The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1895-09-18

At the opening of the Republican
campaign at Springfield on the 10th of
September, speeches were made by Sen
ator John Sherman, Asa s. Bushnell,
Governor William MoKinly and ex Gov
ernor j, 3. Foraker. The three first
named talked on nearly all subjects en-
cept those which are in issue before
the people of Ohio, in the choice of state
officers and legislature. The last
named made passing reference to state
affairs, in so far as they referred to his
own administration and that of his inn
mediate successor, but in so doing mis-
quoted the record, by not quoting it in
full.
Asa S. Bushnell is the ostensible can
didate for governor, but he utter | not
single word about the existing condition
of state affaiis nor held forth single
promise that his election would in any
manner, so far as his official knowledge,
action and influence go couduco in the
slightest degree to the distressing bur.
bens of the taxpayers.
Ills speech indicated that he either
knew nothing about the condition of
state affairs and the misdoings of the
last two legislatures, or had been coach
ed by some one to avoid the discus
sion of matters which would be fatal 20
his chances of elections Both PROPOSE
tons are probably true. 1t is safe to say
that Mr.. Bushnell knows nothing about
state affairs, and can suggest no remedy
for their 'betterment His mentor, in
the preparation OF his speech, was clear
ly George b. Cox, who thoroughly un-
derstands the avoidance of the real
grievances Of the people in a political
campaign
AS to Governor Foraker, he said Just
enough on a single important subject to
whet the public appetite for fuller and
more circumstantial information. He
recognizes the grinding oppression aris-
ing from the enormous local bonded in.
debteGness created by legislative enact
ment. He emphasized the fact that
from 1884, under Governor Hoadley, the
local bonded indebtedness rose from
s47 688, 1921 30 SOP, 100, 30S53 in 1885.
That from 1886 to 1885, during his two
administrations, the debt rose to SGO,.
22S, 12l63, and that from 1890 to 1891,
under Governor Campball, it rose to
$71 1888, ,744.
But here Governor Foraker stopped,
with the last two legislatures unaccOunt-
ed for. 1hey were overwhelmingly
Republican, and they did more or less,
principally more, mt bond making, 80 thai
from 1891 10 1895 this lccal bonded IL
deotedness rose from 31l ,233, IA to
little over l09,000,0O0, CT something
over $31 100000 for the four years.
According TO Governor toraker's fig.
ures the total increase OF this form OF |
Indebtedness during the six legislatures
from 1850 to 1892, was S27,743, lG9.41, /
while the increase during the two legis /
latures from 1892 to lS05 was over SJ1,- .
900, 900.
And now, in 1895, Governor Foraker
wants the six legislatures which did
business from 1880 to 1892 and increased
the local bonded indebtedness at the
rate of So, G00,00 year, rebukod at the
polls, but he calls for no expression of
opinion concerning the two legislatures
from 1892 to 1895, which increased the
debt at the rate OF 50, 250, 900 year and
raised local taxation almost to the con.
fscatory point.
The reason is obvious. If the people
vote their sentiments toward the Seven
tieth and Seventy first general assem-.
blies, George b. Cox will not be gov
ernor Of Ohio, with Asa S. Bushnell as
clerk, and United States senator. with
7. b. Foraker us deputy. Governor
Foraker was too smart TO throw a stone
INTO the real hornets nest He pre-
,ered to assault the last years birds
nests 1t was much safer for him to do
10, but the people are in no mood to be
'ooled with.