The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-06-02
SEEK LIGHT ON
"SLUSH FUND"
Ohio Voters Would Know About
That 1908 Campaign
OVER $4,000 Was SPENT


That one of the attending features
of the campaign Of Governor Harmon
in 1908 was the collection and dis
bursement of an enormous campaign
fund has been q matter of common
knowledge.
The Democratic party, posing as
the purifier of politics. has been pro-
claiming for the publication Of cam.
paign contributions for years. 1t even
practiced its precept In Ohio follow
ing severa. campaigns preceding that
of Judge Harmon - campaigns in
which the funds were modest, and
the bill Of particulars" could be
frankly given without making anyone
sit up anL take notice.
But of tie enormous Harmon fund,
not q word.
The campaign was managed, the
funds cole ted, by two Of the out
spoken CHAMPIONS Of. publicity
William L. Finley and Harvey Gar
ber. From neither Of these has come
syllable concerning the whittier or
whence of the enormous fortune
which served to promote the political
prospects Of the seeker Of the Demo
cratic presidential nomination in
1912 by carrying the frst outpost
the governorship Of Ohio.
Hints at a "HoId Out"
An occasional correspondent OF the
Cincinnati Enquirer, who signs the
pen name "PickRway," in q letter
published in that journal on Jan. 8,
1910, says:
After the election was over Har-
mon came to Columbus and asked
the alleged managers who had run
his campaign without his consent, IL
there were any bills unpaid. After
searching around they dug up q little
deficit of $4,000. The governor said
he did not want any debts standing
over from his campaign, SO he and
Creamer gave q note for $4,000. This
was eagerly grabbed by the gang,
who did not know that 1t was their
political death warrant.
''It was taken to Kenton, and soak
ed in Hog Creek Marsh for its face
value. When it became due Harmon
paid $1,40O and Creamer paid $500.
Governor Harmon knew to a dol
lar how much the committeeman had
had, but did not know what they had
done with it to leave the committee
In debt when the campaign closed.
The CONN 'ttee had during the cam
paign Of 1y08 the sum of $4,000. OF
this amount but $4,000 passed
through the hands of the treasurer.
Fred Heer, and was properly paid
out on vouchers. The balance-$57, ).
000-never has been accounted for.
"In the campaign Of 1904 the same
managers gave out detailed state
ments showing how much was re.
ceived ami how 1t was disbursed, but
this beautiful and methodical plan
was not followed in the campaign OF
1908.
This is why Harmon has not made
certain appointments"
"Where Did You Get III"
More than seventy-four thousand
dollars!
In the Eame Of what the governor
delights to call IAN awakened civic
conscience" where did you get It,
gentlemen?
In the name Of an incorruptible
electorate, how did you spend it?
Are the facts SO dangerous that
they must be concealed?
But since January one Of the "cer
tain appointments" has been made
William L. Finley has recently been
named oil inspector Of Ohio by
Governor Harmon, in the face of an
unfavorable report on his, previous
administration of that trust by the
state examiners Of accounts.
Has the silence on the campaign
fund of 1908 anything to do with that
appointment? Has the governor
found out so much that he, too, ID
eager for silence?
Was this appointment the price Of
Finley keeping quiet? Was Governor
Harmon forced to take care" Of Fin
ley In order to keep the "sluSh fund
under cover until THO campaign Of
1910 has been fought
And what promise Ie holding Gar
ber silent? This incorruptible cham
piop of publicity who has heretofore
been eager to take the public iRtC
his conflGence-when the fund raE
into the beggarly thousands. Why
this muteness when the money meas
pres by tens Of thouSands-perhaDs 4
hundred thousand In all?
10 Harmon In the Dark1
Or can it be that the boot is on
the other foetf That honest JudsOH
is urging publicity, and these Villains
are holding the facts from him?
"The kings cheese is half wasted
in parings; but no matter, tbs made
of the peoples milk"
It may be that Judge Harmon hai
no personal knowledge of the money
collected and spent to make him tht
"peeple's choice"
It may be that the parings Of tht
kings cheese were SO rich that th'
manager dare not court DuNlleGty r.
EOred in the past. A hundred thOu.
ssnA dollars will hire l0ts Of halls:
pay for many bTRss bands. ana spoil
many rsafns Of white paper iR the
printing Of Democratic sophistries-
and much Of the hall hiring and band
engaging was done by local commit
ices at their own expense.
Taking this slant Of the matter up.
sets the theory that Finley sandbag-
Rad the 0nvnrnor for khA al iuanao.