The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-08-21

when no books or records were kept
so that the people might know where
their money was kept or for what It
was being used.
State funds alone during the past
five and one-half years have yielded
an income to the state of the enorm
Gus sum of $1,170,S61.30. The state
treasurer's report shows constantly
increasing earning, and shows the ac-
tivity of the department of the attor-
ney general in enforcing collections
of some of the money illegally held
as the result of the old days of graft
and misuse of state money by Off
cials in connection with George B. Cox
and other favored politicians and
bankers in the state.
The beginning of the new order of
efficiency and economy started with
the revolution which drove the dis
honest officials from office. The peo-
| pie disliked to be told it was NONE
OF THEIR BUSINESS when they in
quired about public funds. They
elected men who believed in both
honesty and efficiency. These men
found that money had been illegally
| deposited in banks prior to the pas
sage of the depository law in 1904,
and that even that law had been vio-
lated. The state money had been
busy for private gain. The state is
still engaged in trying to get back a
portion of its money-such as the in
vestigating officers have been able
to locate.
Now business-like methods have
been installed in the state house and
a recurrence Of the old treasury graft
is impossible unless the people them
selves grow careless and relinquish
their guard. REPORTS OF THE
TREASURY ARE NOW MADE
DAILY to the auditor of state and to
Governor Cox, and the latter posts
the daily report in conspicuous
place in the lobby of his office where
IL is accessible to newspaper men and
to the public.
J Now, under the new order In Ohio,
| depositors are chosen by competitive
bid Every bank in the state has
chance to secure the public money on
the highest bid of interest. Not a
dollar is put out in any other way.
And the people themselves know
what banks are selected, and the in
terest they pay, as we'll as the
amounts they hold on deposit.
Under the old regime, when the
graft grew and fattened, and when
the scandal broke out, repositories Of
public funds were selected according
to their political afiiliation and politi-
cal pull. This fact is shown by let
ters found after the investigation
endorsement of Republican politi-
clans or office holders. In the case of
the Marion county Bank Company,
the deposit was made solely on the re-
commentator of Warren G. Harding,
candidate for Senator. These let
ters showed conclusively that the
leading politicians of the ring in pow
er were hand in glove with the use of
state funds for private benefit.
1t Is not possible that the business
men of the state will approve re-
turn to the old days of unbusness
like conduct in the state house. 1t is
not probable that the taxpayers of the
state will want to see their money
juggled again as it was in the days
OF graft.
The only way to make sure Is not
to take chances. Honesty, efficiency
and economy are now given under an
administration which has driven the
grafters and the lobbyists from the
state house, and who in addition have
kept every promise made by them
and every obligation laid upon them
The issue before the people is clear
and should not be logged with other
ideas.
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