The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-02-25
JOE DOWLING
INDICATED BY THE UNITED
STATES GRAND JURY.
President Cleveland and His Detec-
tives Meet Rebuke-DowiinR'so Of
fense Was Supporting Mr.. Bryan
He Had Violated No Law.

|
tives Meet a Rebuke-Dowiine's Of
fense Was Supporting Mr.. Bryan
He Had Violated No Law.
Dayton, o., February es.-( Special.
When Collector Of Internal Revenue
Joseph H. Bowling was removed from
his Office last month for alleged violation
Of the civil service law q, thrill Of indigna-
tion was felt In every Democratic breast
He has peen.a faithful 5offlcsr, and an
honest hard-flshting partisan, gwho des-
pised a mugwump rs a thing something
below hypocrite. When his patry con-
vention nominated q candidate for presi-
dent he supported him uuswervingly.
For this he was deprived of his. office by
President Cleveland 10 person. -,
The collector iu response to tbe.cbief
executives letter denied thet he had oon-
csded any vilostion Of law, and begged
that he be not humiliated by a removal
without trial, privilege accorded him
by the law which he was accused Of
breaking.
The answer was brutal silence. Then
came official persecution. Orders went
out from the Department CT Justice to
vindioste the president. The entire force
of secret service agents was turned loose
to gather evidence. Offioe holders per-
formed spy duty, and the great machin-
cry of the government. was put in motion
to make plausible the presidents act.
"No matter what made the president
do It, he must be vindcated," were the
orders. Mr.. Doweling WAS even ap-
preached with an offer from dis
tinguished functionary promising i'm
munity from the prosecution already
begun II be would sign an agreement to
remain quiet On the subject
He refused, and tie prosecution went
on. Hundreds, even thousands, Of
dollars were spent to cruelty him.
Saturday the United States Grand Jury,
Ia session at Cincinnati, rose and In effect
declared Dowling an innocent man.
President Cleveland had acted without
justification.
The alleged prosecution was based on
the collection OF assessments for the cleo
tion Of Paul ]. Surg in the third district
In May, 1894. Now that the verdict has
teen returned it is only fair to say that
NJ In fhot Aoh nj ha
pesronsl solicitation of President Cleve-
land himself. TIE chi,f executive
wanted a vindioation then, too. The
Wilson bill had just been passed, and he
wanted TO know where he stood with the
people. In conference at Washington
Mr.. Bowling was told by Mr.. Cleveland
o'go home and do his duty. On the
night Of the victory Mr.. Dowling sent
him a personal telegram. The receipt
was the signal for merry making in the
white House, and the collector, fgura-
lively speaking, was told that he was
"white haired boy" His sin, therefore,
was net the part he took in the Third
ulebEiOp eIoOtiub1 anu bho OhhiNo oBuihoo
him was purely my thioal. His deputy
was also assBiled without cause.
The denomination accorded ex-
Collector Dowlin and Deputy Joseph
Kininger, on their return hon Saturday
evening, was one Of which they may we'll
be proud. OVer 200 of their friends met
them at the Union depot and escorted
them up town. 1t had been planned to
have brass band head the parade, but
this was discouraged by his friends for
sundry reasons. After their arrival they
were made the central figures Of an i'm
promptu levee, In which both Democrats
and Republicans toSk part. Some Of
Dsytons wealthiest citizens wers callers
on Captain Bowling and extended their
congratulations.
All the political centers were alive
with rejoicing crowds, reminding the
observer Of successful election night.
President Cleveland naturally came in
for universal condemnation. The vindi-
Gated officers were deeply moved by the
public expression and demonstration In
their honor.