The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Our Township Government (This is the second iif a series of articles on the significance, structure and functions of township government. Here the early background of this form of government is explored, to find out why it began and how it expanded from early colonial times to its development today in the state of Illinois.) Fundamentally, towns h i p government is a unit of state government functioning at the local level. In Illinois, it was established in the State purpose of serving local Constitution of 1948 for the areas where such service seemed desireable or necessary. Illinois counties were given the option of adding t o w n s h i p g o v e r n m e n t , a n d eighty-five of the 102 counties elected to employ it. Today, with more and more federal, state and county governmental action affecting the people, the need for a nearby, more receptive wing of state government seems to provide the citizenry with an increasingly important base for individual politital action. • Affects Taxation Township government has a direct influence on local taxation. It functions at local levels, where it counts most, in the area of health and welfare, as well as with youth and delinquency problems, aid to the aged, and on matters relating to local improvements. statutory powers to proVide and regulate educational services, such as township libraries. It may provide public and mental health serviced within its area. In non-metropolitan areas it builds and maintains local roads, and regulates the safe travel over these roads. It is an efficient governmental body to help solve problems such as air and water polution, control obnoxious conditions, and regulative and improve refuse disposal. It may conduct civil defense operations in its area. An extremely important consideration is that the doings of township government are under the control of the citizens. What it does or does not do is subject to public approval or disapproval at least once a year, at town meetings. Some people are surprised to learn that town meetings still exist, but they certainly do! In addition to such meetings, the citizenry controls township government through election of township officials every four years. Altogether, the people are an integral part of the township governmental process, not simply electors of remote officials. The articles to follow will explore all the facets of township government -- known and unknown -- to help every citizen find out more' about it. The next in the series will present the interesting historical back ground of this form of government, as the basis of explaining how and why township government, as the basis of explaining how and why township government developed into what it is today. "Among nations, democracy has always been accounted the meanest and worst form of government." Who said that? Would you believe it --that this statement came from a leader of early American Colonists? It is attributed to one John Winthrop, first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who held this position in the early 1630's. Only a few years earlier, the famous Pilgrims had set foot on American shores, seeking freedom from oppression and autocracy which they had experienced in Europe. Obviously, even in the beginnings of our country, there were those, "such as Governor Winthrop, who a d v o cated other than democracy. It is a simple fact that democracy has never come easy for the people who seek and deserve it. The struggle in the New World started in the early 1600's, and it continues today. It will go on tomorrow. • Under Colony Gover nor Winthrop, the autocratic concept he fostered did not win out. It did not because the populace of the colony rejected it. And, they replaced it by establishing what is knowh today as township government ! This truly is where a great innovation and a great institution of democracy began. First Step The first step in the process of breaking the autocratic hold of Governor Winthrop was to gain the right to elect the members of the colony's all-powerful General Court. The second step was to incorporate newly settled areas into township units, w i t h their own elected officials. Actually, in the 1600's, these governmental units were called towns; instead of townships. An important part of the town government consisted of town meetings, 'vhere every individual had the right, of free discussion on every public issue. The search for individual rights has long been considered the primary reason why early settlers of America came to the New World. Yet, even with this resolve, these early settlers begot leaders who thought otherwise -- who reasoned that "rule by the appointed few" is superior to rule by the elected representatives of the people. What would happen today, if the process of the 1630's was reversed? First, township government would be abolished. Then, the right to elect local governmental officials is taken away. Where are we then? The Consequence* The unfortunate answer is that we would simply