The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-10-27

NCiiOu ONCuD,6, pClOiC
q large audience, Governor Cox un-
limbered the big gun OF the cam.
Laign, and showed the connection Of
Frank B. willis with those who par
ticipated in the treasury graft that
caused the uprising in this state sew.
eral years ago and resulted in Demo-
cratic success in several state cleo
tons.
1t is interesting to note that the
connection is made through the fact
that one Of the former state treas
urers now faces trial for his alleged
misconduct and that a cashier under
the treasurer in bank established
by him, now presides over the stats.
tics department at Republican head
quarters. In view of the fact that the
goverl in his speech refers to the
rending trial of Isaac B. Cameron,
| and the white wash" report on his
Office in which Mr.. Willis participat-
ed, Democrats point out that 1t is Of
decided import that Henry w. Back
hus, the man who spilled the ink
over the records Of the defunct Co.
lumbus Savings and Trust company
books is now engaged in the prepara-
tion of campaign material for the Re-
is guided by Edward M. Fullington,
who was formerly in the office Of the
state auditor, to o. X. vouchers in the
lalmy days.
Governor Cox said:
"The decision of the Ohio supreme
court last week, which will place
former Republican State Treasurer
Isaac B. Cameron before the bar of
Justice in a Franklin county common
pleas court. to be tried on a charge
of unlawfully pocketing interest earn
ings on deposits of the state treasury
balance, adds another link of cOrrOb-
, Orative evidence to sustain the charge
/ OF Democrats that prior to the politi-
Cal change in the state administra-
ton. private bankers. dishonest poll
| ticians and corrupt state treasurers
were in a conspiracy to defraud the
| people.
For years Republicans denied the
charge of wrongdoing preferred by
Z, Democrats and successfully blocked
| all attempts to reveal the corruptness
| existing in the state treasury and the
| auditors ohice back in the days when
| Big Chiefs Isaac B. Cameron and w.
| s. McKinnon, with others, run affairs
in the state treasury to suit them
| selves. The charges levelled at the
state treasury contained such extreme
accusations of crookedness as to be
| startling, and for years the people Of
Ohio did not place sufficient credence
In them to disturb wrongdoers.
"Now, let us see whether any of the
men who assisted in lulling the peo.
pie of Ohio into state of security
| their pockets through misuse Of the
state treasury balance are today bob
ing out from the places of obscurity,
where they were consigned when the
people awakened to the true state of
affairs in the treasury department.
Back in the year 1902, l find, upon
consulting the records, that Isaac b,
Cameron was state treasurer and w.
s. McKinnon was speaker of the
house Of representatives. These two
names will be connected up with the
state treasury scandals by every in
formed Ohioan. The estate Of him
who served two terms as state treas
urer after completing his tenure as
! speaker, has been sued to recover
$116,7S5, representing the interest
on surreptitious deposits of state
money, pocketed by the then treas
urer of state Cameron, himself, is
defending a suit filed to recover s2l3,-
| 721 of interest which Cameron is
charged with having wrongfully ap-
propriated This is in addition to the
criminal proceedings pending against
him.
'In the auditor of states Office
there was at this time man who
has since made restitution.
Now let us see whether there are
any who in days gone by deceived the
people about their misdeeds and who
have now come forth for popular ap-
lroval.
I'm the year 1902, when Messrs
McKinnon and Cameron held the Of
fees aforementioned. Frank B. Willis
was member of the house of rep
Iesentstives from Hardin county. He
10 now the Republican candidate for
i governor. ,s,i i.i,s.,.,sgy
I'm the legislative session Of 1907
rumOrs Of wrOngdoing In the stats
treasury reached the ears Of members
Of the general assembly, and Repre-
sentative Sharp of Fairfield, Demo
crat, introduced a resolution which
authorized the speaker to appoint a
committee of three to count the
money and conduct thorough inves
tigation for the purpose OF ascertain
ing whether or not there had been
any irresn narities, such as illegal
loans of IT, funds OF the state or ad
vances on which interest premiums
I ,.aiA n