The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-14
A PECULIAR SITUATION
Which Confronis The People and
Politicians of Ohio.
ALL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS ILLEGAL
The Supreme Court Is Withholding Its
Syllabus to Give the Legislature an
Opportunity to Remedy Matters.
Especial to The pos,)

washington. August i3.-An unusually In
terest!ng political situation In onto is re
vealed by the necessity which has caused
Governor Nash TO call an extraordinary
session Of the Legislature to meet at Cotun
nus August 70. In point Of fact, there
is threatened condition In the stare
4n't" without parallel 10 tie history x the
country The immediate cause 81 tne gov
errors call for special session Of the
ONO lawmakers In midsummer IS recent
decision of the State supreme court which
declares every municipal goyernmen IN
Ohio 10 be Illegal and unconstitutional rue
court has not yet issued Its syllabus. hence
here mas been no such governmental mp
heaval In any city or town Of the Bueseye
state as there was not long ago on r.ts
burg' when the municipal government OF
that Pennsylyania city was completely
wiped out by the "Rpper" law. I'M leg
'slatnre of Ohio Will presumably prevent
SO sensational reyoution as this by
meeting the new condition defined by tne
supreme courts decision with legislation
that VIII be adequate. In this event II is
assumed that the court will Withhold It's
decision and thus give the people IN the
ciIes and towns OF Ohio an opportunity TO
elect an entirely new set Of OF icers in NO
vember.
Inc ANOMALOUS situation In the State is
urectIy attributable to Mayor Tom john
son nght on corpora ions at cleveland.
mayor johnson provoked q test SUIT. winch
ieu 10 the supreme court . decision deciar-
ing that every municipal government IN
ONO is illegal The decision Is based upon
clause OF the constitution VI OAio Nllra
prohibits class legislation For years or
s sue the present constitution was adopted
petore the civil war tlp legislature mas
ottn passing laws 50 purlseg Jas TO have
Application only to towns and cItirs seek
ing particular legislation IN other words,
no general municipal legislation mas been
enacted at Columbus broadly speaking
ana this has led TO 1odgcpodge condition
Nhtch is indescrlbable aud iuoXtrlCable
For Instance. II the dominant political ele-
ment or faction of Cleveland desired 10 se
cure authority to institute innovations IN
nat Guys government bill was put
through the legislature applying to cIues
whose description In the statute fitted
Cleveland only. This system has been APP
pled 10 Cincinnati, Toledo, Columbus DAY.
ton, and virtually every other uunlcipal
government In the State Under the SUI
preme court decision that is now causing
such scurrying among the Buckeye pol.
tlclans OF both parties 10 will be necessary
10 devise general code. and this is the
problem that is giving SO much concern 10
the republican, as well IS democratic. lead.
ers of the State, for Ii goes without saw
VIII largely depend the ascendency OF the
parties In the cities aud towns Of Ohic.
The division Us SHARPLY drawn between the
democrats and republicans as to whether
what is known in ohio as the Federal.
and board" system shall be included IN
the proposed new code The democrats
favor the Federal system while the rcpuD.
licBns favor the board system Mayor Tom
johnson is leading the fight for the demo-
Gratis and Senator Hanna is leading II for
the republicans. Governor Nash is sup
posed already 10 have prepared a bin for
submission to the legisla ure and this hll
is supposed to contain the board system
Cleveland is now governed under the FED
eral system and Cincinnati under the board
system. Under the Federal system the
mayor is made the absolute ruler OF the
city, In that the appointment Of nearly
every officer Is In his hands, even .nc!ud-
Ing the police board and consequently all
the members of the force, while under the
board system the governor appoints certain
boards or commissions, which makes these
bodies Independent of the mayor and offers
check TO his authority. Mayor Johnson S
methods in Cleveland are pointed out as
illustrating the Federal system. There is
virtually no limit to his power in the I'M
portant matters OF taxation. the regulation
of corporations the disposition Of public
office by the supreme courts decision or
course he Will be candidate Tor re-elec-
tion. II IS claimed by republicans that
Senator Hanna, with n united republican
party at his back for the first time in
Cleveland. Will he able to defeat MIR John
son and thus efectually end his political
career. News comes from Columbus that
both MIR. Hanna and MIR, Johnson have en-
| gagged headquarters at Columbus tor the
Forthcoming extra session OF the legislature.
which Indicates the probability OF n fierce
| struggle between these gladiators that Will
attract National attention. They are men
| Of virlle power and fertile resource. and n
| sct-to between them undoubtedly VIII en-
! liven the dull session OF the midsummer. II
! asaal 80. 49,
| the democrats will gain big point in ONO,
/ since the bulk OF their strength lies In the
! cities aud towns, and with the opportunity
| to organize other communities as Cieye-
! land has heen organized they unQuestion-
| ably can very considerably Increase their
! power throughout the State. In fact, II IS
| feared by the republicans that they might
! gain such an advantage as to- enable them
I TO make Ohio doubtful state for several
/ years. From this point OF view II Is seen
| that the contest is Of National Importance
Land that II will he fought bitterly, Al
! though Senator Hanna Is generally conceded
! to be the strongest republican in Ohlo sun
! there Is some doubt "a to his ability 10
/ carry this light through just 10 his liking.
Many republicans seem TO hS dubious as
| TO the superiority OF the board system
| over the Federal system and are not sup.
| porting Senator Hnnna and Governor Nasn
/ How many republican members Of the leg
! islature prefer the Cleveland plan TO that
! NJ Cincinnati Is not known. though Il Is
| said that too many are leaning that way
/ to make the outlook altogether pleasing 10
the senator and goveGpor. Then too, me
smoldering cmhers Of the oldtime faction
allsm In the republican party OF Ohio are
showing signs NJ having been famed into
! lie since senator Hanna appeared In ne
threatened with unexpected obstacles in mis-
/ path back 10 the senate. Some people are
| suspectng senator Foraker ~ encoura cling
/ the growth ~ sentiment among republicans
for tho Federal or Cleveland system II
IS significant Mt any rate. that Charles T..
kurtz who has tenaciously opposed sen
or Hanna AZ every turn and is senator
Forakers RECOGNIZED lieutenant, is leading
! the opposition 10 the Hanna-Nasn plan.
MIR, Krrtz has never become reconciled tO
senator Hanna's leadership IN ohio ana
| boldly takes advantage Of every oppor.
l 80 he his hope 70 lay the foundation IN
/ this sight for the defeat Of Mr., Hannas
! reelection 10 the senate.
w H. Hunter