The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1895-04-20
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

in it but corporal's guard of Dem
ocrats, is the product of the Re-
publican sweep of 1893. These
great waves of political change can
not go on forever i'm the same direc- |
tion. 1t has come to be almost a
rule in Ohio that no party can hold
more than two General Assemblies
successively, and frequently one is
as much as the people can bear.
Although this state has been natur-
ally Republican for Il generation,
there have been enough lapses in
the party control of the Legislature
10 enable the Democrats to keep
one United States Senator at Wash
ington all the time. There has not
been one hour for 26 years when
one of the Senators from Ohio has
not been n Democrat, and for two
years (lS79 to l9sL both were
Democrats. The division com
menced when Judge Thurman sue
ceeded Senator Wade in 1869. If
it is to be maintained, this is the
year in which the Democrats must
carry the General Assembly
Several Republican papers are
sounding an alarm on this subject.
They are warning the party man
ayers that they are at the critical
point in the political whirling
where the Democracy may swoop
in and make a capture. 1t is the
year far Democratic materialiZa-
ton. If signs and precedents go
for anything the Republican horo-
scope is unpromising. Politicians,
managers and workers of the
dominant party in Ohio are urged
by their party press to look we'll
to the Legislature, to keep careful
watch on each nomination, and to
organize with special reference to
the close counties.
The ground on which activity
and vigilance are advised is that Il
United States Senator hangs in the
balance; that the Republicans,
through neglect or overconfidence,
may lose the opportunity to take
possession of Ohiu's entire equip
ment in the less numerous House
of Congress "To the rescue" they
cry, cor there will be Democratic
successor TO Brice, and all the ef-
forts that have been made for Me-
Kinley, Foraker and the dark
horses of our party will go for
naught." The whole burden of the
song these gentlemen sing seems
to be in the senatorial key.
Are there not other purposes in
elecling Legislature besides
choosing II man to assist making
laws at Washington? Are there
not manifold and highly import
ant Ohio affairs to look after?
Should not our home questions be
first taken into consideration Z?
There is no veto power against the
excesses of the General Assembly
of Ohio, and for the present pre-.
cious little gubernatorial influence
over II. 1t is usually body with
IL tremendous responsibility for
which it is poorly equipped.
There il too much devotion to u
single interest in the management
of II legislative campaign There
is too much yielding to the idea
that anybody who will vote for A
or G ID for Senator is good enough
TO make laws for this great state,
to manage the vast financial and
taxation interests, and to charter.
large municipalities and regulnte
their affairs. The man who is
elected merely to vote for some
particular person for Sepator usual
ly lacks the qualification for other
duties.
The voters should take n hand in
primary proceedings this year and
insist on proper representation at
Columbus. The next Legislature.
whether a majority of its members
shall be Republicans or Democrats
should be In nearly all respects
what the present Legislature il
not. It should be honest and
capable. 1t should be able to handle
= crisis In the taxation, revenue
and debt affairs OF the state. 1t
should know something about the
constitution. II should have too
much breadth to Rerrvmander fhA