The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1905-09-28


the general assembly, and while the
great majority Of the members have bean
honest men they have been uominaves
by the bosses and by party caucuses con-
trolled by the bosses. and have enacted
laws against the interests Of ths people.
They have virtually given away franz
ohises Of untold value in Cincinnati
Cleveland and elsewhere. They have in.
creased salaries Of officers, some of whom
were already overpaid for the duties per-
formed. They have multiplied offices for
party henchmen at the expense of the
taxpayers They have rewarded mem-
bers of the legislature by granting re-
quests for special legislation, involving
IN many cases the expenditure Of the
public funds, in order to secure their
votes for the boss
1t is. however. during the last few
years that this bossism has become so
pronounced and SO unbearable as to
awaken general revolt There has been
complete loss of liberty in Cincinnati
and other cities. and in many Of the vii
iages and counties Of the state. Until
recently the better element of the Re-
publican party still had faith in the peo-
pie. in themselves. and in their influence
and power to overcome and strangle the
monster of bossism that was sapping
their liberties and overthrowing all their
plans for the welfare of their party and
the interests of the people.
The repeal Of the right Of the people
TO have spring elections. whereby they
could elect men on account of their merit
and honesty without being biased by
partisanship; the vicious legislation to
rob The state Of its canals in order to
make millions of money for the boss and
his friends; and the crowning act of in
fanny in the governors forcing legislation
taxing not only the living but the dead
In order to secure enough money to make
good the extravagant appropriations for
state purposes. thinking that the half
million or more thus obtained would not
show on the tax duplicate, and that
therefore the people would not cry out
against what has proven to be the most
extravagant. If not the most reckless,
legislature that ever assembled in Ohio
these are some of the crimes in the long
catalogue chargeable to bosses and boss
ism in Ohio. But the grand elimination
came when the convention held at CO.
lumbus. May 25th last. gave conclusive
proof that George B. Cox dominated its
actions and dictated its nominees, and
that his empire had taken in the entire
state of Ohio. 1t is said that he was not
in favor of some of the candidates named
by that convention, and therefore he was
not the boss Is there a man In the state
of Ohio who does not know that the can
didates for governor, lieutenant governor,
attorney general, supreme court judge,
treasurer and member of the board of
public works could not have been nomi-
mated and would not have been nomi-
mated had he opposed their nomination?
Did any Of the prominent men OF the
party dare to aspire to be candidate
for any Office before that convention un-
less he first had permission from the
boss? II any further evidence was nec-
essary to establish his kingship. 1t was
shown in his influence In securing a
member of the cabinet, an illustrious cit
izen Of Ohio. to register in an official way
the commands of the boss. There was
not a self-respecting member Of the
great Republican party in the state who
did not know when the sun went down
on that 25th day of May that a battle
royal must be fought to win back their
liberties as citizens and as members OF
that party, and 1t is to their credit as
patriotic citizens that many Of them will
join with us in redeeming the state from
the thralldom of bossism, with its at
tendants, graft and corruption. In the
words of a Republican editor, "They
realize that the party In Ohio has fallen
under the domination of a corrupt and
disreputable boss. who prevents any free
expression of tho party's will. and has
used and is using the party machine to
thwart the will Of the people and fasten
pernicious legislation upon the state.
Respectable Republicans" in the Ian
guage Of the editor, hang their heads In
shame when they think that the Repub-
iican legislature and the state officials,
from the governor down, are compelled
to submit to the dictation Of a boss"
People Should Regain Their Rights.
In order to regain their rights and lib
critics, the people of Ohio should exercise
their sovereign constitutional privilege
When say the people, mean the whole
people. Republicans as well as Demo-
Gratis, and all others Of all parties, be-
cause no matter who may be in possess
sion Of the offices, men Of all parties suf-
fer the penalty Of bad government and
extravaganza. The proper way to de-
throne the bosses Is by the ballot box;
the proper time to dethrone them is now
The Republican party in the past has
had as its representatives such men as
William II. Harrison, Ulysses 8. Grant,
Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield
and William Mckinley; such men as
Governors Corwin. Chase, Dennison, Tod.
Brough, Waite, Senator Sherman and
many others.
Citizens without regard to party took
pride in the luster reflected on the state
of Ohio by these great men. What Is the
shameful contrast today under the
biighting, withering influence Of bossism
and corrupt politics! Craftsmanship Is
dt q OlSCOuHtp HlSulOCTlty at q pE
The best men Of the party are being
thrust aside to make way for the COM
monplace product Of machine politics
A few men of prominence in their respec-
tive counties and congressional districts
still survive, but they are fast losing
their Influence. 1t is true there are Con-
gresham Theodore E. Burton Of Cleve-
land and a few others Of a type of the
better days Of the party. There In Secre-
tary Taft, who has been SO highly and
most worthily honored; and there Is the
distinguished senator. Joseph B. Foraker,
who stands out SO pre-eminently-a ma
tional figure. But does not every intel
ligent Republican know that II the or
ganization continues unchecked Foraker,
the great and able statesman and bril-
liant leader of the senate, will be rele-
gated to private life, and that George
B. Cox will be Ohio's great senator at
Washington well as undisputed boss
Of Ohio? II that day Of crowning humfl-
iation should come, no self-respecttng
citizen would have the hardihood to look
down from the galleries of the United
States senate chamber and confess that
he came from the state of Ohio.
Therefore We ask. in behalf Of the
Democratic party. and in behalf OF the
great mass of the Republican party, and
in the name Of all the people OF our great
state, who believe in civic righteousness.
to vote against the entire state ticket
nominated by this so-called convention,
dominated and controlled by the boss and
his organization, and to vote against any
member Of the legislature who has here
tofore shown his subserviency and slav-
cry to the boss; and to vote against any,
one who has now been placed in nomina-
tion by the machine organization.
Standing under the searching light Of
a political campaign. we invite the final.
deliberate verdict of the voters Of Ohio.
Our reputation and our characters are
before you. Concerning these. it is not
for US to testify, but We think 1t only
proper to announce and your right to
know, in what manner we expect to dig
charge our public duties. l promise yo
therefore, on behalf Of all the gentlemen
on the state ticket, that II elected. We
shall honestly and fearlessly discharge
our respective duties to the best Of our
abilities. No insolent boss shall dictate
to US by telephone. No CRATER shall find
the atmosphere Of the state house CON-
genial to his health and his business.
Honesty and economy shall govern Ill