Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-22
THE OHIO DEMOCRATS
Contest Over County Option in
Liquor Legislation.
A LIVELY NIGHT SESSION
Majority Report of Resolutions Com
mittee Adopted.
STOOD BY PRESENT STATUTE
s. A. Hoskins of Auglaize County
Nominated for Secretary Of State
Excessive Heat at Columbus
A LIVELY NIGHT SESSION
STOOD BY PRESENT STATUTE

COLUMBUS, Ohio, August 22.-When the
Ohio democratic convention reassembled to-
day 1t was with the knowledge that fight
was assured on county option In temper
ance legislation. as a part of the declara-
ton of principles. protracted night ses-
sion of the committee on the platform had
been insufficient to bring the different opin-
ions together. Many of the temperance ad-
vocates, among them the leaders of the an
ti-saloon league, were understood to be
willing to accept compromise. but w. L.
Finley had all along maintained that no
compromise which left the county option
idea at all obscured would be acceptable
to him.
The delegates were therefore not surprised
at the prospect of minority report.
The day was excessively warm and few
coats were In evidence when Chairman Nc
Cam called the convention to order and
asked for the report OF the committee on
platform
The proposition of Mr.. Finley for local
option by counties, the present laws pre-
viding only for township and residence dis
trict option, came before the convention as
an amendment to the report of the platform
committee. Mr.. Finley and those with him
on the county option proposition voted for
the remainder of the platform without dis
sent
The Rejected Proposition.
Inc pEOpOSal UldUc ny + Illcy dilu lS-
Jected by the committee was follows:
We urge the necessary legislation or
constitutional amendment which will
give the people of the state, county or
city, by petition of per cent of the
voters. the right to bring any question 10
a popular vote, thereby voting, IL they
choose. any act of their representatives
or enacting by popular initiative any
approval of the majority. We believe
that under the provisions the people of
any community could solve all questions
OF temperance or other legislation to
their own satisfaction"
This same plank was submitted by him
as an amendment to the report of the
committee on resolutions when that was
presented to the convention today.
M. Powell moved the adoption of the
report but before a vote w. L. Finley
onered his amendment as a substitute
for the initiative and referendum pla nix
and moved its adoption. He was grested
with cheers. Mr.. Finley spoke at some
length in support of his motion.
j. S. Mcmahon of Dayton. also a men,
Der of the resolutions committee, pre-
scented the views of the majority Of that
committee.
All Substitutes Opposed.
Rev. Herbert E. Bigelow of Cincinnati.
whose compromise substitute before the
committee last night was accepted by Mr..
Finley then, and was today presented by
him for action by the convention followed
In support of the substitute plank.
Frank M German of Cincinnati opposed
the substitutes. So did Chairman Powell
of the resolutions committee A geRera,
discussion was participated In by several
delegates. who spoke from the floor without
awaiting recognition by the chairman.
The discussion ended amid considerable
confusion. the previous question being de-
manded. On roll call the substitute plank
was lost and the majority report was then
adopted.
no ba subs
was 1914 for it and 57S12 against 1t. Roll
call not demanded on the majority re-
port. which was adopted unanimously.
For secretary of state the ~nameseo of Sam
A. Hoskins of Auglaize county and Allen
w Thurman of Franklin county were pre-
sented Hoskins was nominated, receiving
553 votes to 3S2 for Thurman.
The Resolutions.
The report of the resolutions committee
as presented follows:
The democracy of Ohio, in convention as
sembled, announce the following declara-
ton of principles:
We demand that the laws shall be so
amended that the revenue necessary for
the expenses of the state shall be raised
without calling upon the counties for levy
and thereby secure for each county home
rule In taxation, I. e., each county raise
only what it needs for its own expenses
and its citizens authorize.
III
sessing the property of railroads and other
public service corporations should be so
changed as to compel the assessment Of
those properties at not less than their
salable value as going concerns and to
prevent their evasion of just taxation.
We demand that the legislature shall en-
act such laws as will enable tax to be
levied on all franchise privileges as on
other property. which now, although Of
great value, pay nothing toward the bur-
dens of government.
We believe in free and unqualified home
rule, free from state interference. Each
city, town and village should be allowed
to decide for itself all matters of local
policy especially as between public or pri-
vate ownership of all public utilities in
GLIDING street railways, as well as water
works and lighting systems and that pro-
vision should be made for submitting such
questions to the people. upon request from
reasonable number of voters and at such
elections the vote of a majority shall de-
eide Such public ownership should he
safeguarded by the merit system of ap-
pointment and tenure of Office so as to
prevent the building up of political ma
chimes and the perpetuation of boss rule.
We are In favor of the retention, main
tenn OF the state
We favor the rigid inspection and SUPER
vision of state and private banks and we
advocate such amendment Of the constitu-
ton and enactment Of statutes as will safe
guard depositors.
We favor legislation which will make I'M
lawful the giving to or accepting by public
officials of steam or street railroad passes
We favor the initiative and referendum.
senators by direct vote of the people, and
suggest the adoption Of the socaled Oregon
plan to this end We direct the state GEN.
trail committee to include In the Call for
the next state convention provisions for the
nomination of a candidate for United States
senator by such convention.
We faver the initiative and referendum
and such legislation and constitutional
amendments will make 1t effective as to
state and local affairs: no franchise or re-
newal thereof should be granted by any
county. city or village without first sub
hitting the same to vote OF the people,
In order to secure purity In elections We
favor the repeal Of all special limitations
to time within which crimina, prosecu-
lions may be begun for bribery In elections.
The incoming state central committee Is
directed to require that delegates to the
state convention be selected by primaries
or delegate conventions to be select ted by
primaries, such selection to be made by
precinct primaries. In the event that any
county committee shall violate this party
law. the state central committee shall issue
caH in accordance with the above regu-
dala0atfn al Cd .