The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-09-29
NUMBER 70.

vested.
of Corporations In Ohio.
81 contend that the state should 60 fur
ther and require these companies to make
annual reports to be filed with and be In
spected by some responsible officer. This
report should show, among other things,
how much of the capital stock has been
paid, how the Eloney Is invested, what the
assets are, the amount of liabilities, and
the names of the stockholders. In fact,
there should be such a record Of every cor
that the public may know at al
times whether II IS worthy Of credit and
confidence. Corpora tions have advantages
which have beer gwen to them by the
state. In return for these benefits they
should be willing tina. their transactions b
an open book, so that we may know what
they are and who they are. This much
they owe the state. This much the state
ought to require from them, because they
are her creatures and she has given them
her approval If these regulations had ex-
listed in the past, our commonwealth would
have been strewn with fewer corporate
ruins and her people would not mourn the
loss Of so many millions of dollars invested
in worthless concerns, bearing the commits
sion of the state to do business. Such reg
ulations would be to the advantage Of
sound companies and a protection against
irresponsible ones.''
The suggestions then made would not
now change in any particular except to re-
quire tfat before an Ohio corporation Ii
authorized to do business, all its capital
stock must be paid in money. / know Of no
reasons why similar regulations can not be
made for foreign corporations before they
can do business in this state. In this way
many evils may be prevented. 1t Is probable
that other legislation may be necessary,
but its character and extent, as I said be-
fore, can be safely left to the Republican
party and her legislators.
State Affairs and State Issues.
Thus far have confined myself to the
discussion of questions national in charac-
ter. l have done this because these Ques-
tions, and these alone, were made the ID.
sues of this campaign by the platform
adopted at GAINESVILLE by the Ohio Democ-
racy. On the day succeeding the Demo.
cratic state convention, Hon. John r. Mo-
Lean, the nominee Of that convention for
governor reached Cincinnati. He was away
from the excitement of a fierce conflict
and had had time to read and consider the
platform upon which he was to stand. He
Is man of intelligence and experience.
As the owner of newspaper no man il
better able than he to detect the trend Of
public sentiment. He saw at once the
weakness Of the structure which had been
built for him. Thereupon he published In
a newspaper what seemed to be an an.
thorized interview. In this he said: "This,
however, is state campaign, and state
issues must not be overlooked. No Ques-
tions are Of greater interest to the people
of this state than those which effect the
business administration Of the state, coun-
ty and municipal affairs. They
want a campaign on national issues alone.
We want one on all. We especially want q
full, free and frank discussion Of state,
county and municipal affairs Of govern
ment." If this be true, why Is It that
there is not one word Of condemnation In
the GAINESVILLE platform Of the manner In
which the business of the state Of Ohio has
been conducted during the last eight yearsi
1t is evident that within "a hours Mr.. Nc
Lean realized the danger lurking In the
GAINESVILLE declaration and sought anxiously
| to create something new upon which ia
| stand.
Democratic Mismanagement.
We welcome an investigation Of the man.
ner in which the business Of the state OF
I, Ohio has been conducted since January
| 1S92-first by William Mckinley, ana SEQ
| ond by Goxernor Bushnell. When we at
| that time took possession Of the state gov
| ernment there was found to be existing II
| state affairs the same trouble that existed
| in national affairs from March, 1893, unit
| March, 1897. The Democracy In STATE
| affairs, as in national affairs, did not know
| how to do business. 1t could not, and did
not raise money enough with which to pal
the ordinary expenses Of the state govern
/ ment. When Governor Campbell had beez
/ In office from the first Monday in January
1890, until the 18th day Of November, ther,
was left in the state treasury to the credi
| of the general revenue fund, from which
ordinary expenses are paid, the small bal
ance of $71,99S. During the year succeed
| ing and ending on the 18th of November
| 1891, there was cash balance to the credi
| Of the general revenue fund Of $2S1 ,554. II
| order to secure this balance, however
| drafts had been made upon county treas
| uries to the extent of S1S5,OOO for none,
which should have been used for expedl
lures during the next year, and also $3.50,
$50 had been collected from the genera
| government on account of taxes Illegal,
| levied upon citizens Of Ohio and paid b,
them to the national treasury during tn
| civil war. If 1t had not been for the over
| draft and the lucky windfall from the gov
ernment at Washington, there would hav
been, under two years of Democratic man
agement, deficit of more than $240, 700 Il
the general revenue fund Of the state.
Substantial Republican Showing.
When the Republicans Of Ohio, on tn
second Monday of January, 1892, again too
possession Of the affairs of Ohio and undeI
took the transaction of her business, the
! Immediately set about devising ways an
means with which to meet the ordinary ez
penses of the state government This wor
has been admirably done by the administra
tions of Governors Mckinley and Bushnell
| Ample revenues have been raised wit
which to meet all expenses, and this, toe
without increasing the rate Of taxation 70
state purposes upon real and personal proE
erty. At the close Of the fiscal year end
ing Nov. 15, 1885, the cash balance to tn
credit of the general revenue fund wa
$594,000 26, and all obligations had bee
paid.
When William Mckinley was inaugurate
as governor in January, 1892 the stat
debt Of Ohio was 81. 291 ,665. Today 1t I
S1,Ool ,665, and 100000 Of that amour
were issued to pay expenses incurred 4
the war with Spain. With continued RI
publican control in the state the last dolls
of OhiO's debt as state will be wipe
out in 1903.
This is certainly splendid showing fror
business point of view. The highes
praise that can be given to Governor Busf
nen and his Republican administration /
the fact that no Democratic convention
state or county, has uttered a word Of Ger
sure against them for four years.
In this argument or presentation Of tn
cause of the Republican party have al
tempted to confine myself to plain facts q
they existed in national and state affairs.
1t is clear and honorable record Of dut
faithfully performed. of work well done, Q
promises fulfilled. The Republican part
comes with no extravagant pretensions an
no delusive trickery with which to cate
the thoughIless. IL has been trusted by tn
people of Ohio and of the nation. 1t hs
proved worthy of the confidence which tn
people reposed in 1t. Even the Democrac
have been unable, with all their effort
at fault-fnding, to impeach the characts
| of Republican officials or mil dowu xh