The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-06-22

deposits thsh they did for private de-
posits. The machine was more gener.
Gus 10 It's component parts than IL was
TO the public. We do not charge that
all Of the Republican members Of this
machine were guilty OF active malfeas-
aEce, but We do say that those officials
who were In power and did not prevent
this active malfeasance were culpable
In not preventing 1t If they knew It, and
In not knowing II II they did not know
II. A distinguished governor has said
that graft Is non-partisan. That IL true
but 1t does not absolve from RESPONSE
bi ity the party whose officials are guilty
OF graft or which permits II TO continue
or does not prevent 1t.
During the campaign of 1908, the Dem
oeritic standard bearer called the peu.
pc attention to the lax business meth
ods which were prevalent In the state
house; TO the graft that was there en-
trenChed, to the machine that was ia
control and was fostering II and benefit
Ing by II and TO the necessity for clean
er and better politics. The Republica ns
denied these charges Governor Harris
gave each OF the departments a clean
bill OF health, The issue was Joined
Judson Harmon was elected governor
and ID. 3. Creamer state treasurer. Be-
ore the peoples choice could be inau-
gGrated Governor Harris called the gen.
erai assembly together, and In violation
OF every official propriety named ap-
pointees for every vacancy and Rcpub-
liean senate confirmed them. In order To
defeat the will OF the people, provide for
his political supporters, and embarrsss
the new governor.
new Investigation OF official mis-
management was begun by the general
assembly. This time the force of pub
lie opinion became so strong that the
n1Il "A
and that which before was to some ex-
tent matter OF faith under the Beatty
committee became demonstrated fact.
craft did exist. The good work of
Democracy has just begun. The Repub-
iican majority which was responsible
for the vrongdoings still continues In
control In many OF the departments. Ths
Democrats who have been In Office dur.
ing Governor Harmon's administration
have kept the faith. The Republicans
have not needed the warnings that were
given by the election OF e. Democratic
governor In 1905 and In 1908. and tho
people under the leadership OF our pres
ent goverI.Dr. Judson Harmon, this fail
say to them In clarion tones which can
not be misnnderstood, Depart"
Ohio Democracy under the leadership
OF Governor Harmon has been hghtlng
especially for three supremely impor-
tant prinCipes:
l. The elimination OF graft.
Business methods ana economy IN
ppbiic expenditures
g. Reduction and reform In our tax
3'tem.
!. GRAFT
That the statehouse under the domi-
nance OF a Republican machine has been
honeYcomted by graft is clearly proven
by the committee headed by Senator
Beatty; that a portion OF II was the re-
SUIT OF ignorance due to precedent and
ill-eonsldered legal advice, do not
doubt. that some OF II was due 10 a
selfish desire TO profit AT the expense OF
the state Is evident from the manner In
which the putlIe funds have been used
~ public officials and placed In favored
banks; that much OF II Is attributable
% criminal disposition to rob the pub
lie has been clearly proven. Before the
state depository law was enacted much
OF the public funds was put In favored
banks and interest paid ard not ac-
counted foi', After It's enactment the
money was placed on deposit In banks.
In some Of which officials themselves
were stockholders, at w par cent in-
terest on active accounts and 2h per
cent on Inactive accounts, while the
same banks were advertising for money
and offering 70 pay other depositors 4
per cent, and all the time that this busi-
ness was being conducted In this way
the safe treasurer was without proper
books Of account
Under a Democratic state treasurer
books are kept which show every trans
action OF the department. NThe stare
funds are Ivaned out at competitive bid
dins The active accounts draw from