The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-11
HAYES Is No Reformer.

HAYES has never greatly distinguished
himself in civil life. either in Congress or
as Governor Of Ohio; but there was one
important measure that was carried
through by the last Ohio Legislature
which gives special significance to his ad-
ministration, and which will enable the
people to form tolerably clear idea what
kind OF reform we may expect should no
be successful in getting elected President.
During the first two terms OF Gen HAYES,
as Governor OF Ohio, and during that of
his successor Gen. NoyEs q system OF
wholesale swindling by county Rings
reached enormous proportions. This fieec
ing OF the people was accomplished by
means Of constructive fees exacted by
county officers; and the extent to which
these abuses were carried may be Inferred
from the fact that the report OF the State
Auditor in 1874 showed that the compen-
sation Of county officials amounted to
about five times the total expenses OF the
Legislative, Judicial and Executive De-
partments Of the State. The extortions of
these officials reached every GLASS Of the
community; even the estates OF widows
and orphans were robbed to satisfy the in
satiate greed of the county Rings, and by
means Of excessive fees, Probate Judges in
some Of the counties were enabled to swell
their compensation to amounts more than
double the salaries Of the Judges OF the
Supreme Court.
When Gov. ALLEN came into office. he
Immediately gave his attention to the rec
| tiication OF these abuses. In his message
of December l, 1874, he called the special
attention Of the Legislature TO the subject,
and the people OF Ohio, finding that they
at last had champion In the Executive
chair, poured in their petitions to the
number OF fifty thousand, demanding i'm
mediate relief from the exaotious Of the
county Rings. Not satisfied with present.
ing the matter officially to the Legislature,
Gov. ALLEN made the most urgent per-
Houses, and, though his efforts met with
persistent opposition from members and
tools Of these Rings, belonging to both po-
htich parties, he finally succeeded in
carrying his point, and a law was passed
making reduction of s2S5, 1000 annually in
the compensation Of county officials.
Well, in 1915 HAYES was elected, and q
Republican Legislature came into power.
At once the Rings rallied in full force. and
| bill was prepared TO repeal the reform
law which GOV. ALLEN had forced through
the preceding Legislature by his untiring
personal labors. strong lobby was or
ganized at the Capitol, and, although new
| county officers had in the mean time been
elected under the act fixing reduced sal
aries, they succeeded in repeating the law
which the Democratic Legislature had
passed the new bill being made retro
active in its operation, so MS 10 completely
neutralize the effects Of the law which was
repealed.
What was Gov. HAYES doing while the
leeches were prosecuting their schemes TO
defraud the peoplei That amiable gentle
man was doing nothing at all. The men
who were engaged in the service of the
Rings were politicians of influence. Gov.
HAYES is not the man TO make enemies OF
such serviceable friends, and so he looked
! on without moving finger, and permitted
a measure TO pass which involved the rob-
berry Of the people Of Ohio TO the amount
Of several hundred thousand dollars an
nually
| AS the Cincinnati Commercial said at the
time the repeating bill was passed: "Gov.
HAYES has lost glorious opportunity of
proving himself good reform candidate
for President by not raising his voice
against this iniquity;" and We think the
people will agree with our Western con-
temporary. II Gov. HAYES could not re-
sist the pressure of few petty Ohio
county Rings, in n matter where all the
people were on one side and few greedy
politicians on the other, what possible
chance Is there that the same inoffensive
| gentleman would be able 10 resist the over
whelmiug influence OF the colossal Rings
which are intrenched in WashinGtonY Not
the slightest; and it is for that very reason
that his nomination has proved so accept
able to Ring Republicans Of every grade.