The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-09-26
In Avoidance.

AT the opening OF the Republican
campaign at Springfield on the 10th of
September, speeches were made by Sem
ator John Sherman, Asa s. Bushnell,
Governor William McKinly and ex. Gov
ernor j. b. Foraker. The three first
named talked on nearly all subjects ex"
cept those which are in issue before
the people Of Ohio, in the choice Of state
officers and a 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 uttered 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 conduce in the
slightest degree to the distressing bur
bens of the taxpayers.
His 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 10
his chances of election. Both PROPOSE
tions are probably true. It 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 renl
grievances of the people in political
campaign.
AS TO Governor Foraker, he said Just
enough on 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
debtedness created by legislative enact
ment. He emphasized the fact that
from 1884, under Governor Hoadley, the
local bonded Indebtedness rose from
$47, ,633, 1921 to $59, 100, ,398. SO in 1885.
That from 1886 to 1889, during his two
administrations, the debt rose to $780,
228 12l.63, and that from 1890 to 1891,
under Governor Campbell, it rose to
$71, ,233,7 ,744.
But here Governor Foraker stopped,
with the last two legislatures unaccoul It
cd for. They were Overwhelming
Republican, and they did more or less,
principally more, at bond making, SO that
from 1891 to 1895 this local bonded in
debtedness rose from $7l 1888, ,744 to a
little over $l09,00O,0OO, or something
over $37, 900, 600 for the four years.
According to Governor Foraker's fig
ures the total increase of this form of
Indebtedness during the six legislatures
from 1880 to 1892 was 1927, TAB, 169 AZ,
while the increase during the two legis-
latures from 1892 to 1895 was over $37,-
100000.
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, 900, 900 year, rebuled at the
polls, but ho calls for no expression Of
opinion concerning the two legislatures
from 1892 to 1895. which increased he
debt at the rate of SO, $50, 900 year and
raised local taxation almost to the con-
fiscatory point.
The reason is obvious. If the people
vote their sentiments toward the Seven.
tieth and Seventy general assem-.
blies, George b. Cox will not be gov
ernor of Ohio, with Asa s. Bushnell as
clerk, and United States senator. with
J. B. Foraker as deputy. Governor
Foraker was too smart to throw stone
into the real hornets nest. He pre-
ferred to assault the last years birds
nests. 1t was much safer for him to do
80, but the people are in no mood to be
fooled with.