been illegally paid out, the democratic county ticket MUST be elected THIS fall. The republican candidates dare not make the investigation,.and after this fall it will be forever too late to recover these sums, the statute of limitation protecting the looters.

The Barnicle says that the board (meaning the board of commissioners) only laugh at The Democrat’s question as to what service Mrs. Frances E. Bostwick (thebarnacle editor’s daughter) performed in the late Gifford railroad election by which Jasper county was under any oblications, legal or moral, to pay her sl2. Certainly. They will also “laugh” when we ask how a public officer’s account can be overdrawn $5,163.29, in addition to all fees collected by him, for four years services when the total salary for the four years was but $4,800!

Taxpayers, don’t forget that the republican candidate for blate Statistician is—or was —the president of the Township Trustees’ Association of this state, and that this organization fought tooth and nail against the township reform law. B. F. Johnsoil is the candidate of the opposition to the county and township reform laws, and the opposition to these laws also succeeded in nominating candidates to the legislature who are pledged to repeal them. They are the most wholesome laws for the protection of the taxpayer that were ever placed upon the statute books. They have saved thousands of dollars to the people of Jasper county, and, while not perfect, they are a great step in the right direction and should merely be strengthened in the weak places, never repealed. Remember this and vote accordingly. We hope you will profit by it.

Among the many false pretenses on which Mr. McKinley’s campaign for re-election is being conducted none is more disreputable or more positively insulting to that half of the American people which will not vote for him than the pretense that to oppose Mr. McKinley now is to give “aid and comfort to the enemy” the Filipinos. No man <e are told, can support Mr. B van or condemn the war that Mi A: Kinley is carrying on in the I' dlippii . a war, remember. ■ .» .> % ning. which (lorn . er asked to declare it to without becoming i.spom ibh r the continuance of that wm Democratic voters in this part o the country at least will not la dismayed nor deterred from voting for Bryan and again t the unconstitutional, un-American and wtr-mely dangerous policy of Mr. McKinley in the Philippines by