Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 249, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1916 — HAD FINE MEETING AT FAIR OAKS [ARTICLE]

HAD FINE MEETING AT FAIR OAKS

Hon. Wheeler McMillan and County Candidates Addressed Voters In Opening of Campaign.

The republican campaign in Jasper county opened in earnest Monday night with speeches by Hon. Wheeler McMillan, of Covington, Ind., A. Halleck, of Rensselaer, and several of the candidates on thrf" republican ticket of this county, at Fair Oaks. The town hall of Fair Oaks was packed for this meeting and the enthusiasm shown was very encouraging To the republican committee. Several carloads from Rensselaer accompanied the speakers to Fair Oaks and helped to swell the crowd. Many of the candidates on thq.. republican ticket of Jasper county were there and each made a short talk, following the speeches made <by Mr. McMillan and A. Halleck. All of the talks of the evening were straight to the point and there was no mincing of words and republican spirit and good feeling prevailed throughout. The meeting was the first of the republican campaign and from now on there will be no cessation of activities between now and November 7th. Good speakers have been secured for every day and many local speakers will also take parfc and do their share toward keeping the G. O. P. on top in this community. Chairman McLain has his schedule made out from now on until the end of the campaign and has secured the best talent possible to aid in the campaign. "Uncle James Thompson, of Fair -Oaks, was the chairman of the Fair Oaks meeting and introduced Mr. McMittaTiTwho TiradeThc opening address

of the evening, Mr. McMillan is from Covington. Ind , where he is the editor of the Covington Republican. He has made a careful study of the national issues of the day and is well qualified ttf talk upon political issues. He scored the present administration for their policies and pointed out the weaknesses and broken promises of the democratic administration. Mr. McMillan did mot waste time in preliminary flowery oratory, but got down to facts and had statistics to back up everything which he said. He told how the tax levy in the state of Indiana had been increased and why the democrats had been able to pay off some of the state debt. Mr. McMillan did not deny that part of the debt had been paid, but with a few well-chosen words told how they had done it. Since the present administration has been in power the valuation of the taxable property in the state has been increased, likewise the taxes have been increased in order to meet the increasd cost in running the state of Indiana. “Simple, isn’t it,” said the speaker. “Why shouldn’t they be able to pay off part of the debt? But you and I and every other taxpayer in the state of Indiana have paid our taxes raised in order to pay this debt.” Mr. McMillan also scored the Mexican policy. of the president and told how Wilson peace had cost more American lives than a McKinley war, and what the Underwood tariff bill had done for the country. There was not a single statement made by Mr. McMillan during the entire evening that could be contradicted by any libei al minded voter. A. Halleck, of Rensselaer, followed Mr. McMillan and talked upon the state tax. Mr. Halleck had a flaming bill with him containing the picture of George Bittier, present state treasurer, underneath which Mr. Bittier had set forth his accomplishments and telling how he had paid off the state debt and lowered the tax rate for the people of the state of Indiana, Mr. Halleck pointed out how he had failed to state that he had increased the taxes of the people of Indiana in order to pay off this debt. “Who could not pay off this debt by reaching down 9 into the pockets of the taxpayers of Indiana in order to accomplish it?” asked Mr. Halleck. Mr. Halleck also presented the follownig interesting table secured from the Jasper county auditor’s office to prove his claims:

Amount of taxeslevied by The state from Jasper county, as shown by the abstracts in the auditor’s office: 1916 Democrats, valuation $15,238,950.00; rate ,4010; amount taxes, $61,108.19. 1908 Republicans, valuation, sll,060,000.00; rate, .3335; amount taxes, $36,885.10. Increase in amount paid, $24,223.09. Increase approximately 66 2-3 per cent. “It does not take a vevy vivid invagination to see why the democrats have paid off part of the state debt, does it?” asked Mr. Halleck. Short talks were made by County Chairman George H. McLain, Candidate for Recorder George Scott, Candidate for County Commissioner D. S. Makeever; Candidate for Surveyor Edward Nesbitt; by Treasurer Charles V. May, Candidate for County Clerk Jesse Nichols; Sheriff B. D. MeColly, G. L. Thornton and D. D. Dean. r Another meeting will be held this evening at Gifford, with Mr. McMillan and Mr. Williams as the principal speakers of the evening.