The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-04-09
HOLLOW
MOCKERY|
Of Willis PronOunCement|
Against A Machine
Shown In His Most Recent
Official Action
In Turning Down Highest
Man On Eligible List
And Appointing A HenChman
To A Political Job
Thus Adding Another To The
Big Willis Machine

Columbus, O., April 6-In turning
down physician who had finished
first in state civil service examina-
tion and naming a low percentage can
didate, Governor Frank B. Willis made
this remark, which should be remem-
bered by all lovers Of good govern
ment:
''My position is to select Republic
an over a Democrat, providing Re-
publican is on the eligible list. There
is no use being mealy-mouthed about
It."
In exercising this remarkable power
1t is to be remembered that the gov
ernor set aside the action of the State
Industrial Commission which was
about to name the successful candi-
date. He did this through the authori-
ty given him under the law which per-
mits him to approve the appointments
made by that commission. Yet. on the
stump last fall, Governor Willis de-
nounced his principal opponent for
building up a political machine and
specifically promised to repeal the law
which gives to the chief executive the
authority to wise appointments made
by state boards and commissions.
On April 1 Republican Treasurer
Archer accounted for cash balance
of $9,983, 1866. The Democratic sur
plus in the State Treasury will keep
the boys going at Columbus until next
July. Then no, for the pawnshop!
When the slaughtering of the
Warnes tax law assessors was going
forward in the office OF. Governor Frank
b. Willis there were present as coun-
seilors in the matter of choosing min
ority representatives upon the new
boards, former Congressman John ].
Whitacre, former State Printer E. A.
Crawford, Charles p, Salem, Of Cleve-
land, c. c. Philbrick, of Columbus, and
Rev. Frank Richards, of Gallipolis.
These, the leaders and officials of the
so-called True Democracy league, OPP
posed the Democratic ticket last fall
because as they told the people, the
power of government was being usd to
create vicious partisan machine.
Fourteen weeks on the job and not
q bill passed nor an outside office CIV
en- quarters at the capitol. Giddap
o.
Temperance people who supported
Frank B. Willis for election because
they were told he was against the IL
quor traffic have recently had their
second object lesson taught them by
the Ohio senate, heavily Republican in
complexion. It has just defeated the
Vollenweider bill requiring the label
ing of alcoholic beverages shipped into
dry territory, the deciding votes
against it coming from Cincinnati,
which city, as Representative Willis
Yeatman, of Hamilton county, pro-
claimed in the general assembly. elect.
ed Willis. The same votes q month
ago killed the bill, backed by the or
ganized temperance forces, permitting
students to vote in towns where they
are attending college.
Municipalities will soon be deprived
Of their present power to negotiate
new rates for service from public utili
ty companies by having property Of
such companies valued by the state as
a basis for calculations. The emascu
lating bill has passed the house ant
no doubt will go through the senate
where lobbyists have desks assigned
to them on the floor of the chamber
The good old days have returned.
o.
Influenced no doubt by environment
an employe of the house has skipped