The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-04-29
gu1tttea1.
oLD-TIME POLITICS.

tempted Mob Rule In Columbus, and How Il
Was Quelld-DemagOgism Etc
The "historians," as they are called, in
narrating the causes which, in 1910, led
to the passage of the law resembling thai
for the erection of the present State
House at Columbus, let their partisan
feelings get the better of the facts. Tc
the end that the truth of history be vim
dicated, and because it gives leaf in old
time politics, the real facts are given:
The Legislature elected in 1889 was
Democratic by large majority-two'
thirds, if not more, OF the House being
Of that party. In the County of Cuyahoga
representative by the name of William
B. LLOYD was returned as Wing. The
proprietor of the American House, in
Cleveland, Mr.. Newton, with whom
Lloyd boarded, soon after the election,
charged Lloyd with forgery-adding $l9
to his credit on the hotel books. The
charge made by Mr.. Newton, the hotel
proprietor, who was also whig, was
persisted in, and getting into the news.
papers was much commented upon. As
it involved penitentiary ofense, it be-
came subject of legislative inVestiga.
ton. Mr.. Newton produced his books,
showed the false credit, and swore that
Lloyd, in settlement of his board bill,
got possession of the book to look over
it, and, while Newton was engaged else
where, added $40 to his credit. 1t was
soon after discovered, Lloyd was Charg-
ed with the forgery but denied it,
Numerous witnesses were examined and
the committee, in their report, offered
two resolutions-one that Lloyd was
guilty of the crime charged; the second
provided for his expulsion, When the
question was taken, two thirds of the
members voted for the first, but on the
resolution to expel, it lacked one vote
of the two.thirds necessary to expel, and
hence it failed. Pending the examina.
ton the wild hurrah of 1910 broke out,
and preparations were being made at
Columbus for the largest political Con.
vention that had ever at that time met
in Ohio. 1t was in this wild political
excitement that the vote on the resou.
ton was taken. Although the charge
against Lloyd was made by Wing, and
the witnesses to prove it were of the
same political party, yet the Whig lead.
ers adopted Lloyd as political martyr
and sustained him. The morning after
the vote was taken letter to Lloyd,
signed by sixty.odd Wing citizens of Co.
lumbus, was printed, in which the signers
assured Lloyd that they we're convinced
beyond doubt that the charge "was to
tally unsustained by the testimony,"and
"the act charged was one which it was
utterly impossible you should be guilty
of, and beg leave respectfully to assure
YOU of our undiminished confidence in
the integrity Of your character" etc.
The same morning, when the Legisla.
ture met in the old State House, quite
procession of Wings escorted Lloyd to
his seat, and then cheered and stamped
and hissed at the members who had
voted him guilty. When at length 81
lence was restored member from Lick.
ing county rose and asked suspension
of the rules that he might offer bill,
Leave was granted, and when the bill
was read, ITO repeal the law for the
building of new State House in Colum'
bus" the rowdies, many of them proper.
tv owners in the city, were thunder
struck. The Legislature had appropri-
ated money to build the State House,
and it had been commenced-the walls
were up even with the ground, but the
appropriation was refused when the bill
passed. and it was years before the work
was resumed. The reason assigned for
the repeal was that citizens of Columbus
sought to oyerawe the Legislature "a
band of rowdies invaded the hall where
the Legislature met, and prevented for
time the House from transacting the
necessary business of the session. The
bill passed both houses by party vote.
It was a terrible baCkset to majority of
the citizens of Columbus, and one, it was
hoped, would teach them salutary les.
son. But it didn't,
When the testimony against Lloyd
was published it was found too strong to
resist. His political friends deserted
him. He left Cleveland, and for years
was 'lost to sight, not to memory dear"
Years after, Colonel Benton, in the
United States Senate, succeeded in get
ting the resolutions of Censure against
General Jackson expunged from the
Senate journals by drawing black lines
around and writing "expunged by order
of the Senate" across the resolutions.
While this was being done loud hiss.
ing was heard in the Senate gallery
The principal offender was arrested by
the Sergeant.at.arms, and brought be-
fore the Senate. He was finally, after
reprimand, dismissed. 1t was believed
he was crack brained-not in his right
senses. The offender was William B.
Lloyd What became of him afterward
is not known. The folly Of the forgery
the small amount to be gained-led
some at the time to believe the man not
in his right mind. He was said to be a
man of some talent, and of generous i'm
pulses.
The political campaign of 1910 return.
ed a large whig majority to the Legisla.
ture. The House of Representatives
changed from a two-thirds Democratic
majority to more thar twothirds major.
ity for the Wings in 1S41, The Senate,
elected for two years, still retained a
small Democratic majority. The next
election resulted in Democratic major
ity of two in the Senate and the same
number in the House of Representatives.
The census of 1910 was not completed in
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