return to an autocratic, leader-byappointment type of non-democratic government! We should learn from history, although it often is difficult to do so. But we do know that the concept of "rule by the appointed few" is still with us. It continues to represent a danger to democracy and to individual rights. An important point beqrs repetition: The creation of township government halted a determined move toward autocratic government in the early 1600's. This form of local rule by the people played an immensely significant part in the development of democracy in America. T o w n s h i p g o v e r n m e n t ' stands today as a means of assuring the continuance of democracy in the state and in the nation. Township government has meritoriously withstood the test of history since colonial times. As the nation expanded westward, settlers continued to establish township government units. They set up township boundaries, then selected supervisors or "selectmen" to administrate localized governmental affairs, from regulation of the town "commons" to overseeing health conditions to constructing new roads. Following the American Revolution, the Congress of the young country designated the land extending to the Mississippi River as the Northwest Territory. In 1 7 8 7 , a n o r d i n a n c e w a s passed providing a pattern of government for the expanding country, providing for teui-^ Consequently, the first Illinois GR®QMM© (All Breeds) • BOARDING (Individual Kennel** • m-'INING •' BATHING Rusk' i®gfe@p's 101S W. ILtaeoln Rd. McHenry Fhope 885-2486 (1 Mile East of the Saline Drive-In) Quality Radiator Repair By Factory-Trained Radiator Specialists 12 Years Experience Every Job FLO-TESTED For Your Added Protection. MA. WORK GUARANTEED -- PROMPT SERVICE Complete Stock of IfegSrailU aad! New Radiators Complete Stock of Original Equip. Heater Control Valves ADAMS BiQS. *1 to V.F.W. W. Root© 120 Phone 385-0?83 McHenry, IHL tory governors, along with county and township governmental units. Conditions Varied • Conditions were different, however, in the expansion of the South and the Southwest territories. Here, landowners controlled large plantations, sometimes even larger than the size of a township as constituted in the North. This was, in a sense, a baronial type of society, with landowners controlling the administration of the county as ^well as the state governments. The county unit became the local governing body, usually with three commissioners serving as both administrative and legislative county officers. During the early 1800's the great expansion of the western territories continued, moving heavily into areas frhich became states of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. In 1809, Illinois became a territory, and in 1818 was brought into the Union as a state. , The early Illinois settlers came into the new state along the Ohio river route, and most of them had been accustomed to county-commission type local government. Constitution provided only for state and county-commission governmental units, without townships. Rapid Growth • During the 1830's and 40's, the northern part of Illinois grew rapidly. Hie settlers came from states where the civil township was a very important unit of local government. Thus, when the second Illinois Consitution was adopted in 1848, it gave counties an option to include townships as a part of the state governmental organization, within the counties electing to do so. This also provided that the elected township supervisors would become the governing commission of the county. In a general election of 1849, a majority of Illinois counties chose the township system, and staffed these units with a supervisor, clerk, tax officer, justices of the peace and constables. Practically the entire northern half of the counties in Illinois established township governments. Eventually, this totaled eighty-five counties with township governmental bodies, and seventeen with county commission systems. In 1893, Cook county, including the mushrooniing city of Chicago, established a separate county board of commissioners, along with the thirty township governments within its county boundaries. An interesting observation may be made in respect to the development of township g o v e r n m e n t i n I l l i n o i s . Those seventeen c o u n ties which have retained the nontownship system have apparently reflected the loss of the people's dose • interest and participation in their government. Four of these eighteen have actually declined in population since 1870, nearly 100 years ago. Six others h a v e r e m a i n e d a b o u t t h e same in' population count. Inside th ecluster of the commission type of counties in the southernmost part of the state stands Jackson County, a township type. Its county seat is also the seat of a growing cultural center, and the location of Southern Illinois University. Growth and Progress It is a proven fact that growth and progress among states of the United States, and _ counties within the state of Tlliniffte have been most FOUR