The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-09-28

LEWIS B. HOUCK.
workers for the asking How difficult X
must be even with a man who tries to
be honest, to vote Justly under such cir
cumstances.
Few If any persons Took upon rail-
road pass as a brbe, and yet If the valuo
in money were given by the company to
judge. officer or a member OF tho legis-
lature. woul 1t not be so called? 1t Is
disgrace our state that there Is no
statute against all officers and members
Of tho legislature receiving railroad
passes or gifts.
I'VE favor the initiative and referen-
dunn, especially with reference to the is
suance of municipal and county bonds
and the granting OF public franchises"
mo franchise extension or renewal
thereof should be granted by county, city
or village without first submitting 1t to
vote of the people,"
The initiative may not be fully under
stood by the masses OF the people, thougn
1t is said to give satisfaction In the states
that have adopted it, The principle of
the referendum. however. is familiar to
all, and is not only good Democratic doc
trine, but is in full accord with the judg-
ment Of all parties; the want of it's ap-
plication by the legislature has had much
to do in increasing the debts OF many
towns, cities and counties.
I'VE favor the repeal of all special lin
itations as to the time in which criminal
prosecution may be begun for bribery in
election
The man who sells his vote and the
man who buys 1t are both criminals: the
latter the greater one. Both should be
followed to the last days of their lives,
and II convicted, should be punished by
fine and imprisonment and forever dis
franchised. The corruption of the ballot
is crime against the state, and will do
more than any one thing to impair the
| foundations of the republic.
Read Both Platforms.
All these planks of our platform relate
| to state affairs. They are plain, and
every voter will understand them, and in
| this respect they are in contrast with
the various planks of the Cox Republican
platform. We ask you to read both, and
We have confidence that you will agree
with us. that our platform is one Of the
best ever framed by convention, and
the other is one with the fewest excel
| lencies.
AS to the proposed constitutional
| amendments. there seems to be a legal
| difference ct opinion as to the meaning
| OF one, a. i an honest difference as to the
| justice Of the results n the other. Both
| Of these 80 shall ezpl' In at another time.
On tn 18th Of Jur there was con-
vention 4 the Demo ratio party held at
| Columhds. The sr. t majority of that
| body were representatives, direct from
| the pc jfl-; though hey came together as
| Democrats, they we're representatives not
| only & the Demo ratio party but of the
great u.'s.' - II people OF Ohio. They
were fts~ VI. p, n. the shop. the bank,
| from al h' ,rs' ssions: they wero por-
| hap' ths representative body OF
| meL .hAt hsi sembled at the capital
In saasy ys.r. No one could SEQ those
mon on the sIi ,ot or in the convention
hall without realizing that they were i'm
bued with no ordinary sentiments They
were men OF sobriety, men Of character
| mon on whom the arts and wiles OF the
| politician had no moro effect than a drop
| OF water on a mountain OF granite They
seemed to realize that they were there
| for a purpose, and that purpose was to
| name n ticket and make a platform
which would meet the approval not only
OF the members of the party they repre-
sented, but OF the good citizens of all
| parties They seemed to realize the duty
Ind ii.pc rative necessity to proclaim the
La'decry which would rid our beloved
| state Of bosslsm aud graft, and give back
TO the peJpla thcir heritage OF free and
untramineled ire ,pendence and liberty.
II refn1ir for you and the voters tc
decide a. the Tth day of November
| Nheth.. the work OF this great body OF
REL roscntative men shall be approved OIL
| rejected.
On the gath OF May there was held
at Columbus another convention, under
the auspices OF the great Republican
| party, or to speak more correctly, under
| the supervision and dictation Of certain
bosses and so-called leaders OF thai
party This was not a representative
body OF the people, but It was a repre-,
sentative body OF the bosses. both great
and small, or rather OF the one mighty
boss and his followers. The whole ticket
was planned beforehand. and Il Is SAID
that che prc-ordRiped nominee for govar-
nor naa nni nafnitted even 70 select ths