The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-10
THEY'RE AFTER HANNA.
Tom Johnson and Clarke Ad-
dress Big Crowd at Akron.

Akron. Ohio. Sept 1O.-The Demo-
cratic state campaign opening meeting
was held in tent here last night ad-
dresses being delivered by Tom L.
Johnson. candidate for governor of
Ohio: John H. Clarke candidate for
United S;taes senator. and Henry
George, jr.. of New York. The crowd
at the meeting was estimated at 5000.
In his speech Mr.. johnson said in
part:
we have in this campaign three
great questions to present to the people
of Ohio. These questions of home rule,
equitable taxation and the destroying
of the unholy if not corrupt alliance
between certain managers of the Re-
publican party and owners of valuable
special privileges.
The city of Cleveland furnishes an
excellent illustration of the issue of the
Democratic party in this campaign
Cleveland has become known as the
most completely enjoined city in Ohio
Since 1 have been mayor fifteen in
functions have been issued against the
city in the interest of owners of valu-
able special privileges like the street
railways and the gas and electric light
companies. And after each injunction
the Democratic plurality has been
larger than before.
Senator Hanna. who is financially
interested in some of the public SER
vice corporations. with the aid of At
torney General Sheets. has been able TO
prevent the city from compelling the
public service corporations to pay theft
Just share Of the taxes. and has so far
blocked the establishment of a 3 cent
fare street railroad to compete with his
five cent fare monopoly.
THE last injunction issued against
Cleveland strikes at the very liberties
of the people. Senator Hanna through
this attorney general. secured an in
Junction from the supreme court re-
straining the people of Cleveland from
expressing their opinion as to whether
they would operate their own electric
light plant or allow il to be operated
for private profit The injunction pre-
vented the election.
THE municipal code which was foist-
ed on all the municipalities ofthe state.
Boss COXs' board plan of government,
by some slip. had left in it provision
allowing cities to have their own cleo
trio plant If they desired it, 1t was
certainly an oversight If the men who
made the code had only thought of il
they would have left US in the same
vacations we are in respect to street
railroads. The state laws are such now
that il is impossible to build a munic-
ipal light plant if you are skilful
enough to dodge the injunctions.
Senator Hanna is standing for vim
dioation. He stands for vindication on
that variety of municipal ownership
which through the ship subsidy pro-
poses to pay into the pockets Of Mr..
H1una'S friends from ten t. utteen mill
lion dollars annually in ship subsidy.
He stands as opposed TO allowing the
people Of Cleveland express their win
as to whether they desire an electric
light plant 1t will be satisfied with
the verdict Of the voters"
Mr. Clarke's address was in part as
follows:
Let well enough alone. stand pat.
continue to stand pat. hands off for
Gods sake keep letting well enough
alone
This in his own language is the sum
of the political wisdom and statesman
ship in which Senator Hanna has given
counsel to the people of this state and
nation for several years as if for
sooth he thought the national life of this
great people and business of it would
stand still not move at his command
1.-THE business of the country has re-
fused to stand still at Mr.. Hannas COM
mand. but on the contrary has run riot
in speculation such as was never seen
men fear is the verge of collapse. and
capital and labor halt in daily expecta-
ton of a panic-a fear in which the
president and secretary of the treasury
by their public speech show they dis
tiuctly share. This condition has been
largely brought about by the disturb
ance of business caused by the high tar
if taxes. through which millions of dol
lars have been unnecessarily taken from
the people and the hands Of business
and locked up in the United States