The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-10-01

weekly balances OF cash on hand right
along, in the vault, very large
amounts sometimes reaching more
than $1,10000O and averaging about
three.quarters of million dollars.
This seemed extraordinary in view OF
the laws design to prevent the states
money from lying idle, and of the fact
that the treasurer kept in two Co.
lumbus banks an average of about
half million more which, as he stat.
ed. he checks upon for the current
business of the state" And after the
foregoing disclosures Of ownership by
the auditor and treasurer and their
deputies of stock In various banks
the suspicion was unavoidable that
these cashiers checks were held as
cash and not presented for payment,
thus, as in case OF the time allowed
for the collection OF checks just men.
toned, giving the bank on which they
were drawn and through It these Off
cias at least to the extent of their
stock, the use of large amounts of
state funds without interest.
The committee accordingly under
took to find out when these cashiers
checks were collected. There were
no records or even memoranda in the
office of the treasurer to show It, The
committee then asked at the bank for
this information, or the paid checks
which would give it, but the auditor
Of state as president of the bank, re.
fused to furnish the information OF
produce the checks! The affairs OF
customers could not be disclosed!
The customers were the auditor ana
the treasurer of Ohio officially and
the information was demanded by the
duly elected representatives of the
people of Ohio, whose money the
checks represented!
Suppression Is Confession.
The mere loss of interest through
loose business methods would be bad
enough, especially in times such az
we are having. But it is a settled rule
of both law and common sense that
refusal to produce evidence In once
possession proves that it's production
would make out the case against him
Suppression is confession. BY that
sure token those cashiers checks
were held as cash in order that the
state might lose and others, including
these officials, gain the interest on
public funds.
| am not skilled in the law OF
crimes, and it may be true, as the
governor declares. that these official
associates of his did not steal this
interest, because by their own con.
duct it was kept from reaching the
treasury. 1t may be. as the governor
says, that they did not "misapply" the
public funds, because that implies do.
ing something with those funds while
by this plan they simply did nothing,
though with exactly the same result
of loss to the state and gain to them
selves as IL they had collected inter.
est on the funds and put 1t in their
pockets.
Too Much Cooperative Serenity.
But | am skilled enough in the law
to know that those who thus Joined
in manipulating the deposit of public
money can be made to pay every dol
lar which the state lost, or which they
gained by this smooth scheme. The
attorney generals attention was call
ed to this by the committee and he
was duly asked, last spring, by tax
payer of Cleveland, and again by a
nt fn
| accordingly. This he has failed and
refused to do, giving no reasons. AS
member of the board of deposit, was
he not also in duty bound to keep
| some track OF the doings of his asso-
| ciates? There has oeen too much CO.
| operative serenity about those state
| offices, There should be little sani-
tary disturbance.
People Must Decide.
am not framing an indictment
against these officials for technical
crime. | am addressing the common
| business knowledge and moral sense
| of the men Of Ohio. To that supreme
tribunal submit these proofs. 1t sits
| for judgment in November. 1t will
not sit again for two years. 1t admin
listers higher justice than the courts,
because its code of right and wrong
| Is written only In the conscience of
| the people, SO there Is no escape
through technicalities of definition.
| From its Judgment there is no stay
/ nor appeal, 1t intlicts no penalties. 1t
simply decides who are most worthy
| of public trust and confidence, which
| of the men proposed are best qualified
to conduct the business of the govern
ment and which give the best assur-
ance, by character and past conduct,
! of diligence in the performance of
| duty, This tribunal Will surely con-
denim dealings by public officers with
| themselves or with companies In
which they are interested, whether
the law which forbids such dealings
generally has left loophole here or
not.
Holds Harris to Real Issue.
| There are many other instances re-
| vealed by the evidence Of the thrifty
| craft with which the state fulds have
been handled and of apparently care
less methods which it is hard to ac
count for except by a design to con
ceal the facts. | leave the telling OF
them on this occasion TO others.
have chosen to open this campaign
on my part. ON the direct and simple
facts have stated. will not obscure
them by now discussing other matters
or even further details. They car
| ,..,. AMI SIIAII NON M