Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1873-12-18
Rail Roads and the Constitutions
al Convention.

Rail Roads and the Constitution
al Convention.
We find the following sensible art.
Gle on the subject of Mr.. Roots prop
osition in the Constitutional Conven
zion of this State to disfran"hise Rail
Road officers and stockholders and
employees on Rail Roads, in the Gin
cinnati Enquirer of the 18th. We
heartily endorse the ideas presented in
the Enduirer's article on this subject
The proposition to disfranchise any
portion of community because they
own particular kind of property rec0g
nized and protected by the laws OF the
State, or because of their holding Off
cial positions in business associa-
tons under provisions of the statutes
of the State and protected in these nee
essary business associations by the
statutary law, is simply ridiculous
But we here give the Enquirer's arti
Gle on the subject:
uC NOlICNliCoS vi a "a tllC' k(lS 10 IL I
quently to be asertained by the measure
Of the scope which it brings with it.
This We desire to apply to the section
| which Mr. Root, of Erie County, is so
desirous Of incorporating in the new
| Constitution, which renders men inter
ested in railroads, either as officers,
stockholders or employees, Ineligible to
any Office in the gift of the people OF
| the State or any of its localities. This
is upon the idea that, rs part of the leg
| islation of the State relates to railroads,
they, being interested, should not be
permitted to have voice in the delib-
crations. If this is so, fthat is velid
objection, why should not brewers,
liquor manufacturers and liquor deal
ers be excluded for the same disqual-
ifcaton The subject of the prohib;-
ton of the liqu0r trade is largely be-
| fore every Legislature, and is prin-
cipal topic in the Constitution itself.
Why sbo'd National bankers be eligible
to Congress, which has the control OF
the National banKs? Why should we
permit iron, cotton and wooden manu-
facturers to take seats in that body and
assist to fix the dnties upon for
| eign articles which come in competI
ton with those they make, all admitted
at such rates as they choose to vote
for? Why should men interested in
school, books he allowed to be mem
bers ola Board of Education, which
may define what those school books
shall be Shall church members and
others interested in the preservation
of tie acts exempting church proper
ty from taxation be allowed to be mem
bers of body that has that subject
under their charge, which can exempt
or not at their pleasure ? If we disfran
chiSe railroad men, we must for logic
and cOnsisteDcy's sake, go much fur
| ther. Mr.. Root would, in fact 90 so
far as to exclude from the law making
and administrative power a large part
of the wealth of the State, which, as it
pays the taxes, ought to be consulted
in its management. Fl the railroads
wanted to unduly influence legislation,
is it to be supposed they woBld, for
that purpose, elect their Presidents and
| VIce Presidents. Directors, attorneys,
and stockholders, to the General As
E.sembly No. They would choose men
knot publicly connected with railroads,
who would not be suspect ed of voting
for their interests. They would elect
persons not FailroS9 men, but who had
| previously sold their votes to them. f
railroad influence ON legislation is so
dangerous as to require constitutional
action, it would be much better and
more effective than this proposed con-
stitutiOnai acknowledgements to enact
that, in respect to law affecting then,
they should not be permitted to be in
the lobby Of he two houses while rail
road legislation was in progress; and
that, Of course. would be iBeffectual
The whole matter had better be drop
ped, and the matter left where it is now,
with the people. If they are in such
mortal terror of those who are inter
ested in certain species Of property,
such men would not be elected, and
that would be disfranchisement that
no one could object to, for it would be
leg innate 1t should not be forgotten
that the owners of railroad property
are frequently, if not most of them,
interested to a large extent in other
property, and it can not be supposed
that, for the sake of advantage 10 one
of their interests, they would sacrifice
other and larger interests that might
be adverse to it.