The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-06-05
COWDEN COMES
BACK AT COLE
Declares LattST'S Stand FaVOTS
Tax OOdgGT.
ASKS PERTINENT QUESTIONS

Hocalla SESSIONS OF Mckinley al
Commission and Says All Members
Favored Appointment Of Ward anC
Township Assessors.
Columbus, o.. June Good friends
Of Congressman Ralph d. Cole
Of Fndlay, now Junior candidate
for United States senator on the
Republican ticket, deplore the fact
that when he was growing toward
manhood in Hancock county he had
30 little experience with that useful
implement known as the buzz saw To
his lack of acquaintance with the
homely injunction that went with the
use Of this instrument is due some OF
the troubles he is now experiencing
Had he a finger touched in boyhood
days, say the friends of Mr.. Cole, he
might have learned sufficient caution
to have kept away from an encounter
with the Warnes tax law and with
William N Cowden, whom Governor
William Mckinley named to protect
the farmers against taxation extor-
ton. Furthermore, he would hardly
have sought to repudiate the work Of
his own managers in seeking to deny
a statement that went over his own
signature. Unhappily, schooling ex-
perience was lacking. Hence it has
happened to the boy orator" Hence
also he is attempting a retreat.
A mere trifle Of II years does not
keep Mr.. Cowden from having fun
with the bewildered Mr. Cole. The
Cole adherents have been grieved at
the manner in which the sage Of Qua
ker City, who pleads guilty only to
being an unsophisticated tiller of the
soil, has worsted the supposedly bril-
liant corporation lawyer, college grad
uate and orator. Mr.. Cowden merely
follows out the suggestions Of Mr..
Cole, for whom he expresses the
most kindly sympathy and discloses
where Mr.. Coles own statements
would lead him.
Having brought Mr. Cole to the
point of defending the indefensible
favoritism system of tax listing,
whereby those who could lodged all
their taxes and left the farmers and
home owners to pay double their
share, Mr.. Cowden has, argumenta-
lively, cut off the Cole retreat and
proceeds to annihilate his adver-
sary's contentious at his ease, but
none the less surely.
Mr.. Cowden shows that the Cole
stand is unwittingly and unconscious
ly in favor of the tax-dodger. Com
menting upon the unfortunate stand
the youthful candidate for senator
has taken, Mr.. Cowden asks some
very pointed questions and drives
home some pointed suggestions:
What would be the verdict Of the
people on party that would appear
before the people of the state as a
defender of the tax-dodger and per-
Jurer-of the man who hides his prop
erty and let's honest men build his
roads maintain his schools, defend
his property, light his street and
house, pave his street. place a police
man at his home to guard his person
and property by day and by night,
sends a fire company to save his
home from the flames? To my mind
such a man is a violator of every
command of the decalogue and the
party defending such conduct should
be doomed to eternal separation from
the pie counter"
It was the manner in which he had
been tripped up on statements that
led Mr.. Cowden to remark that he is
charitable enough to believe that |
Mr.. Cole made his reply without a
thought Of where it would lead him"
Mr.. COwden seemingly is pained all |
the more over the lapse Of Mr.. Cole |
into sympathy with the bygone |
scheme of faVoritism and inequality |
because Mr.. Coles name is attached |
to one Of the laws recommended by
the Mckinley commission, the Cole
law. In speaking Of the entire mat
ter Mr.. Cowden is careful to make it
plain that he is not desirous of max
ing worse Mr.. Coles plight, but |
wishes only to defend the memory
"of the great and good Governor Nc
Kinley."
AS member of the Mckinley com
mission, especially commissioned to
look after the interests of the farm
ers, Mr. Cowden is at loss to under.
stand why Mr.. Cole should at this
time shed copious, gushing tears"
because from the farmer has been
taken the sacred" right of electing
local assessors. Mr.. Cowden is
prompt to trap Mr.. Cole on his will
bngness that city tax listers should
be appointed.
Recalling the sessions Of the com
mittee, Mr.. Cowden says that of the
farmers, business men, professional
men and students who were ques-
tionsd by the commission mot a sim
gle one advocated the election of
ward and township assessors" 1t
was. he says. generally agreed that
the tax assessors must be appointed
30 a. 10 ax responsibility. If there Is