Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-08-13
SHALL THE PEOPLE
s'f GOVERN 7HEMSEL YES !?


Nash and his confidants--who so far
have not taken the public very much
into their plans. is the precise oppo-
site Of this. 1t will provide for the
Legislature delegating specific powers
TO the people, and the latter can exer-
else or enjoy none other.
The one bill gives the maximum Of
home government, and trusts the peo-
pie nearly without limit; the other
reduces home rule to its lowest terms,
and doles out to the public what it
does give them grudgingly and with
an i'll grace.
1t will be contended, no doubt, that
the measure offered by the State
Board of Commerce has a constitu-
tional infirmity in its proposed broad
delegation of powers to the people,
instead of reserving them to the Gen
eral Assembly. 1t is, however, vouched
for by able lawyers, among whom
may be mentioned George b. Okey,
Gilbert II. Stewart and T.. NJ. Thresher
Its enactment in Ohio would put to
the test the ability of the people to
run their own affairs in their own
way, and would subject to practical
trial the issue of whether there is
such a thing as public virtue and sa-
gacity left among us.
Codes by which our other branches
of Jurisprudence have been reformed
with such salutary results during the
last 80 years, have been found, upon
close examination, to be only so many
reproductions-both In principle and
in detail, of systems which the ancient
world had when 1t was best governed.
History may be repeating itself now;
for the basic principle of local
| self-goyernment in local affairs, in
volved In the legislation formulated
by the State Board of Commerce, Is
only going back to the town-meetlng
| system of former time which oh.
| tained In several of the New England
States. And the world has never yet
Seen n mode of government in local
matters at once so economical and so
incorruptible,- 80 Democratic and so
Republican, each in a good sense Of
the word. ase
In regard to the putative authorship
of the measure, the Cincinnati En-
qulrer says: 'The central idea was
outlined four years ago In the bill
introduced by Senator George w.
Sieber, of Akron, at the time when
the Pugh-Kibler code was first
brought to the attention of the Ohio
Legislature. At that time the motives
of the author were impugned and
even savagely attacked by the de
tenders of the other code. but per.
sistent campaign has been kept up fol-
the plan, the State Board of Com,
merce working along educational
| lines"
We do not know that Mr. Scber is
claiming any credit for having first
brought before the people of Ohio
this idea In concrete shape that In
home affairs they might safely be
trusted to govern themselves. We
presume he is not, for the Republican
machine Is formulating a scheme the
central thought Of which is to give
to the public Just as small n share In
local government as they viii put uI
with, and to reserve the rest for tn,
bosses to deal out along partisan lines
aud In a way by which responsibilit,
Is to be kept out Of sight SO that tn,
hand of popular Judgment may nevel
be able to light upon 1t.
Senator Sleber need not be ashamed
of scheme which does nothing wors,
than to propose government "by .h,
people," as well as for them and o
them.