The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-09
GOVERNOR
HARMON


/ DelleVe the work of legislation can
be properly done only by bodies small
enough for each member to get the
advantage of conference, debate and
deliberation, with the concurrence of
both required and absolute rules to
prevent hasty action by either. as well
as final approval by another ana in
dependent actor in tne PROCEEDINGS
This Is one Of the mann features which
made our government "a broad and
liberal democracy" but "compatibte
with ingrained respect for parliament
tary methods and constitutional
checks" as 1t has been wem described.
of course, If these agencies all
prove incapable or corrupt, If for any
reason they betray the confidence re-
posed in them by the people and fall
under the control of special Interests
which seek advantages contrary to
common right and injurious to the
public, then the plan will miscarry.
And this seems to have happened with
alarming frequency in some of the
states. But whatever the case may he
or may have been Elsewhere, Ohio
has furnished no such example, even
before the executive was given a voice
in the making OF her laws. ] do not
mean that we have had no bad legls-
lation and no unworthy representa-
tives; but these have been too rare to
discrcdit the magnificent history of
more than hundred years. our cit
liens have never enforced higher
standards in the public service than
they are doing now. so some other
reason must be found to Justify a
change in our system which would
throw off the checks and precautions
against hasty and u-wlse legislation.
which have been so carefully provld-
ed and make the stump the seat of
legislation.
However, / believe that. I'm actual
practice, this change would not fully
justify either the fears of It's oppo
nents or the hopes of its advocates IL
It will work well anywhere Il ought
to do so in our MUNICIPALITIES. SO.
to add to discussion Of it the argu-
ment of a test by our own citizens.
approved a bill at the last session To
authorize it in them, though / am
told 1t has not yet been resorted to
anywhere
For myself think we should
|
cities and villages before making state
wide the operation of so radical q
change in our methods. But if the
convention should decide to submit
the question to the people, as ] un-
derstand many members wish to do
1t should he done separately The
provision should be guarded so as tc
prevent its being lignrly invoked. The
very heavy expense OF special cleo.
tlons shouli be avoided, except III
cases OF unusually Widespread and
general demand. And, In view of IT.
experimental character, resubmissior
to the people should be provided fof
at the end or a reasonable period
without The formalities and delay gen.
orally required for amendments OF tho
constitution.
Wants Liquor Traffic Licensed.
Contention about methods Of doaI-
ing with the liquor traffic has long
disturbed the state ana seriously in.
terfercd with the conduct OF its gov
| ernment. Certainly no one win say
our eXperlen'e under the provision ol
cur present constitution has been q
happy one. But / thlnk that, In the
judgment OF those who take prac-
tlcal view of the manner. 1t has been
| shown that II Is one for the appica-
tion OF the generally wholesome
principle of local SCR government.
believe the minority of the people OF
the state favor this method because
they have become familiar with It
and have found how difficult 1t is to
enforce a law prohibiting the traffic in
any community whore popular feeling
is arrayed against 1t.
Both Sides Parties 10 Illegal Traffic,
Such law is hard to enforce In any
| case, because in sales of liquor seller
and buyer are both parties 10 them, so
there Is no unwilling victim to invoke
the law, as I'm ordinary cases. and ev-
idence is difficult to secure. But
when the voter of a community, by
lawful authority forbid the traffic,
public sentiment there will back their
| decision as nothing else can do.
In localities where the voters per-
nit the traffic the question arises shall
It be free 10 all who choose to en-
gage in It and be conducted as they
please, or shall there be restriction
and regulation?
Surely the wise course Is to confine
IL to proper persons and subject it 10
careful regulation, 80 in other cases
OF occupations which involve danger
or are liable to abuse. Yet thus far
we have had free trade in intoxicat-
ing diquors in localities which have
permitted Their sale, because the con-
stltution forbids the granting of H.
censes, which is tak-,l to mean to in
dividuals, because the right of COM
munites to permit the traffic gener-
ally has been upheld. Yet only by
requiring the particular persons who
wish TO engage i'm IL to comply with