The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-08-28

This work will make two printed volumes
of !, 200 pages each, and will soon be in the
hands of your County Auditors for distribu-
ton. When we see the difficulties other
you can justly judge of the magnitude ofthe
work of the last Legislature. New York
State has been engaged for ten years, at a
cost of a million of dollars, in codifying her
laws, and has not completed the task yet,
because of its failure in the Legislature. I
predict that future generations will rise up
and call the "O'Connor' Legislature blessed
for this great work. [Applause.]
OTHER WORKS WORTHY OF PRAISE. i
But there are other deeds of the last
Legislature that you will commend as citi-
zens n taxpayers. Yet, l am not here,
claiming that all this Legislature did was
good. do not want to fly to the opposite
extreme and try to prove it ar angel OF light,
because Republicans have tried to prove it q
demon of darkness They nave perjured
themselves to make their case, and / have
only to tell the truth to sustain my client.
Heaven forbid that / or any other man
should make himself responsible for. the
deeds Of any Legislature. Laughter. ]
Providence in his wisdom has seen fit to
make mar very imperfect, and while this
condition of affairs exists, | fear the people
will have some trouble in trying to make d
PCiASSs HS6AoidboACs 4ho A0os 4NBioi6tu4C
made some mistakes, but for n mistake it
made l can show you two misdeeds of the
last Republican Legislature.
The lessees of the canals, and among them
was one of the wicked partners and editorial
writers of the Cincinnati Gazette, which is
now so busy and bitterly assailing the Legis-
lature, abandoned these highways of the
people. A democratic Legislature took pos
session of them, put them in better condi-
ton than they have been for years, and the
first year the receipts exceeded the disburse-
ments SIG. 000-the receipts being SIP, 100,
and the disbursements $50, 11s. Applause
These anne lessees are trying to get hold OF
the Miami Canal. If they do, 1t will have to
be through a Republican Legislature.
A Republican Legislature passed the odi-
Gus Registration Act, requiring farmers to
leave their plows and tradesmen their occu-
pations to register, and entailing an annual
payers of Ohio. A Democratic Legislature
repealed it. CApplause.] The last Repub-
lican Legislature passed a law increasing the
fees and salaries of county officers. The
"O'Connor' Legislature passed a bill cutting
them down, and saving $4,000 annually to
itigants, and the Republicans voted against
this bill.
The Democratic Legislature enacted laws,
fixing the salaries OF members of the Legis
laIure dI PoUV per year, illus lnsurluS suOItel
sessions. They cut down the salaries Of the
Railroad and Insurance Commissioners
they abolished the C~odifying Commission.
[Applause.] They refused to renew the Su.
preme Court Commission; they cut off use
less clerkships in the State-house and re
duced the pay Of those who remained; they
provided that the laborer in suing for hi.
wages should have the first hearing in Court
They made it an offense for grinding cor
porations to pay their workmen in worth
less script, instead of honest money. Zap
plause. They made it al offense for rail.
road corporations to attempt to defrauc
their employees of their wages by removing
their suits to foreign Courts; they abolished
Coroner's juries, thereby saving thou
sands of dollars annually. A Re
publican Legislature created two new
State offices; a Democratic created none
but mustered ten out. Here, then, is the
record of the two parties when last in power
1t is for you, fellow-citizens,. who are inter
ested in economical government, in Low
taxes, to determine by your votes in Octo
Der whether you approve Of Democrat,
economy, or whether you will invite and en-
courage extravaganza and the reckless vast,
Of State moneys by returning q Republican
Legislature. I have told you the truth.
challenge contradiction OF any statement
have made. I defy any Republican to alte
q figure I have presented. Let your decision
at the ballot-box be q verdict in accordanc
with the facts. I thank you for your yer,
kind and earnest attention. EApplause.