The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-29
Auditor DOnahGy Wants Copies
Of Specifications
Out Secretary HiIdGbrant
Can't Supply Them

Columbus, O., Feb. 25-Exhaustion
OF the supply of automobile license
tags for 1915 with less than half the
applicants supplied has uncovered
NASTY scandal in connection with the
contract in which there are decided
tiHges of "irregularity." The contract
was let contrary to law without com
petitive bid to the Davis Manufacturing
Company, of Akron, per Senator
Charles Wickline. The Davis com
pany does not make tags. Presenta-
ti0n of a partial bill brought demand
from State Auditor Donahey for cop
les of specifications, advertisements
and bids according to law, but these
could not be supplied by Secretary of
State Hildebrant. It now develops
that bids were refused, that the con
tract was given secretly to Senator
7Vickline at 1914 cents per pair of
Tags, and that the New York Metal
Ceiling Company has been supplying
4he tags to the Akron concern at Is
cents per pair. When the first bill
was held up, Wickline could not pay
Tho New York concern and it quit
Supplying tags. Since then Secretary
41ilGebrant has been pulling wires in
AL directions to save himself and Sen
.1tBr Wickline from exposure. The net
pTo1lt in this deal, considering dupl.
Ia himarnnnn
hskween what the state was to pay
the Wickline company and what
Ritkline was to pay the New York
scWncern, and is estimated at $4,000.
sUrney general ruled that company
IwAn not barred from contracting with
NshB state because a state senator was
n stakeholder, but when the senator is
'sAuwn in the light of solicitor for a
susmpany other than his own the attor-
anoV generals ruling, which stretches
'the law, does not apply.
The tags supplied are not OF stand
~Hrd construction. being lighter and
cheaper than heretofore, and 1t was
@g changing the specifications the
prOft.
EVERY effort Is being made to
smooth over nasty situation Secre-
kSuy OF State Hildebrant has sought
'the influence of strong organizations
which aided in his election to prevent
tho facts from coming to light The
daatire matter can be settled quickly
II the Secretary of State will comply
with the auditors request that he
ish0w specifications, bids and contract
o.
Taxpayers OF Ohio ought to be well
pleased at what they are getting for
&heir money under the willis admin
tstration. In addition TO putting up
100000 for various publicity agents
- aid the personal cause of Willis, II
develops that they are also putting
'Hp TOR the campaign of Harry Nj
Ba1Bherty for United States Senator.
w. E. HALEY, clerk Of the Senate at
K2.S0o per year. now has his station
~auy printed showing that HIS office is
Seo. s0l Wyandot building, and investl-
xztion of the directory disoloses that
thiz Office is Daugherty headquarters
Whe assistant clerk OF the Senate
Warren u. Barnett, still mobilizes in
the Senate Clerks Office, but spends
mis- time travelling around the state
organizing II, NJ Daugherty clubs
Taxpayers should not kick, because
Willis is saving them so much money
but with the Wills'Burton-Daug
combination working so beautifully f
sean be seen that II is going to cos
Brother Myron a pretty penny
o.
Endorsements by Democractic or
sGanizations for James M. Cox for Gov