The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-01-14
OHIO'S NEW GOVERNOR.
inaugural Address Of Hon. J. B.
Foraker.

Foraker.
Registry Law; Board of Election Sd
pervisors; Municipal Government;
Benevolent Institutions and the
= Penitentiary; The Labor and
Liquor Questions, Etc.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives:
There is nothing more important than
THE BALLOT.
II goes before everything else. The Govern
ment rests upon it, and its character Is deter
mined by it. We have no other sovereign
power or expression. There is no greater
political crime than its suppression or cor
ruption. There is but one equal crime. and
that 10 Indifference to such outrages. Either
is treason in 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 succeed in one place, its ten
dency is to quickly spread to all places. Ac-,
cordinsiy, the question of free ballot and
fair count, until recently unknown among US,
has become living Issue in Ohio.
The outraees perpetrated at our elections in
1884 were not the first Of these offenses, but
good erect. They aroused a sense Of duty
that secured the enactment OF q regissra
law applicable to the cities Of Cincinnat, ,,d ana
prevent these evils, but we have been disap-
pointed. The additional safeguards thrown
widen the range. increase the determination
and quicken the ingenuity of this class of
criminals. AS q consequence We have wit
Tn fo unf nnr1nfe
ing, but also false registration, false tallies,
false certificates. false returns and every
ssns sneh q bod vany
every been known in the history Of our elec.
tions as confessedly was practiced at the last
and Coiumbus If there is anything worse
than the fact that the scoundrels who perpe.
trated it arc uRpunished and likely TO remain
So II is that there should appear to De no
judicial power to prevent the cOnsummation
of their iniquities. If it be true that hur law 9
are such that canyassing officer is compel, a IL
acknowledged fraud and forgery in defiance
Of right and all the authority of the Courts,
such such 9e an officiai il % Should be more than mere
automaton and considerably les than an tfn-
perons attocrat. The time has como 70 put
the State. without regard TO political differ.
ences. expect at your hands such iegsis'ion
as will have this effect.
REGISTRY LAW.
The reg stration law referred TO has been
held Unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
but only because the provisions for the reg
| istration of voters were deemed unreasona,
| BILE. The objection is easily overcoRe, and
il is recommended that another sueh law De
| enacted.
BOARD OF ELECTION SUPERVISORS.
| while considering this subject. it is desired
| to make another Recommendation. MOST OF
these frauds to which attention mas neeI
| called, have been committed either by tht
iudpps and clerks of the election. or VIII
| their connivance. 1t is a notorious fact tina,
while many of these officials are wor'ny a,ae ane
| competent men, yet many others are or bat
character and entirely unfit for such trusts
| If only honest and Intelligent men Of knowI
sitions. fHu s such Violations Of law would be I'm
tempted. 1t is recommended. therefore, tina
yor also revise our election lawsas to thei
| provisions for the selection of judges ant
pointment of some suitable authority, of
board of election commissioners or super
Judgment, should be applicable to, to consis
of four or six members, or any other numbe
as you may deem best, whose dnty It snai ~ Q
sSana sSsna Rseoiner pe represensed. snd Equally
this board; and nd. it shonld should be fa1 sI
pointed by tbs board should be excuse
from such service except for cause al
| proved by the OOard. Inere is quite us uoc
| necessity TO require this duty from citize
as there is to compel him to serve as q juro
| This matter must be dealt with earpestl,
| there win come serious trouble. The citizen
Of Ohio win not long quietly tolerate q re'g
| OF fraud.
| most entirely to our large cities, their col
sideration will naturally bring to your mind
the general problem of
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
Rc~R-1A ,H,A
ton. It's Importance is CONTINUALLY increa
ing. There has been but little satlsIactol
experience in this country-scarcey any
our State We have apparently gone steadi
cities furnish striking examples Of how be
| city governments can become. Their toier
abe oy yatience a e or an almost incredthe indi
} ference. But whether it be patience or ]
difference enlightened sentiment demands
sion for the discussion of this matter. but
| is desired to refer to one feature OF the ge
eral subject, and express the oeneI that AZ
are not responsible to, or controlled by. al
higher authority, and distribute among thu
} the administrative functions and powers
There are many objections to such systel
There is too frequently Gonfist inssfad sshaa
aa0og Saana ~ pubic nj se WORKS may DO to improve
street is quite often straightway undone
board OF water works commissioners to II
or BY ae Se ~
taxpayers, and to the great discomfort of 9
: public. a further objection is this; y
! tant must be their respective powers. T
consequence is that the conventions tn
> nominate and the people who elect the me
) npon it, that it makes little difference "
may be selected. 4 member is 9nt one .s,I, OF
,s snirs sS IA
: into the hands of men selected without tt
, care and consideration that should be eA
/ cised. Another evil effect of this system is
derelict officials to account When public
9 terests are neglected there is no particu
( one to whom blame attaches. a.
The shortcoming of board is lost by dist
: button among its members, but the agg
f gate of the ills of the several boards NAL
!, be a fixing OF respon sibility SO there may
accountability. There SHOULD, therefore.
e the fewest possible number Of elective
O. ficials. If the duties of an office be not
= portant enough to impress the people v
n elect the incumbent with the necessity
n to as o To be or ed
pointment For those reasons 1t is hoped
whole subject of ,,nun cipai government vii
carefully invest igated at an early dayin OF
y as il has been in a number of other Sta
d and that in the meanwhile. there will be
a further multiplication OF elective noarhs
minor officials Of any kind, but that on
Y contrary you will abolish all unnecess
boards and make such changes in exist
laws as Will impose upon .ns Maypse a.,
n duty of appointing,the various boards it =
~ be necessary to have. If it be thought thi
q comforting too much power and autho
N | upon one man, the answer is that the imp
;s ance of the trust is calculated to induce
10 people to select only worthy and compel
men, and the fact that there can not be
- evasion in such case of accountability VII
y, the strongest incentive to faithful discha
a of duty.
ID THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
Inmaking these suggestions political
:, vantage is not considered. On the oontr
IL 1t is earnestly hoped there will not be
IL legislation for such a purpose. 1t is alw
n pernicious This is especially true OF
l" charitable and benevolent institutions. T
should at all times be outside Of and ah
be mere political considerations. They
n trusts of the most sacred character
change of political State control meal
d. change OF policy as to political questions
), q change of officials as terms Of office
y. spectively expire. but it does not neosssa =