The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-08-04

Tells Some Inside Facts Concern
inq Legislative nvestigation-A
Word For John ]. Lentz.
why did | introduce resolution
the first day OF the session to inVes-
t.gate state officers echoed Senator
Richard Beatty Of Wood county when
the question had been asked him.
Then pausing for a moment he re-
Piled:
Il was tired of this indefinite but
general talk CT graft | was anx-
ious to clear the atmosphere. Going
to the bottom OF things would relieve
honest state officials from suspicion"
You know" the senator went on,
ninety per cent OF the people you
meet are honest-maybe more than
80 per cent That's true in my neigh
borhood and in yours. It's true in
business, no matter what line, and
it's true in politics.
But there is nothing so disturb
ing as indiscIiminate charges of dis
honesty. Breathe a suspicion and a
bank has trouble. Raise your eye
brows a few times when mans
nanfe is mentioned, and he is going
to be worried about his credit It's
the same in politics, only very much
more so. 1t has come to be the fash
ion to hint at the dishonesty of every
man who is elected or appointed to
office If it is continued, after while
few people will have the courage to
seek public position.
Too Much Loose Talk.
For several years there have been
insinuations and general charges OF
graft in Ohio. We have had that an
issue in two or three state cam
pa.gns. No one was particularly ac-
cused, and everybody suffered, and |
acted merely from motive OF getting
to the bottom of things.
There had Eeen two or three com
missions named by the Legislature to
investigate, but neither OF them pro-
Quced any definite results, beyond
spen1ing thousand of dollars of state
money. | had heard enough to con-
vince me that graft would be found,
if at all, in the public printers and
the fire marshals Office. | intended
going into the board of public works
and insurance department. Another
resolution shut my committee from
the board of public works, and we
hadn't time to go into the other de-
partment named.
But the commission named under
my resolution turned up graft aggre
eating over 100000, furnished evil
dence that resulted in the indictment
of ten men, and cost the state only
1920. | was convinced that 1t was
not necessary to employ $1,000 law
yers and $25 a day for stenographers
Harmon Did not Help.
mo, Governor Harmon was in nc
way interested in the resolution l Of
fered. AS have repeatedly said
only four men knew anything about
the resolution until it had been hand
ed up and read in open session. In.
deed, | have been told that Governor
Harmon opposed its passage, and
tried to defeat it.
This matter was in my mind when
came down for the session. | was
walking over to see about a room
at the Normandy hotel when | met
Harvey CARRIER alighting from his au
tomobie in front OF the telephone
Office We talked awhile and | tOlC
him what | proposed to do. | haC
neither seen nor communicated witt
Mr.. CARRIER previously for four or five
months. After talking for little
while we went upstairs into his Of
flee, and the resolution was written
there.
CARRIER Ready With Cash.
But there was no provision in the
resolution for meeting the expenses
of the inquiry and there was consid
cradle talk that it would be of no eff
feet in consequence. Right here il
where | wish to give credit to Har
very CARRIER: In going over tina
phase of the situation he adviset
against seeking an appropriation, Al
that would be opposed. You q
ahead, Dick he said to me, and
will pay half of the expense, and yol
can pay the balance-or if it rum
too high, I'll try to get some other
to join in and share the cost But
afterwards learned that there wa
still about S1,100 in the contingen
fund that had been appropriated 70
the Howe commission, and as we onl
used $500 it wasn't necessary to cal
on Mr.. CARRIER.
Will Not Support c;eamer.
1--WE were as astonished to find tha
Treasurer Creamer, as fire marsha
had made false vouchers for e1
penses as the public was to learn O
the discovery. | had no idea of &c
ing after Creamer,' as some of hi
friends have charged, for had no
the remotest idea that there was any
thing to go after him for. But i
view of what was developed | OF
posed his denomination at DaytoI
and l shall not support him at tn
polls this fall | do not believe tina
q man who will falsify an expens
ycG sler for a few dollars is the sol