Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-01-14
FoRAKER,S INAUGURATION.
Republicans Again at the Helm
Brilliant Display Despite the Biz
zard.

ZatQ.
The ceremonies incident to the inaug>
uration Of Govsruor-elect Foraker, took
place at Columbus on Monday. The Sc
we're weather of the night previous and
of Sunday, diminished the looked for
attendance of strangers, and military
and political organizations.
The special train bearing the Cover
nor's party from Cincinnati was over an
hour late. which delayed tho entire pro-
gram. There were about $500 of mill
tary and members of clubs who partici-
pated in the procession, and they made a
brilliant display. The Governors party
was met at the depot and escorted to
the State House, where the inaugural
exercises proper occurred, in the rotunda
Of the Capitol.
Gov. Hoadly, in delivering the com
mission to his successor. gave an exprest
sisn of his own personal good will and
congratulations.
In his address TO the Senate and House
of Representatives,. Governor Foraker
says: There is nothing more important
than the ballot. 1t goes before every
thing else. The Government rests upon
it, and its character is determined by it.
We have no other sovereign power Of ex
preston. There is no greater political
crime than its suppression or corruption
There is but one equal crime, and that is
Indifference to such outrages. Either is
treason il effect, and both ought to be in
law. There never was greater need than
now for this to be remembered by the
legislative body of this State. Evil is
always contagious. If permitted to sue
ceed in one place. its tendency is to quick
ly spread to all places. Accordingly, the
question of free ballot and fair count
mas become living issue in Ohio.
He then refers to the election difficult
ties of 1884. and says they aroused the
people to sense Of duty and created the
enactment of a registration law applica
ble to Cincinnati and Cleveland; but
admits that this measure has failed of its
purpose to put an end to election troub
les. "Ths time has come" he says, Ito
put stop to such troubles, and the peo-
pie of the State, without regard to polit-
ical differences, expect such legislation
As will have this effect"
He recommends, as one means to at
tain this end, the selection of only good
men for judges and clerks Of elections.
Both political parties" he says, should
be, represented. Unless the people of
Ohio can have free and fair elections
there will come serious trouble"
Touching municipal government, he
says: "We have apparently gone steadily
from bad to worse. Some of our largest
cities furnish striking examples of how
bad city governments can become" He
urges reform in municipal abuses, and
makes excellent suggestions to that end.
Briefly discussing State institutions,
civil rights and the labor question, he
passes to the consideration of the liquor
question. which he says, is of the great
est Importance, but it is so related to
personal habits and private morals as to
render it impossible to make it polite
al question in any ordinary sense, and
"a POI iOhSS Atto III Jul Onn pGaIo
and others that it should not be a party
question in any sense. The evils of this
business are of such character that good
meH Of all parties should stand together
for their suppression. and it is thought
the time has at last come when they may
do so.
He advised the re-enactment of the
Scott law. IN way that will avoid the
constitutional objections urged by the
supreme court. Such measure has the
merit of being practical; no constitu>
tional amendment is necessary it is i'm
mediate in its benefits public sentiments
will uphold and enforce it; it will great
ly diminish the number of places where
this business is carried on, and if wisely
administered it will in a large degree
suppress the evils of all, and at the same
tins yield a much needed revenue and
leave the people free to deal with it fur
ther as they may ultimately see 6t.
In closing his inaugural. Governor
Foraker made pleasant allusion to the
kindness shown him by Gov. Hoadly, and
said, No one more earnestly than l en-
tertains the hope that there are in store
for my distinguished predecessor many
years of life. health and happiness to bs
spent In wider fields of usefulness and
honor than any he has heretofore occu>
pied