The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-09-29


to Project Them. oneFifth Of Her
People Would Have Ruled the Rest
Without Remedy.
I'VE favor absolute home rule, for
counties. cities and villages. with ref
.erence TO their local affairs" Such is
the emphatic and distinct declaration
of the Johnson state platform mas
querading as a Democratic document
Since the entire Johnson campaign is
simply scheme to spread Cleveland's
purely local affairs" over the entire
state TO the exclusion of every other
interest, and even to capture Offices
of national Importance by ignor-
ing national questions, it Is readily
seen that his declaration refers first OF
all to Cleveland matters. Therefore.
1t is just as well for the state to study
the Cleveland situation. The so-called
federal plan had a long trial in Cleve-
land, and the results carefully consid-
cred are distinctly against it. John
son today, as mayor under the new
tocratic authority than any Ohio city
outside of Cleveland ever saw. What
ever is done in Cleveland is Johnson
ism pure and simple, and completely
illustrates the dose that Johnson de-
sires to give in absolute home rule
for counties. cities and villages"
The most recent and conspicuous IL
~. hn nsol hzn
election. about which Johnson has
| been blubbering with crocodile tears.
His grief may be pretty sincere after
all. however. for one of his pet games
has been blocked. His heart is set on
experimenting with an electric light.
ing plant at the eity's expense. To gel
II started, he wants the city to borrow
| 100000 Those who have studied the
subject as they would any business
problem. to learn its acutal merits. de.
clare that ten times this sum, OF
| 81 900 900, will be needed to complete
the plant and get 1t In full operation
for every part OF the city. All that
| johnson asks this time. however. 4!
$500. 900 in bonds. This was first with
him Of the six items involved in tn,
voting by the people OF Cleveland upor
Issuing bonds TO the amount Of 1000.
900. The aggregate ultimate expens,
OF all these improvements will be SIS.
900 900. Johnson wanted the vote talk
ZEN at a special election. Having a ma
jority in the city council. he had I
so ordered. Under the absolute hom
rule" the Johnson platform demand
there would have been no remedy 70
this wrong.
However. this Is still the state o
Ohio. and the city of Cleveland is onl
fraction and not the whole thing. q
yet. There is still tribunal here wit
power and purpose to deal justly an
to protect the people against thei
rulers when the latter do wrong a
as Johnson was doing in this matter
Citizens and taxpayers OF Cleveland
finding that they would be disfran
chised by the Johnson plan. and tina
the Johnson special election woul
shut out more than 10000 citizens q
Cleveland from any opportunity eve
to vote upon these issues. involvin
the immense ultimate outlay of SIS
600. 900. asked the assistance OF the 81
preme court OF Ohio. They requeste
that tribunal to restrain the Clevelan
city authorities from the great wron
that the latter were about to infii,
upon four-fifths Of the voters of Clev'
land. Their case was so clear thu
the court promptly granted the reli'
requested. Had there been ''absolu'
home rule" nothing whatever coul
have been done. No remedy woul
have existed.
As It is. the people will now hay
their election In such a way that a
of them will have a chance to vot
BY Johnson's special election pls
the law allowed only one voting boo'
to each wa 1. Johnson knew this ar
took advantage of 1t. He could east
have had the vote appointed for Il
regular election. but he did not wal
II that way. With all the people vo
ing. as would then be the case.
might lose at the polls. "Absolu
home rule would have made him a
solute dictator. The election will no
be held. however,; the Republican
and anti-Johnson Democrats In cou
ell having voted promptly to appoi
Il in connection with the regular n
yember election. Then every precin
will have its own voting place. eve
man will have his chance to put In h
ballot. and Johnson's scheme to di
franchise tour-fifths OF them Will