The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-11

suit. The victim OF public wrongs
are the entire people They are too
numerous to aid Justice in person.
They entrust this to their officers,
and to these II worthy of the conf
dence placed in them, the offense is
magnihed by the multitude of the
wronged instead of being reduced by
division among them after the man
ner of the unthlnk.ng or low think
ing.
SO public sentiment will no longer
permit charges or suspicion of off.
rial misconduct to go unheeded, espe-
cially when technical obstacles leave
incomplete Investigations already
fruitful The whole truth must be
known in the interest both of the
state and the officials involved II
these are innocent they should be
freed from suspicion and confidence
in the public service be thus restored.
If they are guilty both punishment
and restitution must follow. The
party associates of an offender should
be the last to shield him, for them
he has doubly wronged.
do not think this occasion ap-
proprlate for a review of the many
important matters which win re-
quire attention. Nor do / feel COM
petent TO pass judgment on plans
under way or suggestion for the
treatment of those matters without
more thorough study and conference
with those who have given them spe-
cia! thought than private duties have
permitted.
Activity of thought about public af-
fairs on the part of citizens Is whole
some. When due only to the COM
mon interest, as / believe it gen.
orally is, It Is always to be welcomed
1t is well too that particular men
should devote themselves to special
subjects. But naturally these often
lack the sense of proportion and for
get that the men who are to act must
take a broader view which includes
an subjectG conjmSted to their
charge.
/ will mention a few things which
have enlisted my attention:
Agriculture, though the oldest, is
and always win be the most import
ant of all industries. Private enter
prise has gone far in perfecting i'm
plements, but as the native rich
ness of the soil Is drawn upon sci
ence must lond hand. Unlike the
other deposits of the earth which use
exhausts, the soil may be perpetual
ly renewed. But science requires
teaching, and of this the state has
taken charge. So the study and test
ing of soils and crops by experiment
for the common benefit should be en-
couraged and extended, and also in
ttruction in the principles OF agri-
culture by the schools. With the
supply OF new land virtually cut off
and a fast growing population, we
can afford to have no exhausted soil
The farms in orr country are much
larger than In any other. They are
free in title and enjoyment, which
Is seldom true in older countries.
With agriculture made a more sci
entifc pursuit, bringing better and
less toilsome results, and with good
roadi to avoid waste OF time and
farm life in Ohio will multi.
ply its already great attractions.
Our most valuable public asset is
the canals. I believe our pec.o,e
will soon be rewarded for the per-
sistence with which they have held
them against all temptations and in
spite OF neglect and mismanage-
ment. The proved insufficiency OF
the railroads in normal times, the
experience OF other states and coun-
tries and the national enterprises on
the rivers and at Panama have now
recalled attention 10 carriage by
water and Ohio Is most happily
placed for large share in the bene
fits.
so plan Is in execution for re-
building locks and other structures
along our canals. BUT the traffic
we hope soon to carry between lake
and river will require larger boats,
and ii may be well to reconsider the
question whether it is wise to go on
rebuilding On the old dimensions, as
the plan provides. And 1t Is hard |
to account on business principles
Tor the retention of the force of lock |
collectors and other en-
ployes along the canals during the
ong period when there was no traf.
lie. Useless expense ought to be as
Dromptly stopped in public as It is
N private business, and ! ann sure
.he peope now demand that we do
{ ON the canals and elsewhere
throughout the entire service of the \
state.
We need fairer and more effect
We rules and methods for the tax
ltion of both real and personal prop
'rty, private and corporate. The re-
ults OF the research and study given
he subject by the recent tax com
mission are of great value and should
rot be lost. Their report puts be-.
'ond adj doubt the failure of the
ystem devised nearly go years ago
o reach holdings OF all dnds with
ust and equal hand, now that the
growth of Intangible and invisible