The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-09-19
Many In Crowd, Knowing
Treasury Balance, Fail
To Fall
VITAL ISSUES ARE
NOT TOUCHED UPON
Ayers, Etc, Faction Lead
The Cheers-Appoint-
ees In Evidence

Completely baffied by a maze of
figures which we're thrown at them
right and left and in which one small
contention was vaguely visible, name
ly, that the Willis administration has
been one of economy, many who heard
the speech of the governor at the
county fair Friday were totally un-
able to reconcile his statements with
facts which are on record.
For instance, the governor recited
the alleged tremendous savings which
his administrator has made in every
department of the state this year with
one single exception and left people
wondering what has become of his al
legged saving.
On June 80, 1916, there was actual
ly balance in the treasury of S6,S70,-
1882. When Governor Cox retired
from Office, this balance was $11, ,067,-
491.30 Cox increased the surplus in
the state treasury by three million
dollars. Is it any wonder that many
could not understand what the Good
Young Governor was driving at in his
county fair speech?
If this alleged enormous saving
was effected, where in the name of all
that's holy did the money go? In
June, the cash blance was the lowest
in the history of the state and the
treasurer was anXlously awaiting cor
poration taxes. There's 'nigger in
the wood-pile" some place and Willis
seemed very much disposed to keep
him under cover.
The one department in which Will
lis to the surprise of many, admitted
no saving had been effected was in
the state industrial commission. 1t is
in this department that Willis eiIic-
commission is said to have found
there were many useless Offices and
that saving of $4,000 could be
brought about. But, 10 and behold!
No later than the present week did
two of Wills personal appointees
, puncture this efficiency" bubble and
brand the whole saving as one wild
dream OF imagination.
FORCED INTO lT2
Willis averred that he had beer
forced into political speech by the
utterances of James NJ. Cox the day
before, and yet he took up only sin
gle subject upon which Cox touched il
his speech!
Willis wanted to discuss the mag
> nficent hills and dales of Knox coun
ty the beautiful women and the
plump babies. He said he would hav
loved to talk about the agricultur
here, of Uncle Dan Emmett and of tn
: old soldiers.
: 1t seemed pity that he didn't 70
: low out his desires (?), at least t
many in the crowd.
SERIOUS OMISSIONS
y Willis spoke of his appointment c
J. Il Union soldier to the position of 81
u perintendent of the Soldiers and Sal
e ors Orphans Home of Xenia, yet
e neglected to state why he discharge
+ "Old Bill" Burnett, for years
charge of the Soldiers Home in Sal
. dusky.
p Willis stumbled around through
II vague bunch of facts about the a
s. pointment of politicians, etc, by &C
s. and yet failed to state why he had di
II charged DIR. Sheppard as head of Il
1t state board OF administration to NAL
room for Columbus politician.
He claimed his administration hi
built three times the miles of roa
t the Cox administration did, but fail
to emphasize sufficiently that the &C
tx tracts for the vast majority OF II
n. work were let under the Cox adm
III istration and 1t was only Cox's defe
o. that prevented the carrying-out OF |
e road-making plans. Some in t
IN crowd resented Willis thrust at Jam
ll Marker, highway commissioner und
Ir. Cox, who they think is infinitely
es porior to the man now in office,
le- Willis alluded only vaguely to
st Cass road law and never attempted
ar explain the 12O fundamental errc
er which Attorney General Turner, |
as publican, claims 1t contains.
Wills never referred to the allies