Semi-weekly herald., 1912-06-17
REFORM" IN OHIO.

The people of OHIO have paid So
100000 for a constitution convention
that has been in session for the past
five months and that has Just com
pleted its "labors" with the submis-
sion of forty-two amendments to the
state constitution. Until within re-
cent years such a convention would
have been expected to confne its de
llberations to matters of great pub
lie concern, leaving to the state leg
islatufe, the municipal councils and
county authorities the initiation and
enforcement of measures affecting
matters of slighter Importance.
But in the forty-two amendments
that are to be voted on at a special
election this fall, costing, of course,
another large sum, are at least thirty
measures that appear grotesquely
magniiied when elevated to the dig
.rity of a constitutional amendment.
Among those of real gravity and of
statewide Importance are woman
suffrage, the initiative and referen-
dunn (the recall having been de
feated), the reduction of the majority
required to override the governor Is
veto from two-thirds to three-ffths,
din ect primaries, abolition of capital
punishment, compulsory compensa-
ton and recognition of "occupational
disease" forbidding the injunction in
industrial controversies except to pro-
tect property, forbidding contract la
Dor in penal institutions and to make
the new constitution still easier of
amendment.
1t will be seen that not all of these
10 hn 10 G
constitutional amendments and that
some belong rather in the category of
legislative enactments. But the spir-
it of reform" was abroad in the state
and the encouragement given to the
Inauguration of fads and freaks in
government bore fruit in these fantas-
tic innovations and lot of others
that are strangely puerile when SET
into the document that is the organic
law of a great commonwealth.
For instance, after providing the
"panaceas" already noted, the amend
ments specify that the following shall
be part of the law by which the
people shall rule:
ITO put private banks under state
inspection and t. make stockholders of
banks liable to depositOrs TO the
amount of double thei. stock.
TO allow the enactment of laws to
regulate the sale Of stocks, bonds, Sc
curities and other personal property.
TO allow women to be appointed
notaries public and to positions in
state institutions where women and
children are cared for.
TO give the assembly power to
enact conservation laws.
"To allow the use of voting ma
chimes.
40 give authority for minimum
wages an dlimiLation Of hours of la
Dor.
"To make eight hours a workday
on public works.
40 require the civil service or the
merit system in all state and county
offices.
"To allow the creation of commits
sion to regulate the issuance Of stocks
and bonds of all corporations.
"fo license foreign corporations u
sell securities in the state.
ITO regulate the testimony of ex-
pert witnesses.
"To allow the state to regulate rates
charged for insurance.
'To allow school districts autonomy
in local affairs.
10 make the school superintendent
an appointive instead OF an elective
official.
"To abolish the state board of pub
lie works and to substitute a superil,.
tcndent appointed by the governor
If the people shall take advantage
Of this splendid opportunity to curl
the rapacity of predatory wealth
and clip few of the tentaeles of tiu
Shiny octopus of plutoeracy and OF
fetal corruption, Ohio may take iti
place among the modern common
wealths. This is a good beginning
The trainers Of the amendments real
ize that there have been many omis
sions, but the omissions will be cor
rected when the people make tn,
anne endment of the instrument easier
There is nothing said as to how hiel
hog fences shall be built, nothing I,
regulate the number of times schoo
children shall be vaccinated, nothing
to govern the color of street ca
transfers and not a word telling par
ents how often and how hard The,
may switch their offspring. Bd
pretty nearly everything else has beei
covered and these other importan
matters will be attended TO as sool
as the people get around to it.-Kan
eos 1fft Ianrpal