The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-04-25
DESPERATE
ACTIVITY.
On Part Of AppOintGeS OF
Gov. Willis
Marks The Closing Days Be-
fore The Primary
Their FGVGriSh Work In Be-
half Of Governor
To Save Him From Defeat
As A Delegate
Shows A Sacrifice Of Other
Candidates Interest

Columbus, o., April 2l-Unprece-
'dented activity on the part OF ap-
pointees of Governor Willis, who COM
prise the nucleus of the personal ma
chine he has attempted to build up
among the civil service workers,
marks the closing days OF the week
before the primary for selection OF
presidential delegates. The feverish
work explains the Stoughton letter to
civil service appointees to get busy
and find three known Willis men in
each precinct outside the regular par
ty committee, because full trust could
not be placed in the committee to aid
Willis for delegate" According to
complaints prevalent at the capitol,
the axles of the Willis machine have
been well creased Fixed percentage
for contributions has been arranged
and way has been found to get the
money. For the time being, the work
of the many press bureaus maintain
ed by the state has been turned to
having Willis elected national del.
egate. The strange part Of the mat
ter is that no other candidate seems
to be making campaign and no 9th
er one seems to be worried. Expla-
nation lies in the fact that Willis may
finally have been granted the gift so
much lamented by the late Robert
Burns.
Some notable sayings OF noted
governor:
pie is greater than poetry"
"By cracky! Those gizzards are
great"
AN insignificant little squirt op-
poses me-"
"The knights of old were probably
lousy and their ladies' never took a
bath"
Were going to have the darn desi
light here you ever saw"
Say. friends! That's all the
merest belly-wash."
Voters of Ohio are reminded that
the first presidential primary election
will be held Tuesday, April 25.
1t is denied by Governor Willis tha
he Is using the state liquor licensing
law for partisan ends and to build III
personal machine That's very goo'
and proper But how about this case
'On Friday, April IA, Elmer Ottino o
Portsmouth was notified by Governo
Willis that he had been appointel
confidential agent" on the state Il
quor licensing commission at salar
of $1,000 and expenses. Who is OF
tino? He Is politician of Ports
mouth who was named last August L
provisional place in the state auto
mobile department. When the tim
arrived in February to be examines
in competition Mr.. Ottino decllne
TO submit TO any such fooishness
Consequently he was ousted on Apr
l by the state civil service commi.
sion. At once the Republican organ
zation In the Sixth and Tenth di,
tricts got busy in his behalf lie wa
endorsed by Congressman Charles {
Kearns and State Inspector w. /
rremper and also by Representative
william II. sprague. The goyernc
gave the matter his personal attel
ton and ottino. despite his failure I
qualify, was given this $1,000 job {
a peace offering 10 the ward and pr
cinct workers In communicate
to his supporters in Portsmouth, NJ
Ottino declares that had it not bee
for the Republican organization
work he would not have been appor
ed The records fail TO show tn
ottino took and persons plac
Therefore. it is fair to assume III