Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-05-01
COX VS.. JEFFERSON
Address of Hon. F. B. Willis at Re-
publican Rally at Wauseon, April
2Sth, Dangers of Capitalization of
Power-Incensistency of Platform
and Practice American Rights and
Machine Building - Jefferson's
Principles and Cox's Policies.

huhss SShcIsOH
Principles and Cox's Policies.
The campaign in Ohio this fall
involves the most fundamental prin-
cIples of our Government. 1t is not
q mere question as to the efficacy Of
this statute or that statute but the
real issue tar beyond that. The peo-
pie OF the state are to decide whether
they will rule themselves or be ruled
by one man. Local self government
and home rule are at stake. These
issues must not be confused by the
injection of mere minor matters.
from the days of Runnymede and
King John down through the strug-
gle over the Bill of Rights and the
disputes which finally terminated in
Isbe American Revolution of '76 the
right of local self government and
control of the people over the ques-
ton of taxation and their right to Sc
iect their own taxing officials have
been fondly cherished and valiantly
defended. These rights, blood
bought and centuries old will not be
given up to suit the caprice of poll
Gieal bosses and machine builders.
When the people lose control over
taxation and have their officers ap-
pointed for them by one who claims
ne can appoint better than the peo-
pie in their sovereign capacity can
elect they have started on the plan
of retrogression and the end will be
such Capitalization of power in the
executive and such extension Of au-
tocratic rule as to make free govern
ment a delusion and liberty only
name. So far as known every other
state in the union elects its tax asses
sors. Formerly Arizona and Loui-
siana had tax systems whereby as
SCISSORS were appointed by the gov
ernor but wearying of this autocra-
tic arrangement these states now
provide tnat assessors shall be elect
ed. In some states assessors are
made ineligible for reelection. 1t is
quite possible to secure efficiency
without destroying the deep seated
sentiment of the American people in
favor of democratic institutions and
the right of local self government
Even in Wisconsin whose institutions
nave been SO thoroughly studied and
whose laws in some respects have
been copied by other states the local
assessors are under the control of the
people and not under the control of
a central authority. 1t is quite in
teresting to note that the National
Tax Association meeting in Columbus
in 1907 while recommending CEN
tralized supervision OF assessments.
was strongly of the opinion that local
assessors snould be elected. In fact
there is no good reason and none can
be invented why the people should be
deprived of this right which they
have enjoyed ever since the founda-
ton of American institutions and the
only reason that can possibly be as
signed is the desire of somebody to
increase his own power and build up
a political machine which shall reach
to every voting precinct in the state
If the people of other states are wise
enough and patriotic enough to elect
their own tax assessors why should
the people of Ohio be denied this
right? Are they less capable of
themselves? Do they have
lower standards of citizenship Must
they be coddled and have their busi-
ness affairs attended to by some all
wise benevolent despot who would,
appoint their officers and make their
laws? The people of this imperial
are quite capable of
their own affairs and
choosing their own officers. They be-
lieve in home rule and will insist on
their rights to choose their own of
fcials. They are unwilling to admit
klr& J,<x1 e1<.{x hI.fars
stamp to express perfunctory ap-
proval of laws made by the governor.
They will hold their legislators to
strict accountability and insist that
their first affirmative act following
the election next November shall be
the vital amendment or complete re-
peal IF the notorious Warnes law to
the end that government shall be re-
stored to the people, where it be-
longs.
A strange contrast is presented by
the views of the fathers who fashion,
ed and founded our institutions and
the beliefs and practices of some of
these latter day saints who preach
rule by the people and practice reign
by the machine. In a recent address
in this city the governor is quoted by
the press as saying some rather dis
paraging things of the first constitu-
ton adopted by the people of the
state of Ohio. HeNis reported to have
quoted with approval the opinions OF
others to the effect that when Ohio
became a state it adoped very fool
ish constitution. 1t is not at all i'm
probable that there were some de-
fects in this constitution. But let the
historical setting of the scene be re-
called. Who adoped the Constitution OF
Ohio anyhow? This instrument was
framed and fashioned by the Jeffer-
sonian Democrats of that time. There
had been a great contest in that sec
ton of the northwestern territory,
which afterwards became Ohio, as to
which party should have control of
affairs at the beginning of the new
state. In some sections of the state
federalism was very strong; lnere
were those who believed that there
should be a strong centralized gov
ernment with much power vested IN
the governor but the people OF the IN
coming state, mindful OF the expert
ence which the states, which the ter
ritory and the Nation had had with
unbridled power in the hands OF an
executive decreed that that execu-
five should have but little power. The
present executive of the state, for
getful of the teaching of the fathers
and departing from the course mark
ed out by those great Democrats who
framed the state Constitution is now
adopting the doctrines of federalism.
He out -Herods Herod in his asser-
ton that power should be centralized
lin the hands of the governor. Wal
cott and Timothy Pickering in their
fondest dreams never imagined such
autocratic authority vested in the
hands of governor as the present
chief executive of the state is now
grasping for. The people OF the
state in this campaign have the OPP
portunity to choose between the au-
tocratic dogma's of extreme federal
lism as represented by the present
chief executive and ideas of govern