The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-12-09

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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 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 well that II 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.
"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
IFS Objector, and he sat at the table
and participated in the discussion Of
the gentlemen whose names we're 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.
I'VE 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 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 few steps In his
tory. In 1893 the governor of this
state was William Mckinley, of sa-
cred memory. He recognized per-
fectly well that the conditions exist
ent then with reference to the assess
ment Of property for taxation were
!ndefensIble, unfair and inequitable,
and could not in conscience nor in
logic be explained. He appointed a
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. G..
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 u
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
4 Albert Angel OF Cleveland, conspicu
T. Gus in his community as a publicist
'. as n philanthropist and as business
=. man; public-spirited citizen whose
mind has been enriched by exhaustive
study and who gave long time t
: the consideration of this question.
Governor Mekinley's Tax Commission
a Reports.
y Now I want to read to you wha
). this commission reported to Governo
4 Mckinley 20 years ago. | want yol
a to hear from me the very words which
/. they used to characterize the condi
tions existent then, and which yol
are now called upon to upset an,
a turn over in Ohio. 1t said; Othe
1. states before have had before ther
a the problem how to more effeetuall
. equalize taxation. II Is In its praC
a. tical administration that a system o
n, public finance must be considered
4 Not what is theoretically possible, bu
"A what Is attainable in view OF tn
il, weakness and greed of human nature
n. should be the aim of the, lawmakel
10 The system as II 10 aetua admin,
a tered results In debauchlng the mora
m sense. II is a school Of perjury,
, sends large amounts Of property Int
y. hiding. II drives capital In larg
40 quantities from the state. Worst c
-. all, II imposes unjust burdens upo
n various classes In the communit!
's upon the farmer In the country, all c
~ his property taxed because II Is tai
a, olbie; upon the man who Is scrupl
lously honest, and upon the guardia
< and executor and trustee, whose a
ss counts are matters Of public reeor
M These burdens are unjust because