The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-01-19

ONE FOR TIE RLINN

|
| limited appropriations that have been mad,
for IL: The idea OF those who induced the Gen
era eral Assembly to establish |. vas, that with N.
aid given ut the outset II would become self
sustaining. Experience has demonstrated that
| this was mistake. Unless II shall bo helped
further II can not succeed. You should, there
| lore, carefully examine as to its merits ant
either abandon IL entirely, merge IL with the
| Blind Asylum, or give IL the aid necessary tc
enable II to accomplish its purposes Tho State
| can not afford to keep such an institution III
operation and not properly sustain it.
THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS
| or the State nro, without exception. In IN OK
cellent condition. Full Information about them
| in detailed form, is given in their respective
reports, and in the reports of the Board. and
the Secretary OF the Board of State Charities.
The statistics for 1886 and 1887 show that in
the insane asylums of twenty-five States, out.
side OF Ohio ttho reports OF other States not be-
| ing acccssible), extending from Massachusetts
TO California, and from Wisconsin to South
Carolina, the ratio of rccoverics TO admissions
is "a. .G2 per cent The ratio OF deaths to average
number resident is 8i3 per cent. and the per
capita cost of maintenance, si76C0 per annum.
In the five asylums OF Ohio, viz: Athens,
Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Lougvew.
the average ratio ofrccoveries TO annual adms-
sions for the year 1887 was 40.75 per cent, and
the ratio OF deaths TO average number resi-.
dent. Il2 per cent, while the per capita cost on
number actually i'll asylums, on account OF cur.
rent expenses, and including salaries OF officers,
etc, was Sl5a7 per annum.
Thcse statistics show that Ohio has the best
system OF benevolonce. and that We are ac-
complishing the best results in this field OF duty
and charity OF any State in the Union.
THE BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES
Are entitled to much credit for these good
achievements. Their kind and constant atten-
tentions to all branches and departments OF the
charitable and penal institu. Is and work of
OF the report OF the Board, and the Secretary OF
the Board will acquant you with the vast and
important field of their labors, and show the
necessity for the supervising power and infu-
ence which they supply.
OHIO NATIONAL GUARD.
Heretofore the annual encampments OF the
National Guard have been by regiments or
brigades, but the past year the whole command
BILE the different organizations to become
acquainted, and the officers to learn how to
handle, feed, drill and transport such a force.
The results were excellent. Over live thousand
men, representing infantry, artillery and cav.
airy were present in camp. Each organization
We'd with every other to come up TO the highest
standard OF discipline and efficiency The grand
parade on the closing day OF the oncampment
was, without doubt, the largest and most credit
able military display ever made In the State.
1t Is greatly to tho credit OF the guard that with
so little help as is afforded them, and with so
little opportunity for drill and general training,
they should become SO proficient in all that
constitutes good soldiers.
NoN.PARTIsAN BOARDS OF ELECTIONS
and registration laws nre no longer expert.
nents Wherever tried the experience has
been such that the people would not willingly
UlSpcnSc Wltn tnCT. Incv not only mike elpC-
tionslhonest but orderly. They are worth in.
rnitely more than they cost in time, labor and
money. You should extend with only such
notifications as may be necessary to give ap-
propriate application, the provisions OF the laws
of this character now applicable to only the
larger cities, to every city OF the State having
1000. Honest elections win not hurt anybody
that Is honest. No one desiring the purity OF
the ballot will make complaint on account OF
any increased cost or increase of Inconvenience
4 n N lnfrfa al 1ntt How
1t is immaterial what may be the views OF
others.
In all legislation touching municipal govern
ment You are requested to bear in mind and be
governed by the views expressed on the subject
in my former messages as to the necessity for
fxing responsibility, where the power OF ap-
pointment should be lodged, etc.
CLERKS OF ELECTIONS IN TOWNSHIPS.
