The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-07-15
GOVERNOR STRIKES
BLOW AT CORRUPTION
Exposes Attack On WOrkingmen'S
Compensation Act

or unable to make an honest living.
had not spent their time generating
alarm In the minds ot business mer
and reaping fund about which an un.
scrupu,ous swarm has buzzed 70.
years to the disgrace Of the state.
"The Ohio Manufacturers associa.
tion. made up. 80 far as know. CT
very high class business men. recoe.
nizsd during the last year the mistake
that had been made In Ohio in fact,
the present policy OF this organiza.
tion ID the best proof Of a departure
from the ways OF old. Prominent
members Of this body aided in the
passage Of the Green's compensation
law, and It's executive committee de.
cided some few weeks ago not only
to support the Green bill. but to have
nothing to do with any Of the refer.
endum movements.
''Tbe first wave Of progressive gov.
ernment, so-called, has passed in Ohio.
The constitution has been changed,
and when the unprejudiced man takes
an inventory Of the results achieved.
he finds that the policy underlying
the legislation that has been passed
'contemplates.
"First-The consolidation Of state
departments for the double purpose
Of economy and ehiciency
"Second--A broader humanity work.
ed into the law. further protection for
the weak at cost no greater than
the misapplied proceeds which soci.
ETY. has been paying for years.
"Third-rhe simplificaton Of court
,, procedure In order to abate the long
delays Of the law.
"Fourth--And Q plan Of workmen's
compensation which will pull labor
and capital out Of the courts and do
much to create better order Of feel
Ing as between these two forces.
which have been needlessly In conten-
tiOn. Business men who are fair In
judgment and expression admit that
not legitimate interest In this state
has been harmed. and the wise OBJ
server knows full well that while
the whole plan has been progressive
It has been worked out along practical
and conservative lines.
"The attempt ito discredit the pro
gressive movement in this state Is
born Of selfish design. Untold thou
sands Of dollars would not have been
| poured into our communities. corrupt
Ing young school boys and college
students, II the laws passed had moi
deprived certain interests Of the priv
ileges enjoyed In the past by few
to the injury and burden Of the many
1t Is useless to try to create any sen
| timent against the principle of the
referendum cut OF the colossal frauds
that have been perpetrated by pait
agents Of the Equity association. the
organization formed by the liabilit,
companies. Many people sincerely be
lieve the percentages are too low. Th;
interruptions crowd that Is now beins
brought to justice could have procured
petitions In their peculiar way II the
percentage had been $50 per cent
The names OF women and dead mer
have been written into the petitions
The remedy must be applied In dif
ferent way. II 1t Is made unlawful
to circulate a petition for pay. and i
stiff penalty Is attached, there will
be no further abuses. II any one i'm
agines that 5 per cent Of the elector
ate In this state Is not high enough
let him ask the Equity association
They were unable to procure pc
cent, because It Is our belief, base,
upon Investigations thus far made
that so per cent of the names submit
ted are fraudulent.
Let US see whether inslncerity Of
the part Of the State Board of Com
merce, or at least its recognized head
Allen Ripley Foote, is not as conspic
u0us as the selfish design Of the LA
bility companies. Two or three year
ago Mr.. FOote wrote thesis ON tn
subject Of taxation. and the funds
mental principle which he laid dow
Is now a part OF the Warnes taxation
|, bill. And yet he began the refereu
dunn movement ON the Warnes bill
Th active head of the Equity associa
ton was associated with Mr.. Foot
In the State Board of Commerce TO
years. and Mr.. Foote does not den
, that he has been In conference 4
Cleveland In the Office Of the Equit
association within the last thre
weeks. 1t is admitted that at tina
, conference the agreement was tina
the Equity association would conduc
the referendum movement on tn
, workmen's compensation law and tn
|, Warnes and Fitzpatrick taxation mea'
, ures. while Mr.. Foote would look a
ter the referendum on the studen
and budget bills. II anything has bee
needed to convince the people OF thi
, state that college students should b
!, kept out of political activities in tn
communities where they are temps
|. rarilylocated for the single purpose c
, attending school. 1t has been supple
| 4. fvat hn Auc