The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-03-17
Shall the People Restore Special
Privileges Taken From the
big interests?
DO WORKlNGMEN WANT CON-
PEhSATIOH LAW REPEALED?

Business Be Restored? Shall the
State Treasury BE Robbed Again?
Shall Farmers and Homeowners
Pay More Than Their Share o,
Tsxes-sueh Are the Questions
Governor Cox Puts to the People
Today.
Columbus, O.-(Special.)-"The is.
uue in Ohio this year is so we'll mark
I'd that no one can fail to understand
IT," says Governor James NJ. Cox. "The
opposition contends that too much
has been done In the way OF legisla.
ton, and 1t is not suggesting a single
thing in the way of new laws. The
Democratic administration has fin.
ished its legislative work and for the
present there seems to be little to do
along major lines. The issue then is,
shall the progressive and humani-
tarian laws passed by this administra-
tion remain on the statute books? In
short, shall Ohio step backward or
continue the place II now occupies as
q progressive state?
Those who are familiar with the
general criticism of legislative bodies
recall that objections have run along
these lines:
First. That there have been cor
rapt practices In the general assem-
bly,.
Second. II has been stated that
laws in the past were suggested by
privileged interests. No one in Ohio
has registered this complaint against
the present assembly.
Third. Many have believed that
N the old days laws were not passed
which we're calculated to redress
wrongs and correct inequalities which
grew up under our system OF govern.
ment. have not heard word spok-
on nor read written word in this
connection in the last year.
"The opposition to the present ad-
mlnistration is that which has been
developed by certain groups whose
preferences have been uprooted by
the laws recently passed. They would
DO foolish to specify their real griev.
ance because their selfish interests
would be too apparent to render their
activities Of any account; so that the
opposition Is more or less nebulous.
IL deals with generalities. II does
not charge corruption, sins OF omis
sion. nor any action which could be
chargeable TO privilege, II simply
says that too much has been done,
and yet up to this hour not one critic
has specified a law which he would
repeal.
II recognize perfectly well that the
program OF legislation in Ohio has
been extensive. am mindful, too, of
The fact that the purpose and nature
OF some OF the laws are not clearly
understood and have been misrepre-
Eepted by designing interests. And
while the opposition must take posi-
tion which 1t will have to defend II
il prOclaims specifically that certain
laws must be repealed, II 10 much
easier TO indulge in the general
charge that a machine has been Gre
Ated. II is needless to say that the
very persons who inspired and have
maintained this contention have no
ethical objections to any kind of a
machine, particularly II its results
were harmful to the interests OF the
masses and helpful to the few The
day OF an anaemic administration in
Shis or any other state Ia passed. The
time has come when platforms must
mean something, when pledges given
ha tyhn nffi
cials must assume responsibilities
and be chargeable with the results.
Cleaning the Liquor Traffic.
''The cry of machine grows out OF
changes which were made in the laws
with reference to taxation and the
liquor traffic. Things were going from
hEd to worse in the constantly agi.
tatod liquor question. Matters purely
economic in nature in their consider
alton by the legislature had to run
the gauntlet OF prejudice on both
sides OF the liquor question, Any man
could open saloon regardless OF his
moral character, and he could con.
tinue 10 operate II no matter how dis
gracefully he conducted his place.
THE liquor license law WAS drawn
~ az 20 provide for a strict enforce.
-msat OF the law, and the law is being
enforced in Ohio. But that has been
possible only because the executive
oOatrol has extended TO every depart
neRt Of administration. II the com
rnissioners had been elected in the wet
counties II would have been perfeo' y
Easy for the governor, in the event OF
the laws violation. 10 have reminded
ehe people that the men selected were
81 their choosing and the error woulC
have TO be remedled at the next elec
sion two years In the future.
people are sick Of vacillatlng ex
Scutiye policies in any state. The.
aemand OF executive heads every
where that the policy shall be posi-
eye-one thing or the other. W.
anew perfectly well that IL the liQuo
~cense Law did not provide for thu