The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-03-24
r1rRN ON TILE LIGHT.

Republican members of the Ohio
legislature will make a serious polit-
ical blunder If they place the slight
est obstacle in the path of thorough
investigation of the state offices. In
deed they should be inslstent in de-
mandng such an investigation.
The people are entitled to know the
manner in which they have been
served and any effort to stifle an in
uuiry will be interpreted by the tax
payers as an indication that there is
simething that will not bear the light
of day When that opinion becomes
once firmly fixed in the mind of the
voter he will choose to make a
change in administration and it mat
ters little how large the normal ma
jority of the party in power
It doesn't follow, and should not be
taken TO mean, that this demand for
is proof of mismanage-
ment or official negligence. But it
does mean that the people want the
light of publicity turned on their af-
fairs of government, and that Is
examination of Treasurer McKinnon
and his deputy (Green) by the sem
ate committee has revealed lose meth
DDS and an Indifference to the pub
lie welfare. 1t has revealed that use
has not been made of the safeguards
provided by law for checking the
work Of officials and clerks in the
various departments. Naturally the
people wish to know the reason for
this negligence and place the respon-
sibiity where it belongs. If the
treasurer has been distributing the
funds among various financial institu-
tions without keeping a proper record
of the transactions, that, too. Is n
matter in which the people have a Wit
al concern, and about which they
have right to be informed
Inasmuch as it is the state auditors
duty TO make a periodical examination
of the treasurer's office, and he adj
mits that he has not done SO, it is
proposed TO extend the investigation
to his office. He slys that the leg
islature has failed to make any ap-
for that purpose, and it
is proper to inquire whose is the
fault. 1t requires an extra force OF
clerks to comply with the law, and il
the auditor requested the legislature
TO make an appropriation and was
refused, 1t would seem that he had
performed his duty in the premises
g,f
attach to the lawmakers.
But it is the truth the people are
demanding, and they will not be sat
isfed with anything else. And when
they want the truth they can find a
way to get It, II the affairs OF the
intelllgently handled the investigation
will disclose the fact, and the re-
suit will be the strongest proof in
the world that the Republican party
should be continued in power. Against
such a record the Democrats of Ohio
could make nc headway
II, on the other hand, II develops
that some of the officials are incompe-
tent ,devoting more OF their time to
politics than to the public service,
the republican leaders, If they are 10y
al to the party, will denounce this
negligence of the states interests and
retire those responsible. Only in that
lway can the party still claim to de-
serve the confidence OF the people.
When political leaders have knowl-
edge of wrongful conditions in Off
clal life and seek to shield the office
holders, who have disregarded their
obligations. they themselves are guilty
of betraying their party for the BEN
eft of individuals. For whitewash,
however slllllfully done, is only a
temporary expedient, and when the
people learn the truth they visit their
vengeance on the party which har-
bors the wrongdoers. Toledo Blade
(Rep }, March II.