The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-06-06

manufacturers of Stark county,
~ who have commenced action to
break the force of the Willis law are
operating from the proper hypothesis,
attorneys here, and more especially
those who have to do with politics,
do not feel that anything will be ac-
1t is notorious fact'tha
the supreme court was consulted about
some laws that we're brought before
the legislature during the winter, be-
ing approached as individual members.
The supreme court is Republican Or
eanization and the Willis law was a
measure, distinctly and
purely an administration measure and
so understood and considered. 1t is
just as notorious a fact that it would
not have been passed at all If 1t had
not been party measure. The oppo-
sition that arose was muzzled only by
the whip in the hands of the state ad-
ministration. Threats of all sorts were
resorted to to get the bill passed and
votes for it were obtained by promises
for future prefcrment and pie as we'll.
Being go distinctly party measure
and so much depending upon it to the
party in the future, it is not at all un-
reasonable to proceed on the theory
that the supreme court has already
tacitly passed on it.
Attorney General Sheets has had
things about his own way for long
time and he was specially interested
in this taxation measure. Your cor
respondent talked with him about the
Willis law yesterday.
"The Willis law will stand as it is,'
said the attorney general. 1T is law
and there is nothing unconstitutional
about it."
"You think the supreme court will
decide against the Canton people?"-
"Of course it will. The same ques
ton has been passed upon by the
court before. There is no danger Of
the law being overturned"
"You have considerable interest in
this matter yourself, haven't you?
You helped to frame the bill, didn't
you?"
"Yes sir, l he!ped to draw up the
bill"
"And you aided to get it through
81
Yes, | probably had little some-
thing to do with it."
And you feel somewhat under fire
yourself, don't you?"
"Oh, not specially, but the Willis
law will stand. There is no question
about that"
In the case that has been started
has any question been raised that
might result in partial victory for
the contestants. so that part of the
law might stand without interfering
with the legality of the measure as a
whole?"
The questions involved here are
purely questions of constitutionality
and the decision will be on that point.
No other question is raised. AS the
supreme court has already decided
case involving similar questions, l do
not anticipate that it is going to
change it's mind AS said before, the
law will stand"
The case will be heard in supreme
court shortly. 1t has been dismissed
from the common pleas court, by con-
sent. 1t was started there merely for
the purpose Of getting it started. 1t
vas not desired to get an opinion from
common pleas court. as that would
not be sufficient. In this manner the
case will be reached much earlier, and
as money is being tied up it is alto
gether probable the supreme court will
rush the matter through.
The business men who are seeking
relief from the blundering statesman
ship of the late legislature will not
have long to wait before the perfume
tory decision is handed down, and it
is feared that it will be purely per-
functory. II is hardly to be expected
that lawyers, however vigilant and
clever, will win prejudged cases, and
these taxation matters come nearly in
to that category.
- 80
The common pleas Judge, by the way.
before whom the case was brought