The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-07-18
COLUMBUS.
A Great Demonstration at the
State Capital.
Addressed by Judge HOadIy and Others
The Great Question of Contract
Convict Labor.

COLUMBUS, o., July 16.-The campaign
in franklin county was opened with
| hurrah Saturday night. One of the
| largest and most enthusiastic meetings
ever held in the city was held on the
west front of the Capitol, addressed by
Judge HOadly and Allen o. Myers. II
was wOrkingmen'5 meeting and the
workingmen turned out two thousand
strong.
Fully eight thousand people assem-.
hled at the east front of the State House
| shortly before eight O'Clock, and for
| fifteen minutes were agreeably enter
| tained by an excellent band, which dis
cOursed enliVening strains of delicious
music, at the conclusion of which Col.
W. j. Elliott, of the Sunday Capitol,
President of the meeting, came forward
and invited the officers of the meeting
to take seats on the temporary platform
which had been erected on the drive at
the bottom of the steps and facing the
Capitol. Judge HOadly, who had arrived
In the city, was invited to the meeting,
and while waiting for him Colonel FL
liOtt stated the object of the meeting in
a ringing speech, in which he reviewed
the iniquities of the contract system in
very tOrcible manner, and in the midst
of hearty applause read long list of the
articles made in the penitentiary in
competition with free labor.
Judge HOadly called on ex-senator
Thurman and had a very pleasant inter
view with the veteran. From thence he
was escorted to The Capitol and was in
trOduced by Mr.. Myers as the next Gov
eTnOr of Ohio.
Judge HOadly showed that the Auditor
OF State, j. r. Oglevee, who was running
the Republican campaign, when in the
Legislature was one of the six who
voted against abOlishing it,, while in
1872 he favored it. He showed the fate
of the Peet bill and the final appoint
ment of commission, which is the
usual to way of the Republicans out
of a scrape. The Republicans, with their
commission, gave no guarantee for the
future, and If elected he would do all in
his power to wipe it out.
you all understand that if | am cleo
ted Governor that will execute the
laws in conformity with the resolution
which l will now read to YOU" [Judge
HOadly then read the resolution No. 5
in the Democratic State platform on the
prison contract system II am going to
criticise," said the speaker, "the Repub-
l1can platform and L shall do 1T kindly
1t is an incOngruity. l have often
known of different resolutions being in
conflict, but here We have a resolution
facing both ways. He then read No. 8
of the Republican platform, commend
ing the action of the Republican Legis-
lature in appointing a commission to
inquire into the prisOn.l Next they go
on to recommend the abolition of the
entire system. If the contract system is
to be abolished, why inquire into it? |
do not know what part of the platform
brother Foraker will stand on. He is
most excellent gentleman, and L hope
he will take stand on one or the other
of the two planks. L know not what the
Republicans will do if they carry the
Legislature. Will they abolish it to
start with, and then listen to the report
of the commission or what will they do?
l came here not to speak but to listen
and be taught. L now introduce to you
Mr.. Allen o. Myers, the, eloquent young
candidate OF the Democratic party in
this county for the Legislature"
Mr.. Myers made speech of over one
hour, in which he arraigned the present
system in severe terms. He referred to
his own term in the reform school as
having given him experience and adVO-
Gated thorough reform in the present
style of conducting our prisons.
In showing up the legislature record
he found the first name voting to abol-
ish 1T last winter that of Gilbert I'll. Bar
gar, chairman of the Campaign EXecu-
tive Committee, and pointing to the two
headquarters he compared his record
with Ghat or Chairman Ogleyee, OF the
Republican headquarters, He also paid
his respects to Hon. John f. Locke, of
Madison county, who on the floor of the
House last winter denounced this agita-
ton as being backed by Communists.
Next he took up the case of the prOmi-
nent politician who offered to cOntri-
butte 800 for his nomination if he would
not oppose the contract system, and
whom he told to go to "hell," and said
that man was now using money to de-
feat him. He said that these contract
Ors made so much money that they gave
each of the guards So during the legisla-
tive session last winter to keep still as
to their profits.
Speeches were made by ex-senator Van
Cleaf, of Pickaway, and others.