The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-10-17
BY Charles w. Rife.


Automobiles.
BY Charles w. Rife.
Columbus, O.-(Special.)- 1.-The hand
of the Democratic and Republican
bosses of Ohio is seen back of the de-
cision Of Charles Graves, secretary OF
state, in his decision which virtually
nullifies the action of the Ohio legisla-
ture in repeating the Dana law.
The press of the state are unit In
declaring that great mistake was
made by the Democratic secretary in
making the decision the way he did,
which is held contrary to all laws and
methods adopted in the past.
The hand Of old party bosses and
old parties is seen by experts in the
ruling.
That there had been trend from
the Democratic and Republican candi-
dates to those on the Progressive
ticket has been plain for several
weeks, and especially since the new
party has opened it's campaign in
earnest in Ohio.
Now these party bosses don't like to
take any more chances than possible,
and the cry of help came up from every
quarter of the state where the Pro-
gressives had endorsed candidates
who were not given place under the
Democratic party emblem on the Of
fetal ballot They didn't want the
name of their opponent printed twice
on the same ticket. They were not
anxious to take any greater chances
than necessary and they appealed to
the party boss. And he came to their
rescue in a most satisfactory manner
The Cleveland Plain Dealer, one Of
the most pronounced big Democratic
papers of the state, declares that a
great mistake was made by Mr..
Graves, and other editors declare that
II will cost him his election for a
second term, and that it means vic
tory for John l.. Sullivan, the Pro-
gressive candidate. The Plain Dealer
says in discussing the decision editor
tally:
Regardless of the accuracy Of Mr.
Graves legal Interpretation, however,
1t is clear that his decision, if upheld,
will tend to the destruction of inde-
pendent voting in this state. 1t will
put a premium upon party regularity;
will strengthen party machines will
be hailed everywhere as victory for
oossism in politics. d..
'i1 ~ the laws Of Ohio prohibit what
Secretary Graves says they prohibit,
the laws should be amended. The
quicker the matter is attended to the
better.
For ten years, beginning in 1895,
Ohio had a law specifically denying
the right of a candidate for Office hav-
ing his name appear more than once
on the same ballot That provision
of the law was finally repealed under
pressure of public opinion. The pro
hibition was recognized as indefensi'
BILE in principle.
And now the chief election official
of the state by a technical interpreta
ton proposes virtually the same rule
which the people six years ago EN-
phatically rejected.
New York-Tammany ridden New
York-had the Levy law, designed Il
do exactly what the repealed section
of the Ohio Dana law did Even New
York would not endure such curl
on electoral intelligence. The obnox
ious section of the Levy law wa
stricken from the statute books.
"Mr. Graves decision would re
establish in Ohio a legal injunction
which this state once definitely repu
dated; which even the legislature o
New York would no longer tolerate
"Ohio will not in the long run sut
NIT to a curb upon independence Il
politics. 1t will not, once the situf
ton is understood, acquiesce in a
exaltation of partisan regularity"
The decision is certain to act as
boomerang to the secretary, who
up for reelection. One thing that tn
voters of Ohio have always demande
and that is the right to vote for whol
they pleased. without any more cor
plications than necessary in the forr
alton of the ballot, and the ruling
one meant to puzzle the voter, an
one that the bosses at least though
would aid the Democratic cause.
looks now as though the Ohio vot'
would demonstrate his ability
mark his ticket, and more than ol
will find the name of Mr.. Sullivan
the Progressive ticket who had abo
made up their mind to support N
Graves.
Several of the Progressive CAM
dates intend to make speaking tou
in automobiles. Hon. Randolph
Walton, the candidate for congrei
10 urfll ha On0 of these.