The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1902-09-25

That Is less than 10 per cent. OF What tue
increase would be II steam railroads were
taxed as much In proportion to the value
of their Ohio property ne Ohio farmers and
home owners nre. A fair proportion for the
steam railroads would be an increase OF
S4,000,000 year instead OF 100000
Charges Corruption.
BY such unmlstakable signs the leaders
of the Republican party In this state have
exposed their willingness to guard and de-
fend the interests of privilege and mono
poly at the expense OF the unprivlleged
people. I say Republican leaders, because
/ do not believe that this partnership with
monopoly Is approved by the Republican
masses. Acting for monopoly interests, the
state officials and the members OF the
dominant party In the legislature have de-
feated all legislation looking to the cor.
rection of inequalities In taxation. Incon-
testable proof was furnished them that the
steam railroads and the other public ser
vice corporations together are evadlng pay
ment of their just share OF taxation, as
compared with home owners and farmers,
to the extent Of not less than $6,0000O0 or
$7,0O0000 year The facts are conceded.
Yet every attempt to correct this manifest
inequality has been defeated. State boards,
composed of Republicans, stand In the way
under the present law, and the Republican
majority In the legislature stands In the
way Of making remedial laws.
II further proof of this corrupt partner
ship be desired, turn to the experience Of
the city OF Cleveland during the past year
and half The city board Of equalization
raised the valuation of the local public
service corporations nearly $4,000, 900.
This brought II up from 9 per cent. to 60
per cent. of its market value, which is the
customary basis of valuation In ordinary
cases. But a state board composed of the
governor, the attorney general and the
state auditor. wiped that assessment out,
leaving these corporations to make their
own assessments; and the Republicans in
the legislature legislated the faithful city
board out of existence. In place of that
board a new city board has been appointed
by the same state officials. 1t Is composed
of men who can be trusted to guard
monopoly interests. The old city board Of
equalization was not alone in offending the
monopolists. The city council offended
also. Tt provided for street car system
with three-cent fares and ultimate owner,
ship by the city. Government by injunc-
tion was thereupon brought into play. The
Cleveland council Is now enjoined from
granting street cnr franchises with low
fares, while every other city in the state
is at liberty to grant street car franchises
with high fares.
When 1t was discovered that the city
government of Cleveland could be neither
bought nor browbeaten, the Republican at
torney general was appealed TO by the
frightened monopolists, and he brought an
custer suit. We have heard OF ripper legls-
lation; this was ripper litigation. Cleve.
land had confessedly the best city charter
In Ohio. 1t hnd been granted by Repub-
lican legislature OF a dozen years ago, to
whom the credit belongs, and both the
Republican and the Democratic masses Of
Cleveland approved It, No attempt was
made to break that charter until the people
elected an administration that dared ques-
ton the privileges OF the public service cor
porations. Then 1t was assailed by Repub-
lican politicians, spurred on my monopo-
lists, and the attorney general asked tho
supreme court OF the state to declare 1t
unconstitutional. That court did so. But
1t did not stop there. 1t also declared the
whole charter system Of Ohio invalid. For
that reason the legislature is now con-
vened In special session to frame general
municipal code.
Discusses the Code.
In so far as the Republican leaders aim
to make a proper system OF municipal gov
ernment, they should have the cordial sup
port of every Democratic member of the
legislature. But II, as now seems certain,
they try to fOist upon our municipalities
q system Of board rule, their work ought
to be condemned by good citizens of all
parties. For board rule means boss rule
In Its worst sense, as everybody must
know who knows how Cincinnati Is gov
erned. Board rule, divided responsibility,
control from the state CAPITOL that Is the
system that creates and maintains hopeless
civic conditions In Cincinnati. The little
finger of the boss is stronger than the
lolnS of the people. But under home rule
under the federal plan, which Cleveland
had until ripper litigation had done its
work, no boss has been able to hold out
against public sentiment. In Cincinnati
under their boss and board ridden govern
ment, ffty-yeer franchise was boldly
granted to the street railways and the
same men are still in power; but the mere
attempt to make 25year grant In Cleve-
land swept from office every man who fav-
ored the proposition from the chief execu-
tive down. This illustrates the difference
between political leadership through the
manipulation of boards, and political lead
ership directly subject to the will of the
people.
In framing our municipal code there
should be extraordinary vigilance regard
ing franchises especially those of street
railways. The fact that the street railway
grants In Cleveland are about to expire and
that the latest judicial decision declares
unconstitutional the 50-year franchise in
Cincinnati, makes the temptation great for
all the powerful public service corporations
OF our cities to unite In an effort to slip
Into the municipal code provisions hostile to
the public interests. A cunning and well
paid lobby is at work, and the only sure
way Of bringing Its clandestine schemes to
naught Is to provide in the code that no
franchise, and no renewal of franchise,
shall be operative in any city until the
majority vote Of the people Of that city.
The opportunity opens before the people
OF Ohio to engage In a noble work. If
they choose, they may take their place In
the van of the great moral as we'll as polit-
ical movement that Is making headway
wherever the English language Is spoken.
They have only to say the word, and our
state Will set an example In human pro.
gress such as seldom falls to the fortune
of any state to offer. They have only to
say the word, and every city within our
borders will govern Itself In local affairs,
and throughout the whole great common.
wealth the principle of just taxation will
prevail. Home rule and Just taxation! Let
US adopt those Ideals of all good govern
ment, and we shall solve 'the riddle which
the Sphinx Of Fate puts to our civilization"
and which Ii must answer or be DESTROYED,
These are the issues of this campaign.
These are the shlbboleth OF the Ohio
Democracy today, and my prayer Is that
they will continue so to be until they are
realized. Home rule and Just taxation!
Fellow Democrats, under that banner let US