New-York tribune., 1902-08-10
NOVEL SITUATION IN OHIO
EVERY MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT DE-
CLARED ILLEGAL
RESULT OF TOM JOHNsoNs CRUSADE
AGAINST CORPORATIONs-EX sEs-
SION OF LEGISLATURE CALLED
BY GOVERNOR NASH
LBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I

BY GOVERNOR NASH.
tBY TEL EGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEI
Washington. Aug 9-An unusually interesting
political situation in Ohio is revealed by the
necessity which has caused Governor Nash to
call an extraordinary session of the legislature.
to meet at Columbus August p. In point Of
fact. a condition without parallel in the history
of the country is threatened in the State The
immediate of the Governors call for a
special session of the lawmakers in midsummer
is recent decision of the State Supreme Court
which declares every municipal government in
Ohio Illegal and unconstitutional The court
has not yet issued it's syllabus, hence there has
been no such governmental upheaval in any
city town of the Buckeye State as there was
not long ago in Pittsburg, when the municipal
government of that Pennsy. .vania city was wiped
out by the Ripper law. The legislature OF
Ohio will probably prevent so sensational a
revolution as this by meeting the new condlt1on
defined by the Supreme Courts decision with
legislation which will be ADEQUATE In this
event it is assumed that the court will withhold
its decision, and thus give the people or the
cities and towns of Ohio an opportunity to elect
entirely set of officers in November
The anomalous situation in the State is d.
rectly attributable to Mayor Tom Johnsons
vicious and unreasonable fight corporations
at Cleveland. In his determined efforts to bur-
den the corporations with ruinous taxation.
Mayor Johnson provoked test suit. which led
to the Supreme Courts decision declaring that
every municipal government in Ohio is illegal
The decision is based on clause in the con-
stituton of Ohio which prohibits class legisla-
ton.
THE STATES MUNICIPAL CODE.
For years. since the present constitution
was adopted before the Civil War. the legis-
lature has been passing laws so phrased as to
have application only to the towns and cities
seeking particular legislation In other words.
no general municipal legislation has been en-
acted at Columbus. broadly speaking, and this
has led to hodgepodge condition which Is In
describable and inextricable. For instance. ff
the dominant political element faction OF
Cleveland desired to secure authority to fnstt-
tute innovations IN that city's government,
bill put through the legislature applying to
cities whose description in the statute fitted
Cleveland only. This system has been applied
to Cincinnati. Toledo, Columbus. Dayton, and
virtually every other municipal government in
the State Under the Supreme Court decision
which is now causing such a scurryfng among
the Buckeye politicians Of both parties. it will
be necessary to devise general municipal code.
and this is the problem that Is giving much
concern to the Republican as well as the Demo-
cratic leaders Of the State, for it goes without
saying that on the character Of this code will
largely depend the escendancy Of the parties in
the cities and towns of Ohio The division is
sharply drawn between the Democrats and Re-
publicans as 10 whether what is known in Ohio
as "the Federal and Board system shall be
included in the proposed new code. The Demo-
Gratis favor the federal system. while the Re-
publicans favor the board system
HANNA LEADING THE REPUBLICANS
Mayor Tom Johnson IS leading the fight for the
Democrats and Senator Hanna is leading it for
the Republicans Governor Nash is supposed
already TO have prepared a bill for submission
to the legislature and this bill is supposed 10
contain the board system Cleveland is now
governed under the federal system and Cincin-
natl under the board system Under the fed
eral system the Mayor is made the absolute
ruler of the city in that the appointment Of
nearly every officer is in his hands. even including
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 in
dependent of the Mayor. and offers a check TO
his too great exercise of authority The boards
and commissions appointed by the Governor are
bipartisan and thus the ideal Of non-partisanship
in municipal government is approached
Mayor Johnson's highhanded methods IN
Cleveland are pointed out as illustrating the
absolute tyranny of the federal system There
is virtually no limit to his power in the I'M
portant matters OF taxation, the regulation Of
ETC When he is toppIed out Of Office by the
Supreme Courts decision OF course ne VIII De a
ca ndidate for reelection, but he Will either be
beaten or there will be such a curb put on MS
power as Mayor that his opportunities for con-
tinuing his present policy will be greatly re-
duced 1t IS believed however. that Senator
Hanna, with a united Republican party at MS
back for the first time in Cleveland. Will De a0le
10 defeat Mr.. Johnson and thus enectuaIIy end
his political career. When IL is remembered thar
Mr.. Johnson is a leading candidate for the Dem
ocratic Presidential nomination. 1t IS doubted
whether not Mr.. Hanna will be exercising his
usual political farsghtedness in eliminating the
clustering Tom from the political equation sun,
as Mr. Hanna usually works with all his might
for the accomplishment Of one object at time.
it is conceivable that he knows exactly what
he is doing by trying so hard TO rescue his home
city from the rule Of Tom Johnsonism-
FIGHT OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE
News comes from Columbus that both Mr..
Hanna and Mr.. johnson have engaged head
quarters at Columbus for the forthcoming extra
session OF the legislature, which indicates the
probability of fierce struggle between these
gladiators that will attract national attention.
They men of virile power and fertile re-
sources and a set-tO between them undoubtedly
will enliven the dull season 1t is conceded that
il the Johnson plan wins the Democrats VIII
gain a big point in Ohio. since the bulk Of their
Strength lies in the cities and towns, and, with
the opportunity to JOhnsoniZe other commun4-
ties as Cleveland has been Johnsonized. they
unqueStionably considerably increase their
power throughout the State. In fact, it is feared
that they might gain such advantage as to
enable them TO make Ohio doubtful state for
several years. From this point of view IL is
seen that the contest is of national Importance.
and that it will be fought bitterly
Although Senator Hanna IS generally con-
ceded to be the strongest Republican in Ohio,
still there is doubt TO his ability TO
carry this fight through just 10 his liking Many
Republicans seem TO be dubious as 70 the SUI
periority of the board system over the federal
system and are not supporting Senator Hanna
and Governor Nash How many Republican