This book covers just a sliver of the political history in Muncie, but in a time period that saw the height of local corruption. In a transitional era for Muncie, elections were critical for citizens, and the desire only grew to believe in home rule for their city government. A new set of politicians took hold of their excitement, only to throw the moment away.

From the trials of Mayor Rollin Bunch to violence over local elections, this period of history holds a mirror to the problems still plaguing Muncie even a century later.