The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-01-14
LAMBASTED
Is Willis Administration By
Ex.GOV. Cox
In Jackson Day Speech At
Dayton Monday

| celebration of the Democrats of Mont
gomery county here last night, Ex-Gov
ernor James NJ Cox was the principal
speaker. The following are some ex
tracts from his speech:
THE Cox administration expended
$3,291 1893 for new buildings and lands
for our. universities, normal schools
hospitals and correctional institutions,
The Willis administration has not paid
out one dollar for permanent improve.
ments in the way of lands or buildings,
and yet its cost to the people for the
year 1915 is $126,S93 more than in
1914"
Il ask any man in Ohio to raise his
voice now and point to one single con
structive act of the Willis administra-
ton"
Our administration was cussed, but
never laughed at. 1t was tragedy to
certain interests in the state, but a
joke to none"
According to Candidate Willis there
was no need of having offices outside
the statehouse as Ohio was bankrupt.
But as Governor Willis he found not
only the necessity for outside offices,
but a rich treasury to erect a state
building with"
Instead of the newspapers carrying
daily stories of research work by the
state. of plans going fowad TO the bet
tering of industrial relations, the i'm
provements in prison methods, and the
further efficiency of our institutions of
education-we read only now of the
brandishing of the political war axe"
THE Willis regime has been desig-
mated as the great Do Nothing admin
istration in our history. If measured
by constructive service this charge is
true-but in spoils and schemes and
methods that are unseemly it has
great record of accomplishment. Never
has warrior bold quenched in larger
measure his thirst for blood than the
leader of the present tribe of head
hunters in the state house."
Few people will ever know the tre-
mendous effort made by the admins
tration of Frank b. Willis 10 wreck
and crush. the compulsory workmen's
compensation law"
1T has been said that the Cox ad
ministration was defeated because it
passed too many good laws for hasty
assimilation, and that it was criticised
because the full force of authority cen
tered in the Governor was exercised
In an analysis of that contention, let us
submit this observation: If it is the de-
sire of the people of Ohio not to have
constructive legislation passed when
it is needed; and if their wish be GER
tain that backbone depart from execu-
tive organism, then it is my recon-
mendation that Frank B. Willis be
elected Governor of Ohio for life. He
meets in fullest measure these speci
fications."
when l was Governor, the mem
bers of agricultural commission and
the Governor himself paid their ways
into the state fair, and when thous-
ands of persons were admitted on pass
without right or reason the past year,
those responsible for it were, in the
moral scale at least, as guilty as if
they had looted the cash box at the
gate"
"If we are to recognize the element
of simple justice in the affairs Of gov
then it's burdens must be
equally distributed and taxation is the
only means of this accomplishment.
That was a militant policy of the Cox
administration. Because of it the
charge was made that the authority of
the state was exceeded and the big
stick so called, was used to keep
down tax rates. To the last named
count | plead guilty, and if the inter
ests of constructive progressive gov
ernment should ever call me back to
official station, shall take that same
efficient implement along"
"The conclusion is Irresistible that
after the Willis administration had
gone on for few months, it's active
head knew full well that the wrath
of the people would be upon him, and
prudence suggested that he hide under
the coat tails of candidate for Presi-
dent. Pursuant to that thought the
Hulswitt bill was passed destroying
the separate ballot. Mr.. Willis doubt
less argued that he fooled the people
in 1914 by misrepresentation and that
they would be fooled in 1916 because
they couldn't find him on the ticket"
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