The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-09-09
LEAKS IN PUBLIC
FUNDS AND USELESS
OFFICES EXPOSED
Edwin P. Morrow Opens State Cam.
paign With Heavy Artillery Train
ed on Opponenents Exposing
Broken Promises to the
People.

|
]. w. Langley, Representative in Con-
gress from the Tenth District, who
created great enthusiasm by his pre-
diction that Mr.. Morrow and his as
sociates on the Republican State tick
ct would be elected by majorities
ranging from $4,000 to $4,000.
Mr.. Morrow's speech set a high
mark for his opponents. His expose
Of the wreckless management of the
States finance and his denunciation of
the inhuman and unscientifc treat
ment of the unfortunate wards of the
State in the charitable institutions
made deep impression upon his au-
dience.
Mr.. Morrow's speech was in part as
follows:
Fellow Citizens:
Again the time is at hand when
Kentucky must choose its public serv-
ants. This is, and should be, an hour
of accounting when the people
should take stock of their business
check and balance; when they should
reward and endorse the faithful, eff
ficient servant who has given them the
benefit Of good government when
they should rebuke and condemn their
unworthy, unfaithful servants who
have brought upon them the ills of
bad government.
-Four years ago, in a campaign
which stirred the State to its depths,
betrayal of public trust was made
manifest the wretched condition of
the States business was made known;
drains and leaks and therts from the
public treasury were disclosed;
broken covenants were laid bare; and
the marks of the strangling death-grip
of the old political order was shown
upon the fair throat OF the State. In
that campaign the people were urged
to rebuke their betrayer; to condemn
those who despoiled them, and by a
| verdict Of guilty at the polls, to estab-
fish higher standard Of political faith
government and service. But those
of those who want to serve it tomor-
row, made fair and wonderful prom
ises of economy and reform ITO stop the
leaks In the treasury, to destroy the
useless job holder and to give faith
full, efficient business management OF
fiscal affairs. Under those assurances
people welded to their idols, think
ing more Of their party than they did
of their State, withheld their condem-
nation and gave vote of confidence
to wretched, withdrawing admins
tration, and elected to public office
those who serve you today.
Four years have come and gone un-
der the present administration which
has had full, complete and absolute
control Of every department of State
What today are the known and admit
ted facts? What today is the verdict
already made in the heart of the peo-
pie? What does your stock taken
show? No economy, no saving but In
creased expenditure in every depart
ment of State; no beheading Of useless
officers; no stop to the drains and
leaks; no lessening of tax burdens, but
everywhere increased taxes and as
sessments; no demonstration of bust
ness capacity, but policy Of utter
carelessness resulting in the loss of
millions Of dollars, and -wastefulness
which has robbed the people of thou
sands.
pledged to the most rigid economy"
in the management of the public bust
ness, the present administration has
not wiped out dollar of the public
debt; has not saved a penny of the
public. funds, but has levied increased
taxes and assessments and has in
creased expenditures in every depart
ment Of State. This administration
has collected in taxes and revenue,
from the people, more money than was
ever gathered by any other admins
tration. Its total collection of 81,
100000 more than the Wilson admin
istration and more than $6,O00,000
more than the McCreary administra-
ton. Although these enormous addi-
tional amounts have been collected,
the State interest bearing debt has
not been reduced but has grown stead
lily year by year.
This same administration upheld
Endorsed and praised by my Demo-
cratic opponents, made the following
promise to the people of Kentucky:
1--WE favor the immediate abolition
Of all useless Offices
"They promised to behead the FIRE
putters out to send the foresters
back to the farm, and TO turn on the
light, What has been the fulfllmentf
None, absolutely none. No abolition
OF useless Offices, no beheading of fire
Inarshals, no sending OF city foresters
back 10 the farm. Nay! Nayl the
faithful must be fed the dellverers