Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-07-24
POLITICAL
Observations, Wise and Otherwise
Governor Cox and Good Roads
Honesty or Ability, Which?

The first skirmish of the great
political contest to be held Tuesday,
November 3, is on. Candidates are
touring the county, district and state
meeting the voters and placing in the
most favorable light the reasons why
they should be their party's nominee.
Congressman Whittecar of Canton.
is after Gov. Cox for the Democratic
nomination for governor. He chal-
lenges Gov. Cox to meet him in Joint
debate, at such places and times as
the Governor may select, to defend
his administration and its machine
building policies, but up to date, the
Governor has seen fit not to accent
the challenges, but prefers to do his
campaigning under the auspices of
the Agricultural Commission.
In August 1912 Gov. Cox, then a
candidate for election as governor
was going over the state urging the
voters to support the amendment to
the state constitution providing for
the issuing of $50,000,0OO worth of
bonds the proceeds to be used in
building good roads. Not more than
$10,O00,000, worth of bonds were to
be issued in any one year. Gov. Cox.
now has change of heart. He ad-
vocates reduction of the half mill
good roads levy which will produce
about four million dollars annually.
and gives as his reason for asking for
TINS reduction, that three million dol
lars Is all that can be judiciously ex-
pended In any one year upon the pub
nc highways of the state by the State
highway Department. The large per
cent. OF this road tax comes from the
cities and Cincinnati is bitterly on
posed to the good road law. Could
this have anything to do with thu
Governors change of position on the
amount of money that should be ex-
pended for good roads? When tbe
good roads act was approved by the
Governor last year it was known that
the half mill levy would produce three
ana one-haf million dollars annually
In an address delivered here in Nav
GOV. Cox said in defending the Warn
es Tax Law, "The tax duplicate of
tne state will be increased over
billion dollars and that means Won
farmers will get $50O,OOO additional
each year for the building of good
roads, and this amount will largely
come from the cities and from tha tay
DODGERS" If Gov. Cox means what
ne SAID then why does he now want
70 take from others what he promised
they should receive for being depriv-
ed OF electing tehir assessors?
Il take no active part in politics.
SAID a business man of this CITY the
oIher day, but | always attend ali
electlons. When candidate approach
es me and in confidential way be-
gins to tell me of a slate that IS ha-
ing put up and how we must all work
together to bust it, set it down that
that candidate has no merit of his
own and is crying state to cover up
ms own defects. Ten chances to one
ehat II there was slate he would
want to be the first fellow upon it.
But nave you ever stopped to think
now impossible it is in small coun-
ty like this for any politician to make
slate. I may have a dozen in
innate friends but what kind of .
mesmerist would have to be and
what kind of citizens would they be if
| could get them to vote for a candi-
date OF my choice, when they NAV
know the candidate as well or better
than l. No this slate talk is put out
by some candidate or politician who
has no or very little merit in their
cause and are trying to win by dirty
politics. Watch the fellow who is
crying slate for that is about all
there is to him."
When candidate or a person
wants to injure his rival he alwavs
starts out with II am told upon good
authority or 81 heard from a reli-
able source" and then tells of the
derogatory stuff about the other fell
low. But he never gives you his au-
thority for that would afford an op-
portunity to run it down and find out
the lie. Just demand of him his au-
thority and see how quickly he will
find it convenient to move on.
If candidate is not honest in his
every day life you need not think
you will reform him by putting him
into public office. Has he swerved
from the path of duty in his every
day life to gain popular applause
Has he betrayed a trust for money,
has he been bought or bribed in pri-
vate life? If he has you don't want
him in public office. In selecting
public officials find honesty first then
ability. And happy is the solution
when you find honesty and ability to-
gether.