The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-07-16
With That Of His PredeCeS-
sor In The Office
Who Turned Back $4,000
Into The Treasury

Columbus, O., July 15-A statement
issued by Attorney General Edward G.
Turner asserts that out of the short
term appropriation of $39 ,964.50 for his
Office he saved $1o,976.63, and this ap-
preparation is based on reduction of
expenses of $4,000 year. Such saw
ing is commendable, but one would
have thought that Mr.. Turner's we'll
known spirit Of fairness would have
led him to explain that on his prede-
cessor fell the work of conducting the
civil prosecutions Of the cases against
the treasury looters under former Re-
publican state administrations. While
Mr.. Hogan expended more money than
has Mr.. Turner, the former made his
Office self.sustaining and actually
turned into the state treasury sur
plus of more than $175,OO0 above his
expenses. This was recovered from
the grafters whom Mr.. Hogan pursued
in civil suits, while Mr.. Turner, as a
local prosecutor, was supposed to look
after the criminal cases against them.
A notable fact in this connection Is
that Mr.. Hogan as attorney general
completed his work and all the work
of his office, while prosecutions start
ed by the present attorney general
some of them treasury cases-are still
pending.
Attorney General Turner has been
working hard ever since taking office
Strengthening out muddles of the Will
lis administration and legislature and
assisting the governor in resultless
partisan probes. Even now he is burn
ing the midnight oil-the states mid
night oil-to untangle the civil SER
vice mess for which Willis is respon-
sible. During the session Mr. Turner
was kept so busy clubbing the legisla,
ture off the rocks that he could not
pay his usual respects to the lobbyists
who swarmed in, seemingly by special
invitation of the one higher up. Those
who know of his proclivity for action
against lobbyists in the past and the
raising of eyebrows caused by his
forced inactivity last winter, can well
understand the feeling which prompt
ed him to lay low the Willis presiden
tial boom.
Governor Willis sits restless these
hot days in his office in the STATE
house. Reaping as he has sown he II
blaming others for the troubles II
which he finds himself He knows n
has not the faith or support of the pee
ple of the state. Casting about hin
he can not but realize that it woul
have been much better had he relie
on truth rather than falsehood in hi
candidacy. Now faced with the proc
of his deceit in the matter OF offic
housing and treasury condition, h
cannot explain away the short-cOn
ings of his "fish-hawk administration
No wonder then he resents the fat
that he has not the support of singl
reputable newspaper of any cons
quence in the state. How could b
have when for him there is no d
fense? Dan Hanna's Leader yet cline
to him in it's colored correspondence
but scarcely anybody reads that pap'
and those who do realize that its su
port is so far drawn as to be meainin
less In this situation the govern'
blames his troubles on an opposite
press and continues doing the wroI
thing most of the time. The Repu
lican political leaders are not yet az
ing or talking against Willis-they'
still waiting in hope of patronage-b
the rank and file of the party are
lively clamoring for a return OF G
or Harmon. Willis may not be
nominated, but If he is any one of
dozen or more men can be produced
the Democratic party, who could I