The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-09-27

sng program in hearing reports from
Friends from all parts of the state.
Speaking at the Democratic cam.
paign opening at Canton, Governor
Harmon dealt chiefly with the more
important details of his administra-
tion. His entire speech follows:
Two years ago the Democratic par
ny of Ohio again proved it's right to
he classed as useful political
agency by exposing the wrongdoings
and shortcomings of certain state Of
f1cials and promising to replace them
by honest and efficient service. 1t
claimed for its members no monopoly
of virtue or ability, but it was not
controlled by men whose selfish pur-
poses require for accomplishment
public agents of their own selection.
Its candidates were the free choice
of delegates who represented the
voters of the party and each nominee
was pledged to do his utmost toward
the reform of the government.
to the choosing of presidential! cleo
tors by the same ballot prevented the
election of all but two of it's nomi-
nees-those for governor and treas
urer. The conduct of their respec-
tive offices by these two makes up
the record on which the Democratic
party now comes before the people.
to arg Il.
the voters in connection with a SER
vice they require they have nothing
but his general character to aid them
and the qualities he may have shown
in other positions, but when the
voters have once tried man 1t Is n
simple matter to decide whether they
want him again or not. Performance
has then displaced promise and ex-
pectation given way to knowledge.
An attempt to escape this test would
be a confession of unfitness. But 1t
can not he escaped. All that can be
fairly asked is consideration of con-
ditions under which the work had to
be undertaken, one of which, in our
government of wisely distributed
powers, is always cooperation or the
lack of 1t on the part of other Of
ficials.
So the question before the people
Is, shall the conduct OF the present
governor and treasurer be approved
or condemned? And If they are to
be retained, shall their associates in
the executive and other departments
Of the government be men in hearty
sympathy with their desire TO i'm
prove the public service or men who,
from any motive whatsoever, are
likely to give them only half-hearted
support or none at all?
The State Treasury.
The practices which long prevailed
regarding the money in the treasury
were partly made known by the SEN
Rte committee early in 1908. The Re
publican member, who has ever since
been the leader of the majority OF
the senate, dissented from the com
mittee's report, after doing all he
could to obstruct its work. It's find
ings were denounced by him and by
every state officer from governor
down as unfounded and falsely parti-
san, and their party press did the
same, with some exceptions, of which
the Marion Star was not one.
The new treasurer promptly abol-
ished the system of favoritism by
which the public funds we're deposit
ed in banks in which former treas
urers and other officials had secured
stock, and in banks controlled by
their political confederates, at rates
fxed by themselves, which they knew
10 be much lower than were being
paid by the same banks on other de-
posits. The funds were all with
drawn and redeposited on fair COM
petition open to all banks in the state
alike. Much higher rates were thus
obtained, which are still in force.
Ever since the law requiring the
deposit of state funds the treasury
BOOKS showed an enormous amount
OF cash kept In the vaults, averaging
nearly $S00,000. although 100000
more was constantly on deposit In
Columbus banks subject to check
pitbtHl lltdohltl dl oHtt lt'
duced the cash in the vault to $780,.
600, which is ample for daily needs
making all above that sum earn In
terest for the state by prompt de-
posits.
Their promise to the voters thus
kept, the governor and treasurer, as
soon as their regular duties permit
ted, proceeded to find out the exact
and entire truth about graft in the
use OF state funds. The senate com
mittee had reported some Of the
facts, and the rise to wealth and high
bank positions OF officials dealing
with public money, who had come tc
Columbus poor, had been too frequent
not to arouse suspicion.
Not an Easy Task.
The task was long and hard II hat
been confessed to the committee tina
the treasury books contained no full
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