The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-04
GOES ON
THE STUMP
As Candidate For RGnOmi-
nation For Governor
Forcing The Republican Party
To Accept Him
Willis Avoids Answer To The
Many Charges
HuFIS Defiance To PrOSpGC-
tive Opposing Candidates
And Recognizes That He Has
A Very Slim Chance
Of Election

Columbus, u, FeD. z-AS canul-
date for denomination for governor
forcing the Republican party to accept
him, Governor Frank B. Willis has
gone on the stump. By his avoidance
of answer to the charges hurled
against him and his bitter attack
against Former Governor Cox and his
administration, Governor Willis has
hurled defiance at John M. Cline, ex-
Republican prosecuting attorney of
Cuyahoga county, who has announced
| himself as a prospective candidate for
Republican nomination, and others who
| contemplate such announcement. The
governor recognizes that If he can Sc
cure denomination he ha s slim
chance for election and he wants that
chance. To ward off others in his
own party he seeks thus early to begin
his campaign and set up as line Of
campaign a continuance of the fraud,
deceit and buncombe by which he won
in 1914. BY so doing he sets up the
fact that he believes Cox will be the
next governor of Ohio by way of DEM
ocratic nomination, though the former
governor has not yet made any formal
declaration.
In his speeches at Akron and, Dayton
where he had announced he would re-
ply TO the charges made by Mr.. Cox In
his Jackson Day speeches, 1t was not
able that he directly avoided any sem
blance OF reply, but endeavored by
bluster and undignified excorioration to
evade explanation of awkward circum-
stances of his administration. Admit
ting the presence of scarlet women
he hid behind their failure to assist In
destruction OF certain laws, and made a
bid for the support of employers liabil
ity insurance interests. He did not re-
fer to the fiasco In management of ag
ricuitural matters, nor did he explain
the removal of George Bope, his cough
syrup" appointee. Admitting the ex-
tion, he charged this was due to debts
left by his predecessor and to the cut
In the state tax rate which saved tax
payers S4,000,000, without explaining
that the cost of state government
comes from the general revenue fund,
not made up from direct taxes. AS to
the increase of taxes in ninety percent
OF the subdivisions, he did not deny
that Cox had made 1t his business to
keep rates at the minimum but said
local taxation was no concern OF his,
The governor admitted his ability to
make figures say what he wanted them
TO, but he did not explain that he had
admitted the falsity OF charges he is
now repeating, when on Jnne IA, he
signed a bill providing for a new state
house to cost one million dollars "to
house the unnecessary Offices this
fund 10 be created out or the interest
on the deficit" he asserted was in
the state treasury.
Real purpose of making the Issue
i was seen In his speeches and contlrma
tion OF the Republican slate making
was found In his utterances of endorse
ment for other candidates for re.elec
tion and preferment.
o.
Behind the order from the civil ser
q vice board for the removal of employees
A In the agricultural department, the In
4 dustrial department and the secretary
of states office, is seen the hand of tn,
governor playing politics. II is charged
that Governor Willis said he was be
ing bothered to death for Jobs and ask
ed the president OF the civil servic,
commission to help him out, will
) agreeable response. Confirmation o
this is seen in the fact that the chang
es ordered in the office of the secre