The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-01-07

that publicity is the only sure remedy.
In my Inaugural address, delivered on tbs
9Th Of January, 1900, l spoke as follows:
"Bvery year the amount and magnitude
Of the business being done by corporations
under the laws of Ohio are rap
Idly increasing. Under our present laws,
corporations may be created for any pur.
pose for which individuals may lawfully
associate themselves, except for carrying
on professional business. These artificial
except Insurance companies, rail-
road companies, building and loan assocla-
tions, and certain banking companies, are
under no restraint by the state,
and make no reports to her officers Large
mining, manufacturing, commercial and
other enterprises are carried on by and
through them. Because they are created
by the state, and possess certificates bear
ing the impress Of her seal, people are led
to believe that they are safer to do bus
Iness with, and are more entitled to
credit, than are private partnerships and
In very many cases they are
less worthy Of confidence. They are au-
thorzed by the state to do business before
enc dollar Of the capital stock has been
paid This is an unfortunate condition of
affairs. The state, before she gives these
corporations her approval and permits
them to do business, ought to require that
all their capital stock be paid In money
and Invested In the business they purpose
TO transact She ought to make sure OF
this fact by reports made to some COM
petent officer. We should go further, and
require these companies to make annual
reports to be filed with and be inspected
by the officer indicated above This re-
port should show, among other things, how
much of the capital stock has been paid,
how the money Is Invested, what the as
sets tre, the amount tt liabilities, and the
names OF the stockholders. In fact, there
should b" such record OF every corpor-
alton that the people may know at all
times whether 1t is worthy of credit and
confidence. I believe that with some such
regulations as l have Indicated Ohio cor
porations would be placed upon a solid
financial basis"
The sentiments which then uttered, I
now desire to reaffirm. The publicity
which would, be given by sucl action could
not, by any possibility, injure really
worthy and sound corporation. 1t would
protect the public against unworthy and
failing corporations.
As matters now stand, the secretary of
state knows nothing about corporation
after II leaves his Office with q charter
from the state. He cannot even tell how
many of the 10000 or more corporations
chartered by the state during the last SO
years are now dead, nor how many are
still living The state creates the thing.
authorizes It to do business, sends Ii out
In the cold and knows nothing more about
" forever. 1t is high time that q change
should be made.
1t will be lawful for the state to charge
fee for the filing Of the annual report
which I contemplate in these recommended
tions. The general assembly, In deter
mining how much this fee should be, may
take into consideration the continuing ben
efts which the state confers upon every
corporation In this way the revenues OF
the state may be lawfully and largely In
creased, without imposing an unjust bur-
den upon existing corporations or discour-
aging the creation II new ones
THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD.
The Ohio National guard Is composed of
eight regiments of Infantry, four of which
have ~ companies each, one II companies,
one nine companies and two eight CON-
panles each; the Ninth battalion, four COM
panies, battalion of engineers, three COM
panies, two troops of cavalry and four
batteries. The total number of men In the
guard is 6,296. They are located in So
counties Of the state. After the close
Of the Spanish-Amerlcal war a complete
reorganization became necessary. This has
been accomplished In the face Of some diff
ficultles, but am assured that the stand
ard of efficiency and discipline was never
better than 1t now is. The officers and
men are among the best In our state, are
young, vigorous and have entered this SER
vice from high motives Of patriotism.
Their compensation Is wholly inadequate
and is only paid to them when In active
service. In order to be proficient, 1t Is
necessary for them to spend many nights
each year In drills In their armories, and
for such service the only reward they have
Is the consciousness that they are making
themselves competent to be good soldiers
In case the state needs them. IL the peace
of the state should be seriously disturbed,
the National guard is the only body upon
which we can safely rely for the restora-
tion Of law and order. therefore com
mend these young soldiers TO the support
and goodwill of the general assembly and
Of the people Of Ohio. ~
We have been SO fortunate during the
last two years as to have had but two
occasions which required the use Of the
guard. A serious riot and the destruction
of property took place In the city of Akron,
In August, 1900. Three companies of the
Eighth regiment and the Fourth regiment
responded promptly to the proper call,
and, In less than IL hours after the dis
turbahce commenced, the Fourth regiment
travelled 125 miles and reached the scene
thereof. Their presence had the desired
effect, quiet was immediately restored. the
courts resumed their sway, and more than
20 rioters were punished as the law re.
quires for their misdeeds.
l ordered the entire National guard Into
camp at Canton, o., on the 17th, 18th and
18th of September last, and to this call
5,400 men promptly responded. The occa
sion was the burial Of the late president
william Mckinley, which brought many
thousands Of strangers to small city
without adequate police protection. The
presence of the guard caused the solemn
occasion to be observed In dignified
peaceful manner and without disorder. II
was proper that the guard should pay thii
tribute of respect to their former com
mander-ln-chlef who had not only endear
ed himself to all their hearts but was be
loved by the people of the nation Thes.
young men returned 10 their homes will
their patriotism made brighter by the con
temptation of the glorious and useful Hf,
of William Mckinley. believe the stat,
will be the better for many years to com,
on account Of the Impressions which the,
4 received upon this occasion. am glad I,
! say that the Ohio soldiery carried them
selves SO admirably upon that day tha
they received the commendation Of tn
! president OF the United States, and tn
admiration Of the thousands of eminent eli
izens who witnessed their work.
The general assembly has not heretofor