The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-05-13


to the township center. Wheth-
er the great mass of new and revolu-
tionary legislation now being enacted
will be found good, as its authors and
supporters assert, or unsound and det-
rimental, as its opponents predict, it
must be admitted that the movement
is making political history. not only
for the United States, but for the
world as we'll
Among the states that have been
helping make that history few can
claim bigger net results than Ohio,
whose general assembly has recently
passed so many progressive measures
that it seems at first sight to have al
most reyolutionized the laws of the
state.
Many other commonwealths, of
course, are working along the same
line, but as an illustration of concrete
achievement no better illustration
than Ohio could be selected at present
1t is interesting, first of all, to note
that the Ohio lawmakers have given
legal effect to tifty-fve of the fifty-siX
specific legislative recommendations
made by Governor James NJ. Cox in
his message to the assembly. The one
recommendation which did not get
through was one contained in the state
Democratic platform proposing home
rule in taxation. 1t was suspected of
squirting at the single tax, and the
two resolutions to give effect to it were
voted down.
Bewildering Changes.
Changes that are bewildering in mag
nitude, politically revolutionary in
their departure from the past, mark
the three months work of the general
assembly. Twelve months ago the
state, from the progressives' stand
point was a backward one so far as
It's constitution and laws were con-
cerned. A review of the laws enacted
since discloses that the commonwealth
has been taken from the list of con-
servative states and placed in the pro-
gressive column.
One of the important measures en-
acted by the assembly provided for a
state wide primary and sounded the
knell Of all nominating conventions by
requiring that all elective officials,
state, county, municipal and township,
except in political subdivisions of less
than 1000 population, shall be nomi-
mated by primary.
Separate state and national ballots
were provided, and hereaf fter Ohioans
will vote for the entire list Of presi-
dental electors on a ticket by making
single cross. Next fall the people
will vote on the proposed short ballot,
constitutional amendments providing
for the appointment of all state officers
and to authorize the shortening of
county and township ballots by giving
the general assembly power to desig-
nate what officials in these subdivi-
sions shall be elected and what ap-
pointed.
The removal of public officials, judges
and members of the general assembly
was a weapon given the people to be
used by them in their fight against
dereliction of duty and misconduct in
Office. Half holidays were created on
election days so as to give all an op-
portunity to participate in the selec-
ton of public officials, and the corrupt
practices act was strengthened so as to
prevent the purchasing of elections.
Mothers Pension Law.
The Cox adherents point with pride
to a mothers pension law, under which
a maximum of $15 per month may be
given to needy mothers for the first
child under fourteen years Of age and
a maximum of 81 for each additional
child under that age. The money is to
be raised by levy. which must not eX-
ceed one-half of 1 per cent, and it must
appear that it is to the interest of the
child to remain with its mother Tes-
timony must show that without the
pension the family would be broken.
Workmen and their dependents will
be compensated for injuries by indus
trial accidents through compulsory
workmen's compensation. The fund is
to be raised by the employers, laborers
contributing nothing, and all Ohio peo-
pie employing more than five persons
must pay into 1t. A state industrial
commission was created to consolidate
the activities of seven different labor
departments that have been working
without team work and to coordinate
these activities.
This commission will fix the hours of
employment for women and children,
and it will gather data for minimum
wage law for women.
Closely allied with these measures
is a series of bills reorganizing the
penal system of the state. Provision
was made for the transfer of the peni-
tentiary prisoners from the dirt and
CRIME of the old institution in the heart
of the manufacturing district OF the
capital city to new penitentiary to be
built in the pure and wholesome at
mosphere of the country.
Heretofore juvenile judges in the diff
ferent counties have been committing
1oI o-A IoPna4fra nhIIdro,, 90