There should be also such change in the cleo
tion laws as TO require that the two clerks, at
each polling place in every township throughout
the State. should be OF opposite politics, as is
now required in the cities. An election should
not only be so conducted as to secure an honest
re ult, but also TO give every one confidence in
that result. For this reason no important part
OF the election muchincry should in any case,
be In the hands OF only one political party.
WHITE CAPS.
For n number OF years past tho newspapers
have from time to time given accounts OF
class OF depredations committed in other parts
Of the country outside OF Ohio, in violation OF
the personal rights OF citizens, by organized
bodies OF men, styling themselves Regulators"
white Caps" etc. During all this period 1t
was gratifying TO observe that no such out
breaks occurred in Ohio No one believed that
any such organizations existed in this State,
and all law-abidng citizens wondered why they
should DO tolerated anywhere. II was quite
surprise, therefore, when on the night OF No.
gember 18th, 1883, there suddenly appeared In
the town OF Sardinia, Brown County, near the
line OF Highland County, band OF horsemcn.
reported as numbering from thirty TO
hity persons, wearing masks and calling them.
{ aIt tsnE n lNn IAI tN,a.
ience OF humble citizen by the name OF Adam
Berkcs, whom they aroused from his slumbers,
took from his bed and house. and whipped with
4 number OF lashes, because he had not. so far
IS any cause was assigned, in some particular,
real or imaginary. lived as they claimed he
should. II was startling crime, calculated, IL
allowed to go unchallenged to lead TO rapid
spread OF such practices. a shameful disgrace
10 our State and, ultimately to bloodshed and
general decentralization and disregard Ca the law
and the established legal tribunals and meth.
DDS for the redress OF grievances.
An investigation was immediately instituted,
by which II was disclosed that q regular organ-
,ation had been formed of q secret, oath bound |
with growing membership. includ- |
ng in Its ranks some prominent respectable |
and responsible citizens; and that they were |
proceeding upon the theory that they would be |
strong enough TO take the law into their own |
lands, defy the local authorities and bring |
against their members to naught |
I attempted The declared purpose OF the order |
vas TO protect society from petty crimes and |
for which, IL was alleged, the /
ediouS and expensive processes OF the law af- |
orded no adequate relief. II was manifest that |
But IL was difficult to ascertain who its mem
,ers were, and TO command the evidence neces |
-iction. No one who belonged to the organization |
ould be found who could be, under any circum. |
tances, actual or rpromised, induced TO give tes- |
imony hat would implicate my fellow.mem-
'er. Passing over details, IL was finally deter
mined to accept as better than the uncertainty |
Il waiting for testimony, which otherwise |
night never be obtained, and then resorting to |
egal proceedings, with the uncertainties. de- |
nys and expenses always attendant thereon, |
he following agreement which was signed by |
nembers OF the order as settlement OF the
7hole matter, viz.
"We, the undersigned members OF the organ
satlon known as White Caps, do hereby agree
nd bind ourselves to procure the immediate
OF sold organization; and we do fur
her promise and agree that there shall be no
1ore raids. whippings, threatenings, intimida.
ions, terrorizing, or other violation OF law OF
ny kind whatsoever by said organization or
he members thereof acting either together or
oparately; and we further nRree that II this
tipulation on our part BIO violated by any MEM
ers OF said organization, who may refuse to be
by us, we will. In such event, do all
our power to give information and to aid the
Ulcers OF the law in bringing them TO justice.
bove agreement, the State hereby promises
from further proceedings against
nem."
In pursuance OF this agreement, the organiza-
on has been permanently disbanded. and the
tate has been put in possession OF all the evil
ence necessary TO secure convictions should
here be any necessity to resort to the courts.
he men who have signed this agreement are
responsible In character, and imam
ally 10 make their guarantee that its terms
i'll be observed perfectly satisfactory. Their
ames are withheld only because making them
ublic is not calculated to promote the public
bod.
For some time after the whipping OF Berses
iere appeared from time to time newspaper
counts OF other whippings by White Caps,
ut there was no truth in any OF them. Since
ie Berkes incident there has been no whip 4
Lng no raid, and no threntening OF any kind