LICENSES REVOKED; MORE ARE SUSPENDED The office of Secretary of State Paul Powell has announced the revocation of the driver licenses of Curry Anderson of Crystal Lake for driving while intoxicated; Edward F. Buesing and Barbara Wegner of Crystal Lake and Dennis L. Firlick of Harvard for leaving the scene of an accident. pronounced where local government -- township government -- is active. Whether it be a nation, state, county or township, when the people feel themselves a part of their government, they will feel more strongly about their own progress, and the progress of their community. This is one of the true values of the democratic way of life, of which t o w n s h i p g o v e r n m e n t h a s played ah important part. Why does Illinois need township government? What does it do? Who runs it, and what part do the people play in its operation? Answers to these questions will follow in the next article in this series. Suspensions were ordered for David D. Edmundson and LeRoy A. Thurman of Algonquin. George J. Nellessen of Woodstock and Thomas L. Petska of Spring Grove for three violations. Probationary permits were issued to Wesley D. Doolen of Woodstock, Harold F. Lewis of Harvard and Elmer M. Olson of Woodstock. COURT BRIEFS Allen R. Kujak of 5010 W Rt. 120. McHenry, pleaded cuilty to unnecessary noise; when he appeared before Judge John , Kaufman in Branch III court last Thursday and was fined $15 and $5 costs. • - Shop In McHenry This Week! Larry Kilber of 134 W. Valley View drive, Lakemoor, was fined $25 and $20 costs on a plea of guilty to disorderly conduct. FOB THAT OLD FASHIONED FLAVQB COME TO KOENEMAtW SAUSAGE CO. • SS VARIETIES OF SAUSAGES © TRUE GERMAN STYLE FLAVORS @ LEAN HICKORY SMOKED BACOII 9 DELICIOUS HICKORY SMOKED HAMS 0 » OUNTRY MADE SAUSAGES Phone 385-6260 Kum« tlu -- J tut Bui of Route 12 -- Volo, DL Of Mi/iacfeFood fiuceA/^Jeu/e£-Of Mi/ULcfeFood T-^ucga f JovdMoUA MIRACLi CHECK AND COMPARE 13 os Why Pav More For (WMay firings? A» a time when yotMtop* to serve the very finest -- your big Thanksgiving dinner -- you don't want to be concerned about the budget. And now you don't hfave to give it a second thought! Miracle Prices" are here! Jewel folks -- just as in holidaV$etfsons past are proud to be able to offer you a wide, wide selection of finest quality foods for your festive Thanksgiving eating. But this year they have reason to be especially proud. For this is the first Thanksgiving they're able to offer you "Miracle Prices," too - unusual savings on a store-wide variety of the very finest foods -- wonderfully low prices that can help you make this holiday feast one of the most bountiful you've ever served! JUDGE FOR YOURSELF EAGLE RIVER - WHOLE Cranberry Sauce CRANBERRY ORANGE Ocean Spray Relish AUNT NELLIE - WHOLE Pickled S@ets MARY DUNBAR Apricot Woctar RUSTIC SPICED %ple RUSTIC SPICED Cratapples RUSTIC SPICED - RED OR GREEN Gtieffer Pears DEMING ffing €rabmeat KING OSCAR Sardines GULFBELLE - JUMBO D©vein®d! Shrimp HOFFMAN HOUSE Shrimp Sauce AUNT MNE Sweet didigets ENTICING COLOSSAL Hipe Olives ** PRIDE OF SPAIN-STUFFED-THROWN manzanilla Olives LONDON LODGE [PiEdstsx LONDON LODGE Laiy Susan Pickles LONDON LODGE Watermelon Pickles. GRANDEE PLAIN Thrown Queen Olives PRIDE OF SPAIN - STUFFED Tfetr®™ Olives WYANDOTTE - LARGE Hipo Sieves JEWEL MAID Chips ZEPHYR Maraschino Cherries 25 29 25 33 28 26 28 89 30 89 39' 36* 51' 58 68 58 39 50' 34 55' UNCLE BEN'S WiSd lice GREEN GIANT - WHOLE Isparaff is Spears GREEN GIANT ushrooms CHERRY VALLEY Fruit Cocktail SPRUCE Handarin Oranges CHERRY VALLEY - HALVES lartlett P<ears OCEAN SPRAY - COCKTAIL Cranberry Juice CROSSE & BLACKWELL Date ik Mmt Roll MARY DUNBAR Elberta Peaches LIBBY T®mato Juice CAMPBELLS V© (g®cktaii SEVEN SEAS - CREAMY ITALIAN OR RUSSIAN SaGasS ©resting SEVEN SEAS - GREEN GODDESS Salad Dressing Saran Wrap Handi-Wipes Baggies Food Wrap KLEENEX Dimmer Napkins CAMPBELL'S 32 ox. BH. Can Can Pont Mjssfhe U.S.D.A. Choice Beef Sale This Week! U.S.D.A. CHOICE BLADE CUT Pot Roast U.S.D.A. CHOICE ROUND BONE OR BOSTON CUT Pot Konst U.S.D.A. CHOICE R@ind Steak U.S.D.A. CHOICE irloin teak U.S.D.A. CHOICE BONELESS ROLLED Rump Roast Roll roll Of 50 WMqsYwfteltant, fa; Ym. ^iwksgMiq MneH f*k«r> for vow JWtf tHank#9iving a»w>»r - 0« ©rod. 'A' birds. Th*/'* ^mp and and tender, porf*e» .very resp*e». AmUovv«l turk«^ from Jar0* 24 course, come In a variety of »j*®» ^.ilu find lust *h* one to »«»t yew needs! More Beef Favorites! 37' $|I7 U.S.D.A. CHOICE LB SH0IT HIS TU^SASCHOICE P©rterl©jse LB U.S.D.A. CHOICE crino withpurchas! -fe OF $7.50 ORWO« lOVt os MRS CUBBISON'S Stuffing Kellogg Croutettes FONDA BLUE WILLOW Paper Cold Cups 25 FONDA BLUE WILLOW Paper Plates 30 Dixie Place Mats GLADE R@®p i)®odorant DIAMOND - COLORED ToothpocBts ish me Harvest! OCEAN SPRAY plot«f raiibeies FRESH YAM INTERNATIONAL Silver ,_w PSSIAL! GOOD I HRIJ SPtClM-* SAT NOV I'; Diet Rite Cola REG PRICE a»oyol Jewel Coffee 2 LB. CAN I* uty •nonte,Uf Mvuiefe fwxi T^ucedf ti&gtwp<Jewe£-~?ke,-M(m&Of MwesusSe,Food Titumf / . 1210 --ZOS -- 11-16-66