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

The speaker was William n. Cow.
den, practical farmer, active in pro.
noting the interests of Buckeye agri.
culturists, defender of the tariff on
wool and friend Of President McKin.
ley. Hale and hearty, his mental Wig
or unimpaired in his seventy-eighth
year, Mr., Cowden, as the sole surviy-
ing member of the Mckinley commits
sion, recalled clearly his association
with the body which first recommend
cd a change in the manner of select
ing assessors.
Taking a little time to discuss the
subject Of taxation, Mr.. Cowden found
delight that the proposals of the Nc.
Kinley commission have after many
years been given a trial, and in the
increased returns the method of aP.
poinive assessors is vindicating IL
self. Knowing that under the admin
istration of Governor James NJ. Cox
practical effect is being given to a
modern system Of tax listing Mr..
Cowden was content to watch the de-
velopment from the seclusion of his
big farm at Quaker City Recent
statements of the opponents of the
new system provided by the Warnes
law, and of the attitude of William
Mckinley toward the appointive sys-
TEN, led Mr.. Cowden to give this cor
recting interview:
"You say Governor Mckinley asked
you to look after the interests of the
farmers?" suggested the interviewer
"Did you think you were doing ii
when you Joined in the recommends
tion for appointive assessors who
would be free to perform their du.
ties?"
81 most certainly did, was the |
prompt answer Mr. Cowden made |
''And l am certain Governor McKin- |
ley did, too. recall that he indorsed |
our suggestions and urged their adop-
tion in a message to the general as.
sembly. He expressed no doubt but |
that they would be adopted, but Gov
ernor Mckinley in the executive of.
fee at Columbus was not an aggres-
sive man The big corporations got
busy and ucrs AIDED the general as.
sembly no, To do anything. So the
recommendations were not acted
upon. Taxation matters dragged
along but little better than they were
when our commission was named un
Lil Governor Judson Harmon came
into office. At his suggestion some
progress was made. His
are being followed by Gov.
prnor Cox in carrying the work to
"In view of the claim that oppo
lents of the new system are now
making that the Warnes act takes
rom the people their heaven-senr
light Of electing all tax assessors, it
would be interesting to know what
vas the public view at the time the
of the commission were
nade." commented the interviewer
That the recommendations would
epriye the people of any right was
ot even mentioned" was Mr.. Cow
ems prompt answer. "No one seems
o have thought of that until after
he Warnes law was enacted a year
go. l recall absolutely no criticism
our proposals at the time they :
7ere made, although they were a {
ubject Of discussion in the press and I
y public men. The comments upon s
ur recommendations were favorable, |
recall, and the plea of a political L
lachine through appointive tax off !
ers was not at that time made, al I
Tough it was generally assumed that l.
le recommendation would be car S
ed into law The cry of destroying
ghts Of the voters seems clearly to b
ave been an after-consideration Il
ade to hamper the new system" I
'Do you think in the light of your u
atement that serious attention d
lould now be paid to this cry?" a
Most certainly not replied Mr.. d
Owden. GAS l said few days ago, b
IS a hit bird that flutters.' And Il
lttering and raising of false issues 7
ay be expected from those who are g.
t. The people fortunately are intel W
gent enough to see the cause of the il