The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-05-08

fluttering, >hence the cry about taking
away from the people their libertie.
and rights will deceive but few. Las
of all will it deceive the farmer:
when their own taxes are lowered as
the result of the running down oi
persistent tax-dodgers."
Growing reminiscent, Mr. Cowden
related the story of his selection as
member of the commission and dis
cussed Governor McKinley's interest
in its work.
When Mr. McKisley was in con,
gress, was secretary of the Ohio
Wool Growers association and fre.
Quently appeared before the ways
and means committee in behalf of the
interests Of Ohio sheep growers. In
this way l got to know him quite
well and our friendship was not dis
turbed by the fact that we were on
the opposite sides of the political
fence, even though l was a tariff
man. l did not know that l was to
be member of the commission,
which was created by act of the leg
islature, until my commission came
to me from the governor. l remem-
Der that at our meetings it was re.
marked by Governor Mckinley that I
was to look after the. interests of the
farmers.
Judge A. c. Thompson was Nc
Kin1ayvte intfvraafn
ical friend and had served with him
in congress. AS chairman of the
commission Of four l recall that he
had frequent conferences with the
governor concerning our recommen-
dations, and 1t was correctly as
sumed in our meetings that he
spoke his own as we'll as the COVER
nor's sentiments in the suggestions
for recommendations Had Mckinley
himself said nothing as to our recon-
mendations, there were enough cir
cumstances to show clearly that he
favored our report and assumed that
1t would be enacted into law. l even
remember that without any sugges-
tion on my part he told me that in
case of the passage of the bill we
recommended l was to be one Of the
Lermanent state tax commissioners.
Had it not been for the activity OF
the great corporations then escaping
practically all OF the taxes they now
pay, the bill would doubtless have
gone through. Governor Mckinley
made no active campaign for 1t.
Judge Thompson afterwards remark
ed that we could have lobbied the
measure through. but he did not con-
slider that such a course would have
been dignified. Our report was as ex-
1austive as we could make it in the |
Six months we had and he did not |
'eel that it was for us to speak to the
legislature about 1t when the report
spoke for itself.
"Foreseeing that many would be
brought to time by the operation of
he law we recommended, Judge
Thompson said it might not be pop
liar at the outset, but he had no
loubt that application of the law for
short time would result in it's vim
I1cation. His prediction bids fair to
10 vindicated in the experience that
he Warnes law Is now encountering.
The popularity of the act is bound to
row as its application justifies its
yisdom. | have often been sorry that
udge Thompson could not live to see
he recommendations of our commits
lon carried out into law. 1t has been
ne proudest time Of my life now that
ne suggestions we made are being
iven effect.
"Now as to the reasons why our
ommission of 1898 was called into
eing. When Governor Mckinley
ent into Office he soon discovered a
)rry state of facts. The expenses Of
10 government of the state and of
le counties and cities were increas-
q. A large amount of property was
icaping taxation and in consequence
Ie tax rates of property that was
xed were mounting higher and
CHER until they approached the con-
Ication Of all the income of the
'operty There was all the incen-
We in the world and even justiflca-
On for hiding property from the tax
Ltherer.
"As governor, Mckinley set about
correct what had become a crying .