Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-02-04

fifteen years; four, fourteen years; four,
thirteen years; five, twelve years; nine, +,
eleven years, and FIVE, ten years. One
served sixteen years in the house, one,
twelve, and two, eleven years. Four
served in the senate fourteen years, one,
thirteen years; four, eleven years, and
three, ten years. In addition to these,
many other members and senators have
served more than the usual two or three
terms. Therefore, it seems that even
$500 a year is an attraction-or some-
thing else, let us say employment in the
winter months-for some men.
However, there is one thing to be-
noted, and that is, in the list of sixty
nine names of members who have served
their state in the capacity of legislators
for periods of time longer than usually
fall to the lot of men, not one Of them
is famous enough for me to know from
what county or from what part Of the
state he halls. In other words all the
great men whom the Ohio legislature
has turned out in the past years, have
been glad to serve but brief apprentice
ship before getting into pastures new.
The Rowlen-weyb ybrecht Contest.
The committee on elections has been
considering the contested election case
of Rowlen against Weybrecht, both of
Stark county, In going over the testi-
mony the name of one, Pontius, the
superintendent of the Stark county poor
house, was mentioned several times. OF
course it was but natural that some one
of the committee should ask If Mr..
Pontius were any relation to Pontius
PLATE. This of course caused the smile
that was expected, but after the session
of the committee was over, one of the
lawyers related an ancedote on the Stark
county Pontius that may prove interest
ing.
When the late John McSweeny was
in his prime, he was called upon to de-
fend certain character in Stark county,
and Mr.. Pontius-father, by the way,
of the very superintendent who has
figured more or less in this election case
was called as q witness for the prose-
cution. In the croSs-examination Mr..
McSweeny handled Mr.. Pontius pretty
roughly, and when he came to argue to
the jury he called Pontius all sorts of
names. He played upon the Pontius
PLATE combination and otherwise at
tackled the veracity Of the testimony
given by Pontius. After the trial the
abused witness said nothing, but went
away to blde his time.
Time is good thing to bide, at least
Mr.. Pontius found it so, for in the
course of a few months or years-the
relator sayeth not-the Hon. John Nc
Sweeney was called over to Stark coun-
ty to assist in the prosecution of one
Warthorst for murder in the first de-
gree. The jury was finally made up,
and by some inscrutable dispensation of
Providence, our friend Mr.. Pontius was
one of the jury OF peers.
The Hon. John McSweeny and his as
sociates had little difficulty in making
out clear case of murder in the first
degree-in fact they had as little diff
Guilty as they would have had in proving
the innocence of the accused if they
had been lawyers on the other side.
The jury retired, and the first ballot
showed that eleven were for conviction
and one for acquittal. In the light of
all that has been thus far related the
reader will have little difficulty in de-
ternining where the trouble lay. To
make long story short, the jury finally
rendered verdict of guilty of murder
in the second degree, and Murderer
Warthorst is now doing life sentence
over at the states prison.
All of which is more or less clear
case Of Pontius PLATE saving the neck
of a murderer in this nineteenth CEN
tury.
Better Hire Protection.
The great fire that occurred here last
week has awakened some of the mem
bers of the legislature. Already bill
has been offered in the house to extend
the provisions Of the law governing the
inspections of work shops, to apartment
and tenement houses; and also to raise
the fine and to add the additional pro-
vision Of fining a person $40 day for
each day after conviction that the
premises remain without the necessary
fire escapes. This is most wise meas
ure and ought to be speedily passed. AS
the law now stands the fine is but nomi-
nal, and in some cases it is cheaper to
pay the fine than 1t is to put up the fire
escapes. If the amendment is passed,
it will be found pretty dear to pay $40 a
day for all the time that the law is
ignored. When you strike man at his
pocket-book you strike him in more
tender place often than when you ap-
peal to his humanity. u
The extension of the provisions of the
law to apartment and tenement houses
is very necessary. Now the inspector
has no authority to compel owners of
such buildings to put up even the
simplest safeguards against loss Of life.
In the fire last week right here where
the legislators could see for them
selves, if the fire escapes had not been
properly rigged, at least hundred
girls would have been burned up.
Inspector Mcdonald tells me that he
only succeeded in getting these very
life-savers in place after several per-
suasive talks with the owner of the
block. In other words, Mr.. Mcdonald
had to ask and persuade the owner to
do what he ought to have done of his
own accord, and what the law ought to
compel to be done.
The Cleveland School Board.
One of the most important things to
be done by this legislature is the over
hauling of the Cleveland school board.
Of course, the delegation from Cuya-
hoga county will have charge Of the
matter directly, yet all the members
will have to vote on the measures which
may be offered. One has already been
submitted to the senate and in ali prob
ability one will be in the house.
Personal.
John M. Thurston, Of Chicago, is will
ing to take second place on the Repub.
linan national ticket. IL.