Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-09
ExEcuTTyE cHAMnER.

TO Do.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
COLUMBUS, Ohio, January s, i6oo
To the General Assembly:
The present conditions Of both the people ant
the public affairs OF Ohio are in pleasing con
trest with what they were four years ago
There was then much dissatisfaction and rest
lessness among large classes of our population
The most notable manifestations OF fhiE wer,
the riots at Cincinnati and in the Hooking Val
ley, occurring during the administration OF my
predecessor, and the great strikes OF May, 1885
Business OF every kind was then suffering
There was general stagnation. Many Of oul
most important industries were suspended, and
thousands Of laborers were without employ.
ment. There was q general decline In values
This was very marked in connection with taxa
tton. 1t amounted for the years 1884 and 1885
erty OF the State on the grand duplicate, To
more than thfrty-two millions of dollars. The
appropriations made by the General Assembly
were largely in excess of our income. A rapidly
growing deficiency had already become greater
than ever known in time of peace. Elections
in the chief city Of the State had become only
criminal farces Ballot-box stufing, repeating
and similar crimes had become as common as
voting, and the evil was rapidly spreading to
other large cities. Fraudulent results had
come to be regarded by those who produced
them, and those in whose behalf they were ac-
complished, as legitimate advantages to be
maintained for partisan purposes.
By the common consent of all parties the
municipal government of Cincinnati had be-
come the worst ever known in this country. 1t
seemed to offer not only immunity for, but in
ducement to every sort of corruption and
crime. "The city had fallen into the hands of
thieves, is yet but common expression with
respect to that time, and every department was
demoralized and debauched. 1t is almost in
credible that such situation should or could
have been SO patiently tolerated.
The liquor traffic had been unbridled
and and made made practically free from all
the restraints of restriction and regulal
tion. 1t had "taken hand in politics, was it's
boast Of the hour, @and made itself felt" But
the day OF reckoning had come, and all this has
been changed
With the exception of the quickly suppressed
White Cap outbreak, there has been during the
whole four years that have since passed scarcely
a manifestation of a riotous or lawless disposi-
tion anywhere within the State. With the ex-
ception OF the strikes in May, 1886, there have
been no disturbances or troubles of any moment
among the laboring classes. Not drop Of blood
has been shed during all this time to preserve
peace, order, and the observance of law.
Instead Of general stagnation we have general
prosperity, and no people ever enjoyed higher
degree of happiness and contentment.
The decline in values has been stopped The
aggregate of the property real and personal of
the State on the grand duplicate for taxation,
has been increased during this period more than
eighty-four millions OF dollars.
The liquor traffic has been justly made to bear
a portion of the burdens of taxation for both
State and local purposes, and other measures of
q wise and just character have been enacted
whereby new sources of revenue have been
created, and our income has been made once
more greater than our expenditures, while at
the same time the rate of direct taxation for
State purposes has been reduced to the lowest
point known TO this generation.
The city of Cincinnati has been rescued
While its government is not, Theoretically, in
some particulars, what has been recommended
or what appears to be approved by the most en-
hghtened thought of the day, yet measured by
practical results, Cincinnatiis to-day one of the
best governed cities in America. No city has q
better police force, or a more economical or sue
cessful administration of public affairs and as
to the matter of elections, they are celebrated
for their quiet, orderly character and satisfac-
tory results, that they are the pride and boast
of the whole community. This is due directly
to the enactment of q Registration law and the
enforcement of it by non-partisan board The
same law, with but slight change has been ex-
tended to all cities of the State having popu-
lation Of not less than 5000 at the last Federal
census, and SO far as all decent, honest and
well-meaning citizens are concerned, like satis-
faction andl like good results have been ex-
perienced in each place where it has been tried
In view OF such facts you are to be congratu-
lated upon the character Of the public service to
which you have been called. You have no new,
difficult or untried problems to encounter
There are no great wrongs to right,
abuses to correct, dissatisfaction to
appease, or emergencies to meet.
As already indicated, the people generally of
the State were never more prosperous or better
satisfied. They have scarcely an industry idle
or want that ordinary attention or enter
prise will not supply. Every department OF
State Government is accomplishing the best of
results. Not scandal of any kind has oc-
Cured in connection with the management Of
any one of them, and no friction, lack of har-
mony, or trouble of any sort is known to ex-
ist anywhere. Under such circumstances your
duties will be few and simple. There will be
but little occasion for legislation beyond max
ing necessary appropriations, and no excuse
whatever for enactments of doubtful charac-
ter Clearly, there is nothing to be undone.
BALLOT DISTRIBUTORS.
So far as our election laws are concerned
they will be improved by making the provis-
ions of the act of April Is, 1882 "To provide for
distributors of ballots, the printing Of bal
lots, and the distribution thereof at polling
places" now applicable to only the city Of
Cleveland, applicable to all the cities of the
State having Boards of Elections The nu-
merous ticket holders that stand about the poll
ing places in the city on election day to annoy
the voters should be abolished. With this inn
provement the system We already have, will
prove better, because simpler, more econom-
ical and more American than any other that has
been or is likely to be proposed.
The plain ruth is that with one exception
you can best subserve the public good by leav-
ing practically untouched all the legislation of
the Sixty-seventh and Sixty-eighth General
Assemblies whereby these changes have been
wrought.
HOME RULE
The laws creating the several boards that
have been provided for the various cities re-
quire the appointment of the members and the
clerk for each by the Governor. This was
deemed necessary by the Legislature at the
time, but it was contrary to my judgment then,
and experience has but strengthened this con-
viction.
1t is true the people of the whole state are in
terested in having fair and honest elections in
each city and have right therefore to demand,
where that may appear necessary, that the exc
cutive head and representative OF the whole
people shall appoint those who are to conduct
the voting and make the returns, and those
who are to contro1 the constnbu-
larry force upon which election officers must de-
pend for protection in fearless discharge Of
their duties, but, as q general rule, the better
policy is to lodge this power OF appointment
with the immediate head of the municipality to
be affected. The newspapers have recently been
discussing this subject to some EXTENT and,
among other propositions advanced is one to
confer the exercise of this authority for Gin
cinnati on the Police Judge Of that city. So far
as personal fitness may be concerned, that
official is doubtless well qualified for the dis
charge Of such trust. Nevertheless, it should
not be imposed upon him. 1t is duty that is
essentially executive in its character. There is
nothing in it Of O judicial nature Judge is
always out Of place, and feels 80, exercising
such powers. He recognizes as all others must,
that such duties have tendency to involve his
Office in politics, and thereby interfere with it's
usefulness and that universal respect to which
1t is entitled. M
K Moreover, it may we'll be doubted whether
such duties can be legally required Of Judicial
officer. 1t is clearly an executive duty that
rightfully belongs to the Mayor. This view is
not now expressed by me for the first time
Neither is IT expressed now because my success
or differs from melin politics while the Mavor
Of Cincinnati agrees with me in that respect.
Such considerations are insufficient and un-
worthy to influence any one henored with the
privilege Of addressing. you, in this manner.