The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-05-20
Speech of Governor Harmon
Before Jefferson Club Satur-
day.


time been sharply watching their
home affairs. They do not like
the plight where long control Ivy
Republican officials has cast the
business of the State, 81 they chose
a Democratic governor and when
his death threw it back into the old
hands they took the first oppor.
tunity TO choose another. Not be-
fore ,ir O. TIE Clvul War have two
Democratic governors been elected
in succession.
The taxpayers tired of seeing
officials neglecting the business
for which they were paid and 60.
ing about ut public expense to con-
troll nominations and elections.
They were indignant to find some
taking office poor and leaving 1t
rich, while the others too timid or
partisan to take notice Of what
was going on or to act when 1T was
pointed out to them. These things
are sure to happen when party
control is seized by men who re-
gard ollice rs mere personal end
rather than a means IF eiing
puhlic service.
One of the chief subjects for
graft was the public funds. These
we're unlawfully deposited in banks
md the interest absorbed by Of.
fcials and their confederates
Then n law passed requiring de-
posits t. be made for the benefit
If the State. But the various de.
vices by which the people we're
hen defrauded of Just earnings OF
their money were laid bare by u
Democratic Senate, and the pres
mt State Treasurer was elected in
consequence. This officer prompt
y kept faith with the taxpayers
His predecessors chose the banks,
fayoring first and most in which
hey had secured stock after tax
ng Office. They fixed the rates of
interest themselves, making ii
much lower than the same banks
we're known to be paying on other
lie, osits. This Dem pcratic Treas
urer left the placing of deposits
and the rates of interest to compe-
titi II, open alike to all banks in
the State.
The result is that the taxpayers
are now receiving much higher
interest on their money and having
the fast growing burden of public
expense made lighter for them.
The Republican msjoritles i,
the Legislature are determined tt
spend the surplus in the treasury
and have already largely reduced
1t. They hope to make the people
believe the Governor and Treasur
er are to blame, though not ,
dollar can be spent by anybody
without specific appropriation frs
made by law. To help this scheme
along they refuse to take measure
plainly pointed out to them TO
increasing the current revenues
and preserving the surplus, by
putting stop to il efficiency ant
favoritism with respect to corpo
rate and other returns and valua
tions.
If this policy is persisted in a
the next session, as it was at th'
last, the surplus will soon be gone
A less amount of interest will, o
course, then be received than un
der former administrations, thougl
the rates will be higher. Whel
the surplus was used for oilicia
gam it was treated with grea
tenderness, Now, when it is I
source of increased revenue to TIL
, lsxpay yers, the sooner it is gon
the better, lest the new Governo
and Treasurer get credit with tn
people. But these officers ar
! working for the public good, no
; for their own advantage, and
, hose jealous lawmakers will onl
do their duty when it is show
them, nobody will try to steal tn
; credit or could steal it if he tried
. But if they will not hear nor TAX
heed they must not try to she
t responsibility for the injury to tn
public interests which will snrel
3 result, for it will not come off.
That u Governor and Treasurer
. single hand, amid surrounding
officially unfriendly and some
times hostile, with the former
choice Of agents purposely fore
stalled through concerted action
after the election, with his de
feated opponent. can discover an
correct all the looseness und ex
travagance which generations q
officials have fastened ON the pub
lie service are great expectation
indeed. Nobody could hope t
realize them, even measureably
without strong, sharp, alert publ
sentiment t0 encourage and UP
hold him.
But of one thing, at least, W
can give confident assurance. s
far as the best efforts of the Dem
cratic part of the government ca
control it, no heavier taxes will b
levied than tt Q public needs re