The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-12-03
JIM CAMPBELL
HAS A ROUND WITH THE AID
MINISTRATION AND WINS.
He Vented to Save the Head of His
Friend Dowling and Asserted That
the Government Didn't Own
Mans Politics.

Mans Politics.
Washington, November 30.--(Speoisl. }
-Ex-Governor James K. Campbell has
had set-to with the administration,
and was given the decision in the first
round. The fact that be won is an in
direct blow at the organization of the
gold Democrats In Ohio.
The trouble arose over the attitude as
sumed by Joseph q. Bowling, internal
revenue collector Of the Dayton Cinoin-
natl district, during the oampaigr. Very
early in the contest Bowling declared for
free silver, and throughout the campaign
gave Bryan earnest support. Indeed, he
made himself conspicuous In his advocacy
of the principles enuncisted by the
Chicego platform, and not only stood
squarely for Bryan, but also by Brenner,
the free silver candidate for congress In
the Dayton (third) district.
Immediately after the mpaign some
Of the gold Democrats in his district filed
with the Treasury department charges
against him for offensive partisanship p
and violation of the civil service law. A
brief inves tigation was made Of the
charges by the Treasury officials and they
we're found to be we'll founded. There
upon they were turned over to the Civil
Service Commission and to Attorney
General Harmon, with recommendation
that proceedings be instituted against
Bowling under the law.
The charges were 10 turn investigated
by the Attorney General aud the Civil
Service Commission, ard they were pre-
pairing to bring an action against Col
leotor Dowling, when, a few days sgo,e
Governor Campbell dropped into Washing
ton. Bowling is a special friend and po-
litical favori:e Of Campbell, and having
learned that he was likely to have some
trouble, had requested the ex-governor to
come to Washington to see about IL. After
informing himself upon the situation,
Mr.. Campbell sought an interview with
~ n
report of their interview would make
particularly spicy reading. Campbell was
assured that It was the intention of the
department to prosecute Bowling, as 1t
was perfectly clear that he had violated
the civil service law. Then the pyrotech-
mic display began. Campbell, informed
uar tho laa l..kA
Of every citizen. whether he was n federal
office-holder or not to govern his political
action in accordance with his own judg-
ment and conscience, and that Mr.. Dow-
ing did not propose to be dictated to by
any offlce-holdeI or set of Office holders as
to his conduct in purely political matters.
He felt, said the ex-governor, that so
long as he attended properly and faith
fully to his oeicial duties,i 1T was nobody's
business to whom he gave his political
support, or how he voted.
Judge Harmon replied that Collector
Bowling had clearly violated law with
the provisions Of W hich he ~as familiar
anu nuBb bnb
Tuen Governor Campbell said that he
was in Washington as Mr.. Dowlings at
torney. He delared that II proceedings
were instituted against his client he would
fight the case from the lowest court to the
highest; and would, in fact, carry 1t, If
necessary, to the United States Supreme
Court. He would blow the civil service
law so full of holes that Its own author
would not recognize 1t. II the govern
ment wanted to face such an action as
that the attorney general could not pro-
coed too soon to suit him. And with eyes
flashing he left Mr.. Harmon's office.
1t has just been announced that the
action against Collector Bowling will
not be pressed. He may be guilty, but
he is good Democrat and good official,
and the powers that have concluded that
he is not just the man to make an ex-
ample of, anyhow.