The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-29

IN PAYMENT.
Of Political Debts To Renegade
Democrats
Is The New Ohio Republican
| Administration
The General Game Of Politics
Being P.dyed
While Public Business Is
Being Neglected
State House Getting Air Of
"GOOd Old Days.
State House Getting Air Of
"GOOd Old Days.

Columbus. O., Jan. 26-The Repub-
lican administration may be long
way from carrying out campaign
promises in regard to the destruction
of commissions and the decentraliza-
tion of other governmental Organiza-
tions; it may, indeed, be long way
from giving any economy in the con-
duction of state offices; it may be de-
ficient in other ways; but it is efficient
in payment of political debts, and in
making the state government what it
was before" to quote the words of the
soon-to-be junior senator from Ohio.
An intimation Of what might be ex-
pected was first given when the Re-
publican majority in the senate voted
a present of purse of money to one
Clark G. Doughty for alleged services
rendered the assembly but for SER
vices really rendered unto the Repub-
lican organization, and for which the
organization did not find itself able
to pay. Now Governor Willis has
granted the most important place in
his power to Edward G. Fullington,
who will become budget commission
er, and has made the announcement
that he will name D. Staley Creamer,
who was one of the leaders of the
bolt from the Democratic ticket, to
succeed Joseph p. Shaffer as the min
ority member on the state board of
administration. IL,
In plain terms. the administration
of Governor Willis ia setting all the
machinery of government to work to
pay political obligations. The well
being of the state of secondary i'm
portance. The big thing is to arrange
matters that there will be easy sled
ding for the Republican party in 1916,
and they do say that Governor Willis
has his lightning rod all FURNISHED
and bright waiting for the main stroke
of the season. Even in the two hous-
es of the general assembly the game
of politics has been played from the
very start. In three weeks the general
assembly has done nothing but draw
salaries and create commissions,
which have for their chief purposes
the preparation of campaign material
for two years hence.
The state house ia beginning to
look much as 1t did before the people
rose in their might and demanded a
house cleaning when they found that
public funds were being used for pri-
vate gain. There Is in the treasurer's
office two of the former deputies un-
der the regime Of Walter D. Guilbert
and w. S. McKinnon,. and now the
return of Edward G. Fullington make
the family complete.
It Is remarkable that during the
campaign Willis decried and con-
demned the budget commission, so
we'll conducted by Heffernan, and
that even in his first message to the
legislature he recommended that the
work of the office be transferred to
the department of the state auditor and
then has turned right about to place
the secretary OF the state Republican
committee in charge of the office still
under the supervision Of the execu.
tive. The original plan was to place
Fullington In the public utilities com
mission, but it was seen that his use
fulness there would be nil, when At
toiney General Edward G. Turne
blocked the projected raid by assign
ing a special counsel of certain ability
to act as watch dog. So Fullington
has been given the next be- place
But at any rate The R. publican al
J ministration is making the old state
house look like it locked in the 900
old days"
! o.
oovernog Wills has 'Ncady bucne1