The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-09-30

been in Democratic hands about on
: year and five months. | state what ever
one familiar with the subject we'll know:
when l say that the discipline of that in
stitution is almost entirely lost. At on
time during the past winter there wer
found secreted in the cells. and about tn
premises. knives, saws and other weapon
and instruments preparatory to genera
! outbreak and mutiny. Nothing but tn
grossest carelessness and inefficienc!
7 could have permitted such a gathering
together of weapons and instruments
AS to the financial condition, the record
show that it is running behind, as com
pared with former admins trations.
The result of the reorganization of the
Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home wa'
still more disastrous. After DR.. Griswolc
and the other officers were turned out
and a new Board of Trustees installed
DR.. A. E. Jenner was chosen Superin
tendent, and the 600 orphans of the dead
soldiers were placed under his charge
The lambs of the fold were turned ovel
to the guardianship of the wolf. You
know the history of his administration.
In the course of few weeks it began to
be rumored, not only that there was utter
inefficiency but also the grossest immor-
ality practiced by the Superintendent
These rumors assumed definite form, and
the Superintendent was put on trial upon
specifications of the gravest character,
| among others that of indecent and licen-
| tious conduct toward the female children
under his charge. Trial was had, and
| the charges were established by sworn
testimony. Instead of Indignantly dis
| charging him and thus testifying their
adherence of his infamous conduct the
| Trustees permitted him to resign The
| Institution thus sustained an injury from
which it will not recover for years. The
| State has been dishonored and disgraced.
| Time would not permit me to give fur
| ther review of the management of these
| public institutions under Democratic
rule. Those of you who desire to inves-
| tigate further would do well to look at
the asylum at Newburgh and the action
of the Governor in regard to the Reform
Farm at Lancaster. | present you these
| as specimens, and close this branch of
the subject by saying that every one of
these public charities where important
| changes have been made, has been seri-
ously injured thereby. By these revolu
tionary and unprecedented proceedings
OF. the Democratic party, forty-one sworn
public officers of acknowledged integrity
and experience were legislated out of
office before the expiration of their
filed by Democratic politicians. The
wrong and injury done to the public
charities of the State is almost incalcula-
BILE.
If this is Democratic reform, may the
people in their mercy save US from any
more of it. l agree with Mr.. Pendleton,
that this is State campaign, and so far
as l am concerned, don't propose to let
the opposition dodge the issue,
Of the general character of the laws
enacted by the last Legislature, but
word Is needed. 1t legislated more in
the interest of party, and less in the in
terests OF the people than any other Gen
eraI Assembly since the State was organ
lied. There were Democratic members
OF high integrity and character, and en-
tlrely above reproach, men for whom I
have profound respect, and none re-
gretted the mistakes and errors commit
ted by the body more than they. tits of
the general complexion of the body that
l speak tonight The statutes enacted
by it were often poorly drafted, badly
expressed, and in some instances were
carried through by corrupt and improper
means. You have all heard of the Pot
ter bill, by some called the Potter Infa-
my" This bill proposed to legislate out
OF office the sixteen members of the
tend the terms of Office Of the eight AL
derman who had been chosen; thus plac-
ing and perpetuating the power and con-
troll of the city in the hands of eight men
without any check to legislation or
guards over the city treasury The OBJ
Ject was, first to give the entire control
of all municipal affairs to the Democracy, |
and, second, to aid in carrying out pri-
vate land speculation for few interested
parties. The bill passed the Senate, went |
to the House, was passed there, with |
amendments, and came back to the Sen
ate for approval. A disagreement arose
between the two Houses. A Conference
Committee was appointed, and O report |
made and agreed to by the Senate, but
defeated in the House. The Legislature
was drawing to a close. When all hope
OF securing its passage was abandoned by |
Its friends, the bill was carefully enrolled |
as having been passed, smuggled on to |
the Speakers desk, and signed by him,
then sent by the Clerk of the House to
the Senate in message. saying that it |
had passed and was presented to the |
President of the Senate for his signature.
In such hurrying times the presiding
ohcer is unable to examine critically each
bill presented for his name. He depends |
largely upon the correctness of the en-
merest accident that the fraud was dis
covered IN time to prevent the signing of
the bill. 1t would be unjust to charge all |
the Democratic members as being parties
or privies to this infamous proceeding.
1t was purely Democratic party mea-
sure, however, carried through under the
party lash, and somebody was willing to
procure its enactment by fraud, which,
IN moral point of view, was more GRIM
lnal than forgery. Never in the annals
OF legislation in this country has there
been so hagrant an attempt to impose
upon the people of a State Such pro
ceedlngs cast taint upon all our legisla-
ton; for who tell. without critical ex-
animation of the journals, what laws are
genuine, and what ones are spurious
NOW, do we want another Legislature
of this sort2 Let me illustrate its shin
ing qualities little further Heretofore
1t has been matter Of just pride that
our Legislatures have been free from the
charge of bribery. While other States
of the Union have been disgraced in this
regard the people of Ohio have pointed
proudly to their Legislative record, and
said that no such charges can be made
against us. There has been eleotioneer-
ing, but never bribery, until now. 1t was
leit Tor this model body of men to de-
prlve US any longer of the right to make
such boast. During its last session
votes were bought and sold like chattels |
in the market. For long time this con-
dition of things was suspected, but no |
positive proof was obtained until the |
closing days of the session A bill pro-
vldlng for the removal of the county-seat |
OF Wood county was pending. 1t brought |
to Columbus a powerful lobby. After a
Al Il oiY