The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-11-01
SECOND MESSAGE.
Governor Campbell Again Ad-
dresses the Assembly.
ssAbo1ish tho Board," He Repcats--"N6
Deviation From tho Path
Marked Out"


To the General Assembly: You were
summoned here to perform plain and
imperative duty. After special session
of several days, having been unable to
agree upon the form of relief for the city
Of Cincinnati, some further suggestions
are in order.
In the message sent you last Tuesday
1t was recommended that the Board OF
Public Improvements be abolished, and
its successor elected at the forthcoming
November election. Since that time 1t
has become evident that no legislation
can be perfected until within less than q
fortnight of said election. 1t is now ap-
parent, also, that the people of that city
will not be able, within the limited time
allotted them, be able to sufficiently con-
slider nominations for such offices, and to
thoroughly canvass the merits of such
persons as may be nominated. 1t is ad-
mitted that the two great political par
ties will make nominations through
their existing committees. Those COM
mites were not created for such pur-
pose, and do not enjoy the respect of tho
people of the city Of Cincinnati to de-
gree sufficient to give public confidence
to their nominations 1t is obvious,
therefore, that the election of said
board by the people can not be properly
prepared for and held prior to tho mu-
nicipal election of next April; and, to
the extent of recommending that such
election be held in April instead of
November, the message sent to you last
l., l.,
1t is recommended, howet ar, that in
lieu of the present hoard Of public i'm
provements, non-partisan board be
created, to be appointed by the mayor,
who as the executive head Of the city
government, ought to be responsible for
its boards; and, having himself been
elected by the people of that city, such
appointment would be in conformity to
the doctrine of "Home Rule"
Since you assembled, it has been
clearly demonstrated that, although no
pains or expense have been spared to
send lobby here to mislead and intim-
idate you, nobody in the city of Cincin-
natl could be found for that purpose
other than those having a direct person
al interest in said board. This suffl-
GENTLY proves how low the board itself
has fallen in public estimation. Those
Of you who felt doubt whether the
board was distrusted by the people, have
now no longer any reason for delay.
Those of you who conceded slight
changes from your views because you de-
sired to have harmonious action on the
part of the political party holding the
majority in the General Assembly, must
now realize that the pretended desire for
such harmony on the part of certain
members was nero duplicity. Those OF
you who belong to the minority party,
but who refused, under caucus decree. to
vote for any legislation, must, on refec-
tion, feel that your action was unwise
and unpatriotic. Therefore let one more
appeal be made to you to do just what
was recommended before-abolish the
board, and refer the selection of it's sue
cessor to the people as soon as existing
conditions will safely permit. Let the
handful of schemers who are scu filing in
the dirt before you, hoping for some
petty personal gain, be overlooked. Re-
member the great body Of the people OF
Ohio who stand amazed at the scenes
enacted here last week; who have read
with disgust that notorious lobbyists
sat in the hall of legislation, openly di-
recting tho votes and speeches of mem
bers; and who are fast learning to des.
pise those who obstruct honest govern.
ment and home rule.
The plain duty be fore you is to per
init no deviation from the path marked
out. Let no specious amendments or
changes be permitted. Do not swerve
hairs breadth from your purpose to
wipe out the board, and eventually sub
NIT the whole question to the people.
Fram this time on any and all PROPOSE
tions other than this are meant for par
tisan advantage only There is no mid
dl, ground. To delay longer is con-
fession of incapacity-- to refuse the
passage of the bill is confession of in.
fidelity.
JAMES e. CAMPBELL,
pf Ohio