Boone County, Indiana - Chapter 18: Politics of Boone County, 1914

Chapter 18: Politics of Boone County

Boone had politics and she had it pretty bad along with her sister counties. Old Hickory was the chief man of the Nation, when she was born, and as he signed most of the deeds granting lands to the pioneers of the county, the political complexion of the county was marked by President Andrew Jackson, and the pioneer babes of the woods were sung to sleep in the sugar trough cradles, by the lullabies of Jefferson and Jackson. The sound democratic principles of the father of democracy and of the emphatic expounder of its doctrines, were faithfully impressed upon the minds and hearts of the rising generation ; and the county was not only born, but also trained along the lines of these two illustrious leaders of the party. Is it any wonder that the principles of these fathers became imbedded in the character of the men of Boone and that it stuck and is to this day a prominent element in her character. It is a forcible illustration of the axiom, train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it. The citizens of the young county stuck faithfully to Jackson all through the eight years of his administration, and on through the term of Martin Van Buren. The crisis that came in 1837, in monetary disaster of that day, was all laid at the door of the President, and it brought on the disturbance that elected William H. Harrison as captain of the Whig band, president of the United States. In the crash some of the Democrats went down, and part of the officers of the county were elected by the Whigs. These conditions did not last long. The war with Mexico arose, the spirit of Jackson came to the front, and James K. Polk was elected President, and the Democrats followed the trend of National politics, and restored that party into power in the county. They continued to bear the scepter until the storm of 1854 arose. The political arena had been stirred by the slavery issue, and the American idea had come to the front, so everything was ripe for a political revolution, and it came. That year the Know-Nothings swept the field and elected most of the county officers. This was the second storm that swept over the county, and made a break in the ranks of the followers of Jefferson and Jackson. It did not last long, for the forces of 1856 led by the Bachelor, James Buchanan, knocked the Know-Nothings out, not even sparing those of Boone county. Only a few remained, and they were set aside in 1858, and Boone was back in her native element again. The agitation in politics became more furious. The slavery question that was back of all, and each political faction was afcaid to touch it in any shape. It would not down. The spirit of 1856 came to the front in i860, and stirred the whole country, as it had never been stirred before in its history. Boone county was drawn into the whirl, and was torn from its moorings. Some of the Democratic officers went down with the tide, and the flood of 1862 and 1864 swept it clean. The war settled the slave issue; and the old Jacksonian and Jeffersonian Democracy in the North went down with it and out of Boone county. New issues came to the front, and the men of Boone lined up along the new lines, and began to make inroads upon the ranks of the Republicans. The Green- Backs were an entering wedge, and helped break the phalanx. There was a division of the political spoils of the county so that, when the storm of 1884 came and was led by Grover Cleveland, the officers were divided. The county now became a close county in politics, and the result of the election depended much upon the personality of the candidate. This continued until the campaign of 1896, when the Republicans came into power again and remained so until the administration of Theodore Roosevelt, when it began to weaken and has continued to swing off until now it has full sway in the county, controlling almost everything political. Thus the political pendulum has swung back and forth during our history, and has made what we term a close political county. This has been beneficial to the county in more ways than one. No political party has a walkover in the county. They cannot afford to put dead-beat political riders on any ticket, and hope to carry him through on party strength. Hence, the very best men must be placed on the ticket as candidates. The result of this is that our best men are put to the front. The county has had a few men that have fallen through personal weakness, but none have ever wronged the county by defaulting. This speaks well for the political history of the county. Few counties in the state can produce a better record. Her officers have been true and faithful, and her people have been wise and fortunate in selecting them. This record of Boone county is evidence, that it is best for a community to be closely divided in its party lines. This principle will hold good in the Nation as well as in the county. It would be well if the different branches of our state and National legislative bodies were never all of one political complexion at the same time. If this was the case, legislation would be for the good of the Nation, instead of for the party. They would watch each other more closely, and be held in the line of rectitude and patriotic duty. Few counties in the state can boast of a cleaner record than Boone county. The charge of fraud or rake-off has never been preferred against any of her officers. After all, a person's political and religious complexion has little to do with his virtues as a citizen and a neighbor. If he has in his heart love for God and love for man he will be able to keep the "Golden Rule" and faithfully discharge all his obligations to his fellow-man, and be faithful and true in all positions and relations of life. About every political complexion in the land has had following in Boone and as our citizens have stood as advocates of these different political views, it did not change their character as neighbors or as citizens. In fact, our county is an object lesson that men of independent political and religious views can live together harmoniously, and put in practice the teachings of the Great Master of Judea. It demonstrates the fact that no matter what may be the peculiar religious beliefs and political notions, men do right and are men. No matter what style of hat one may wear, it is the same head under it ; and whatever may be the color or texture of his vest, it is the same heart that beats and throbs underneath. These very differences in views elevate men into higher intelligence and they are able to think better and to love better. The friction of views polishes, and makes the virtue in us shine, with more burnish, and we become more cultured and refined. These very refining influences have worn away the Hoosier, cut out the web-foot so that Booneites today will measure up to the standard of culture and refinement of a free and independent citizen of the world in the Twentieth Century Civilization. Through hardships and privations of pioneer life, we developed muscle and vitality; through the friction of contact with men of different views, all the corners have been smoothed and polished into the similitude of ideal men and women. We can thank our stars for different views in religion and

Representatives In Congress County Commissioners

From 1832 to 1852 there was what was known as associate judges, and the following held such positions: 1832-37, William Kenworthy, Jacob Johns; 1837-39, Samuel Cason, Jacob Johns; 1839-46, Samuel Cason, Samuel Dooley; 1846-52, Samuel Cason, Nash L. Pitzer.