The Adair County news., 1915-03-10
TOM RHEA COMES
OUT FOR AUDITOR
Seeks Nomination on "Strong and
Worthy" Democratic Ticket.
RECORD AS ASSESSING OFFICER

Is Reviewed In Refuting Reckless
Charges of Favoritism Toward Big
Corporate Interests Made by OwsIey
StanIey-WiII Not Enter Into Con-
troversy With His Detractor-Points
With Pride to Manner In Which
Present Administration of Treas
urers Office Has Overcome Deficit
Inherited From Republican Prede-
cessor.
Thomas S. Rhea of Logan county,
present state treasurer of Kentucky
and late chairman of the Democratic
state campaign committee, today
makes announcement of his candidacy
for his party's nomination, in the Au-
gust primary election, for the office
Of auditor of public accounts. In en-
tering the race Mr.. Rhea presents to
the voters brief review of his course
as a member of the state board of
valuation and assessment, the fran
chise tax board of the state, showing
that That body has by unanimous &C.
ton materially increased the assess
ment of all the large public service
corporations, refuting the reckless
charges made by Congressman Ows-
ley Stanley that the board had been
Influenced in behalf of the corpora
lions.
Mr.. Rhea also reviews his course
in the management of the states
financial department, the treasurer's
Office, declaring that the present ad-
ministration has we'll handled a diff
cult financial condition left to it by
the last Republican administration.
His card of announcement follows:
To the Democrats of Kentucky:
On the first Saturday of next August
the Democrats Of Kentucky will nom
mate their candidates for state offices,
and make up their ticket to be submit
ted to the voters in the November cleo
ton. In that primary I shall be can
didate for the Democratic nomination
for the office of auditor of public &C
counts; and in making this announce
ment, / trust that my fellow Democrats
will give to my candidacy their serious
and favorable consideration. / shall en-
deavor to be very brief in what | say
in this announcement. and shall rely
upon the fair and discriminating intel
ligence of the people for what support !
may receive.
I hope 1 may be pardoned for calling
attention briefly to my experience as an
officeholder AS sheriff of my native
county of Logan, and then for the last
three years and more as treasurer of
Kentucky, 1 have tried faithfully and
earnestly to so perform the duties of
office as to justify the confidence of the
people who so honored me.
Member of important Boards.
As state treasurer ! have been, accord
ing to law, a member of the important
governing boards of the state, the sink
ing fund board, the printing board, the
capitol board and the board of valuation
and assessment. This latter board is one
of especial importance and consists of
only three members, the auditor, the
treasurer. ard the secretary of state. It
deals with the important question of fix
ing the franchise valuations upon all
corporations doing business in this state,
for purposes of taxation. The record
made by the present board in the last
three years has been remarkable and I'M
precedented The board has not sought
TO hinder or cripple legitimate corporate
industries OF the state; but it has so in
creased their franchise assessments that
the state is now receiving several hun
dred thousands of dollars more in taxes
every year from this source than it ever
received before. AS a member of that
board ] have helped diligently in the
work Of adjusting these matters in &C
cordance with the best interests Of the
people and without causing unjust hard