The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-12-12

called machine 70 bring about what
they designated as the concentration
of power In the hands Of one man.
The arrangement, carried into law
with reference to the appointment of
the commissioners, was Induced by
the desire OF having liquor license
commissioners in this state absolute
" free and unfettered men who in
the administration of this great law
because l think It has risen to the
dignity Of a great law, men who
would be under no obligations grow
ing out OF their election, TO influences
which might subsequently embarrass
them on the ground Of so-called graf
itude.
Not Afraid Of Responsibility.
81 realized perfectly we'll that the
success or ill-success OF the liquor IL
cense law would descend upon the
head of the appointing power. was
perfectly willing to assume the re-
sponsibility for the liquor license law
and the plan and method OF its ad
ministration. That law was launched
on stormy seas. 1t was an entirely
new thing. It was induced by the in
Blstent desire of the people of this
state that this question be settled,
that communities might be freed from
the so-called wet and dry contests;
that these legislative halls In the con-
sideration of other questions might be
freed from the overwhelming infiu
ences OF the wet and dry question
The liquor license law is a success
and every day will demonstrate per
iectly the wisdom and logic Of that
measure.
"Now, the lesson from that is this:
That law has been made a success
because every man connected with
the administration OF the law, from
the governor down, or the commits
sioners up, has held firmly and infiex'
IDLY to this principle-that the law
must be enforced without fear, with
out favor. This tax law will likewise
be a success if you gentlemen bring
to the consideration of the questions
before you the same order Of courage
which characterized the administra'
tion OF the liquor license law.
Plan Not New.
There is nothing new in this plan,
so that we not only feel that the law
is right in theory, but We know per-
fectly we'll that If it is given the ele-
ments of integrity, of courage and OF
common sense in administration, it
will demonstrate itself as a wise law
in practice.
1--WE had scarcely passed this bill
until the critic obtruded his head
Someone told me not long ago that in
the days of old, in maintaining the
organization of a great church, when
they came to the selection Of one Of
the important dignitaries, the body
which had the power to select desig-
mated one OF its members as the Dew
lis Objector, and he sat at the table
anu Idl llNl lDdNNu III llAC hloNAooAoAA Va
the gentlemen whose names were pre-
sented for the honor which was to be
conferred He was called the Devils
Objector because he was designated
to lodge objections against every man
whose name might be suggested.
The DEVILS objector.
1--WE have the Devils Objector in
Ohio, speaking the voice of the devil
through the stand-pat propaganda
maintained at Columbus. 1t objects
to everything. So soon as the Warnes
law had been passed someone sug-
gested that the power of a Caesar
was about to be exercised in this
state and that the audacity of this
law had never been considered or
projected in Ohio. Now, ask you to
retrace with me a few steps in his
tory. In 1893 the governor of this
state was William Mckinley, Of sa-
cred memory. He recognized per
fectly we'll that the conditions exist.
ent then with reference to the assess
ment Of property for taxation were
indefensible, unfair and inequitable,
and could not in conscience nor in
logic be explained. He appointed
commission, the members of which
probably brought to that work the
largest measure of experience, Of
study, of investigation, that has ever
been brought in concentration upon
this subject in Ohio.
The commission consisted Of A. c.
Thompson of Portsmouth, subsequent
ly appointed to the United States
court of appeals, recognized as one of
the patriots Of Ohio, who carried to
his grave a bullet received on a
southern battlefield; Theodore Cook,
known in Cincinnati as one Of the
most distinguished business men OF
southwestern Ohio; w. N. Cowden,
representing the viewpoint Of the ag-
ricultural districts Of the state, and
Albert Angel of Cleveland, conspicu-
Gus in his community as a publicist,