Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-12
Democratic "RefOrm."

Under the cry of " Reform" and the cx-
posure OF corrupt Republicans by the Re-
publican party, the Democrats succeeded in
carrying Ohio two years ago, and have had
control Of the State Government about one
and-a-half years. Tho frs effort made by
the Democratic Legislature was to discover
Republican delinquencIes, and for this pur-
pose legislative committees were appointed,
but they were forced to report that they
found nothing wrong-that the affairs of
the State had been conducted with singular
hielIty and economy. This was strong,
but just testimony, fully sustained by the
facts.
\ hungry horde of Democrats clamored
for crumbs OF comfort" and the Lcgisla-
ture took steps by which all the benevolent
and punitive institutions of the State should
at once pass into the hands of their parti-
san friends. The Soldiers Orphans Home
was not an exception TO this rule, and the
people are familiar with the disgraceful
and outrageous character of DR.. JESSER's
conduct, which was so notoriously bad that
committee of his own partisan friends
could not conceal his misdeeds and he was
compelled to "resign." After converting
the Home into place tor drunken revelry
and lustful practices. the guilty party was
permitted to resign without word of CEN
sure from the Board Of Trustees or any
Democratic official, and the State was
placed in the position OF at least partially
approving the most scandalous conduct of
its agent
Next comes the penitentiary. That in
stitution was transferred to Democratic
hands, since which time it has evidently
been conducted on scale by no means cal
culated to promote the morals of its inmates
or those connected with il. Male and fe-
male conyicts have been permitted to meet
and court" make Matches" and get
married i'll the institution. 'Rumor SAYS
that the marriage was "a put up job" TO
conceal the conduct of prison officials, but
OF that we know nothing. Another case
was that OF the intimacy OF one Of the prs-
oners with the wife OF one of the prs-
on guards, which ripened into an elspe-
ment the moment the prisoners time ex-
pired. There are rumors Of general "loose-
ness III the management of the peniten-
tiary, and the Legislature has appointed
committee to investigate the affairs of that
institution.
Other public institutions are vet to hear
from, and we shall be disappointed il other
disgraceiul conduct does not come 10 the
surface, Tor the Democratic party of to-day
IL ruled by the right kind of material for
such developments. Even the legislature
IL charged with gross corruption, and there
is scarcely man in the State who docs not
believe that the purchase of the votes of
Democratic members Is common practice.
IL Is not necessary 10 specify cases, but thev
are numerous and the people are not blind
to them. There are more rumors of cor
ruption in connection with the Legislature
and with the public institutions of the
state at the present time, than has been
known before during the entire time since
the Republican party came into power In
the State.
And this is the Reform" to which the
Democrats invite the people Of Ohio. Cor.
rup'ion has taken the place OF honesty.
Reformation and benevolent institutions
have been used for baochanalian reyelries
and sexual brutality. This is what the
people OF Ohio are to understand is meant
by Democratic Reform" They have
boasted OF their determination to inaugnr
ate economy in public expenditures, but
we shall be mistaken il the faets do not
show that the current expenses OF the State
Government, during Governor Aliens ad.
ministratiOn, supported by a Democratic
Legislature, do not greatly exceed the ex-
penditures for like purposes during any OF
the years Of Republican rule IN the State.
The people can see, by these facts, what il
meant by Democratic Reform" and thew
will announce their verdict upon il next
October Toledo Riadc.