The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-03-02
IN PROBATE COURT.
THE POOR MAN
Would Be DISTINGUISHED by
ROwlen's IniquitOus Bill Be-
coming a Law.

Would Be DISTINGUISHED by
ROwlen's IniquitOus Bill Be-
coming a Law.
The NEWS DEMOCRAT still has faith In
American manhood, though there are
times when it would seem that it does not
exist in this day and age. Still we have
confidence that it does exist, even in the
halls of our modern legislatures, where
good men are sometimes traduced iust be-
cause some funny man has said they are
all wicked. 1t is not generally believed
that every body connected with State
legislature 10 wicked. There are still men
in Ohio, and members of the legislature
too, who are men, in the true meaning of
the term. With that fact before us, 1t is
hard indeed to believe that the iniqutous,
unjust, un-American bill, offered in the
legislature at Columbus yesterday, will be-
come law. Reference is made to the
bill specifying where inmates of County
Inflrmaries may vote.
The bill was introduced by Mr.. Rowlen,
who Is from the great county of Stark,
which is noted for its manly men. 1t is
not the kind of bill which would be exN
pected to come from Stark county, and is
not the right kind of bill to be intro
duced In America. Americans should be
in better business.
The bill defines that inmates of County
Infirmaries shall vote in the precincts
where they resided before they became
unfortunate enough to be compelled to
ask the aid of the county. The bill, in
thus defining where poor house inmates
| should vote, means to ultimately disfran-
chise the inmates OF County Inflrmsries.
In that 1t is absolutely q wicked measure.
Think you that 1t is the wish OF the
inmates to be paupers, living
by the charity of others? Would
the unfortunate, the blind, the lame and
the halt, with whom fate has not dealt
with extreme kindness, not change places
willingly with his more fortunate brother ?
Aud is it therefore just, because man is
poor and inilrm. that he should be dis
franchised? Is it a crime to be poor in
American
The enactment of such measure would
mean just that. 1t would mean that citi.
zens of the United States, eitizsns Of
OnlO VINO nave Inot WIN ESNerses, but
who have not offended against the law,
should be exempted from voting because
of their condition with reference to this
worlds goods. 1t would be an utter i'm.
possibility for many OF the inmates to go
TO the extreme ends of the county to vote,
and such law would result In hardship
to these men who are already sufficiently
unfortunate, II would result in depriving
these men of their vote and the right of
suffrage is dear to any man, be he prince
OF pauper. This bill should never become
law. II was introduced ss a political
measure, for the great mass OF the com
mon people are Democrats and thus il il
that many OF the inmates OF the County
InflrmAry are OF that political persuasion,
TIE hill should not, aud the NEws DEM,
oURAr Selievea, will not, pass, IL 10 not a
measure that sets well In the hearts OF
| American citiEena who believe In equal
rights 70 all and special privileges 70
none. There are times when Legislators
should forget what party they belong 10
! and exhibit little genuine manhood.