The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-10-17
PERFECTLY PLAIN
Are the State Issues In Which
Taxpayers Are Interested,
And Foolish Indeed VIII the Voters Ne
II They Permit Triokster to
Deiude Them Away
From Them.
MMP


real merits He is in no mood to discuss
it. He seeks to direct attention away
from II to escape an adverse verdict.
That is precisely the situation In
which the Republican leaders Of Ohio
find themselves in the year 1896, when
they are anxiously seeking new lease
of power from the people they have
served so poorly, and whose confidence
they have betrayed.
In seeking means Of evading their
responsibilities the leaders, or part Of
them, started off by promising the peo-
pie general ripping up Of the tariff in
return for their votes-a destruction of
prosperc is and prospering conditions, If
the opportunity is afforded them.
But the angry protests Of the people
Republicans and Democraik sent them
flying In search of some new shelter.
"Why annoy us about state issues"
they inquire. There are no state
issues" they smirk with self.compla-
cency. "You are making fools Of your.
selves to talk about such insignificant
things as state matters, they insolently
assert.
Have the people nothing to complain
Of in the management Of state affairs
and the disreputable methods Of legisla.
tion2
This is a question which the voters
are amply able to answer for themselves.
1t would take columns Of n newspaper
to catalogue all the grounds Of complaint
that lie against the party in power in
Ohio. Here are few of them:
First-A bankrupt state treasury,
which is not only empty, but carries
deficit of 81, 100000 with enormous out.
side deficiencies constantly augmenting,
all Of which must fall in the shape of
burdensome taxation on the people in
the immediate future.
Second-Large sums Of the public
funds which are unaccounted for in a
reasonable way.
Third-The extravagant and unbusi-
nesslike management of the state insti-
tutions, all of which show deficiencies,
some of them Of enormous proportions.
Fourth--The immense loss to the state
at which the penitentiary is now being
conducted, is the result of Republican
legislation within the past two years.
Fifth-The terrible scandals that have
cropped out Of nearly every public insti-
tuition in the state.
Sixth-Two corrupt legislatures, which
were the creatures and factotums of cor
porations that openly purchased almost
limitless privileges in the halls Of legis-
lation to the detriment as well as the
scandal of all honest men-legislatures
so vicious that their official records have
either been unpublished, or have been
buried beyond the eyes of the people in
the subterranean crypts of the capitol
building.
Seventh-The saddling of more than
$50, 900, 900 Of local bonded indebtedness
on the state in four years
Eighth-The theft of the Hooking
canal, the real value of which was ST.
500 900, but which was given away for
| $1,000 most Of which will not be
paid for a generation to come-given
away amid open charges Of bribery and
corruption that the legislature itself
dared not investigate.
Ninth-The partisanization of the
state Judiciary, and the dragging of the
Judicial ermine through the filthy mire
of politics.
Tenth-The unrebul1ed action Of he
adjutant general of Ohio in writing
quasi orders on the official paper Of his
department, calling on the field and line
officers of regiments to influence their
commands to vote against Democratic
candidates for civil offices.
Eleventh-The act Of the legislature
in voting away $4,000 Of the state
revenues for legislative salaries in 1895,
when there was not even a pretense of
holding a session.
Twelfth-The increase of official sal.
aries and the multiplication of public
offices at time when every taxpayer
had his nose upon the grindstone.
These are only few of things that
might be mentioned. Either one of
them affords sufficient reason for a
change Of state management, and a
sweeping out of corrupt, reckless and
extravagant legislation.
We do not think that we mistake the
temper Of the people of Ohio when we
say that thay intend to vote the Repub
lican leaders out Of power.
The Republican editors and leader:
might explain, if they can, why the
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