Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-05-17
Contempt of Popular Rights.

natl is ln.--in the pocket of George
b. Cox, or some equally fragrant
habitue Of the local Dead Mans
Corner"
Very well. Unless all political ex-
perience is at fault, those who dis
trust the people are very soon dis
trusted by the people, who commonly
only wait for the first opportunity to
visit their anger upon those who
dealt falsely with them. Here again,
the late General Assembly of Ohio,
through its Republican majority, has
put into the hands of Mr.. johnson
and s. NJ. Jones tremendous weapon
to be used ut the coming election, and
they are not men either, who do not
know how to use II, or who will let
1t lie idle. The Legislature could not
have done thing better calculated
to add to the power and prestige of
these men, than 1t has done in pur-
suing n policy the cardinal principle
of which has been TO tell the people
of Ohio that the Republican party
has no confidence in them, and does
not intend to allow them to control
their own affairs.
Having said this, we have said in
substance all that can be said of the
late Legislature. This same central
principle of contempt alike of popular
rights and popular opinion, carried
! into detail, has marked and marred
the whole of its work, from beginning
to end. Beginning by refusing to
make the great corporations pay any
thing like their Just proportion OF the
load of taxation it ended by harrying
the little corporations through meas
ures of doubtful constitutionality, and
which mean lots of litigation and a
small and uncertain amount of revenue.
In the contemplation of this body, to
let the big concerns go may be made
up by assaulting the small ones;
the neshes Of its net of justice are so
paradoxically constructed that the
mnnows get caught. while the sharks
go free. If Mr.. Johnson is the dema-
gogue his enemies accuse him of
being, or the half of It, surely here
he has been furnished with his oppor-
tunity, and by means of it lie can ply
! his avocation with effect.
PresumiDg on promises that have
been made of how much revenue was
likely to accrue from, Governor Nashs
taxation nostrums, the majority in the
Legislature has consented to an in
crease of appropriations which means
II shortage for future administrations
TO deal with, and often for objects in
themselves little short of scandalous.
Aud not satisfied with this, it has
done II great deal of dirty work in
finding places for broken-down place
hunters, and spawned and wind
broken politicians. The Fire Mar
shal's department, is fair sample.
Originally created TO find place for
| n l,n, Il 30
down for federal Office, its chief
function is that of locking the stable
door after the horse has been stolen,
or, In other words, of investigating
how n fire occurred after 1t has oc.
Cured. This Legislature has added
to the number of Deputy Marshals nj
salaries Of 81 800 each for more stable.
locking
The appropriation for the Dairy and
! Food Commission exceeds the entire
; cost of running the government OF
Ohio 40 years after II becam me a State
! and the patriots who furnish pure food
{ for us-when we pay beef trust price.
, wanted good deal more And sc
, on for quantity.
One thing this late but not la
, mcnted General Assembly did do, fol
: which succeeding generations are sure
, to rise UP aud call It blessed. II
, created the estate Board of Horse
: shoers.' This ought TO take the virus
, ont of Mr. Johnson's dangerous doe
/ trnes and reconcile the people OF
/ Cleveland and Toledo to being gov
, erned from Columbus, and to belns
, represented by foreigners.
! II has proposed certain amendment,
+ to the State constitution, none OF
1 which will be adopted, unless tn,
, revolutionary measure of printing
/, "Nes" on the ballots is resorted to
b One of these would abolish the rul,
Q of uniformity of value in assassin,
+ property for taxation, and turn tn,
@ subject over TO the tender mercies o
d the average Legislature, to be dis
# posed Of according TO the whms, o