The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-10-09
NO RESPONSE
FROM WILLIS
Johnson Challenges Republican Rep
TeSentatiVe in His Own
Stronghold.
BIG CROWD TURNS OUT AT KEh1GN
Special to The News-Democrat.

Special to The News-Democrat =
Kenton, Oct. Elm this, the county
seat of Hardin county, represented in
the last legislature by =. F. Willis.
Senator Hanna, last night, addressed
5000 people, according to the estimates
made by the Republican editors. To-
night Tom L. Johnson spoke to over
1000 people in the tent pitched on a
commons in the west end of town. Last
night there were several hands working
over time to draw the people from their
homes, and red fire to add to the excite
ment on the street. Tonight there
were no bands and red fire and no
shouting crowds on the streets-just
a continuous stream of quiet, thought
full people vending towards the COM
mons, there to listen to sober yet
forceful presentation of the issues that
are most important to the people of
Ohio in this campaign. Last night
they heard Senator Hanna say that
Tom l.. Johnson was demagoguc;
that he was a socialist and the leader
of the party that was responsible for
the assassination of President Mckin-
ley; that II John II. Clarke was elected
to the United States senate a CONNER
cial calamity would immediately fol-
low. Tonight they heard Tom L. john
son say that Mark Hanna was an hon
est man; that he was n good neighbor;
that Hannas word was as good as his
bond-that Hanna's record as private
citizen was as good as any other mans,
but that his record as leader of the Re
publican party and as United States
senator was rotten.
Jnh 10 cat
to do, pointed out specifically wherein
Hanna's public record was discred!t-
able. He told of Hanna'c efforts to
United States the iniquitous ship SUBJ
sidy bill whereby $4,000 900 of taxes
were to be taken annually from the
pockets of the people of the United
States and paid into the maws
of the two American ship building
trusts; of Hanna's tearing down OF
the municipal fabric Of the whole state
because the Cleveland city council
would not renew his street railway
franchise for twenty-five years at
five cent fare; of Hanna lobbying
through the last Legislature the Gin
cinnati steal" giving away to the street
car companies of that city tho public
streets for A years--and of nalf a
dozen other acts on the part of hanna
told many times heretotor=. Wren ne
concluded, Johnson challenged any per-
son in the audience to refute his charges
but there was no one there to repre-
sent Hanna. The mayor was particu-
larly anxious that B. +. Willis should
take up the challenge and he called on
him personally. IL Mr.. Willis was
present he did not respond. Ills homo
is in Ada, bat he was here last night
to attend the Hanna meeting and had
agreed to be present NJ the Johnson
meeting, having been warned by the
Cleveland mayor that he would attack
his record as member Of the last leg
islatnre. During the session Of that
body, when Mayor Johnson appeared
before the joint committees considering
the Willis capital stock bill, and de-
nonnced 1t as iniquitous and unfair 70
Ohio corporations, he propounded sew
eral questions to Mr. Willis. 'I do not
propose to enter into any controversy
with you on this subject at this time
said Mr., Willis. at is not necessary"
he added, meaning that the bill would
be passed by Republican votes under
the party rule. rw
will you say that when ] go into
your county and attack you among your
own people?" asked the mayor.
IF you bring your tent into my
county and attack me I'll be there to
defend myself answered Willis. But
he evidently forgot his promise John
son did not forget, however, and tore
the Willis bill to shreds.
Mayor Johnson began his speech be-
fore an audience that was cold and
critical, condition that dampens the
ardor of the most experienced public
speaker, but 1t didn't seem to faze the
Cleveland man a bits AS he progressed
the set faces before him began to relax
and the crowd occasionally applauded.
When he concluded the crowd arose
and gave him what, In this town. might
we'll be termed an ovation. Judging
by the expression among Republicans
here Senator Hanna seems to have
done his cause considerable harm by
his constant illusions to his devotion
to William Mckinley and his attempt
to, In devious way, connect Tom l..
Johnson with that assassination. His
blunt assertions that II he was not re-
elected to the senate a business blight
would Immediately fall upon the whole
country also seems to have disgusted
many Republicans. To the daily ut
terances OF Senator Hanna Mayor john
son gives scant attention In his speech
es He refuses to be led away from his
line OF argument by personal abuse and
mud singing but goes straight ahead
making his center shots on Hanna's