The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-10-30

commission. after studying the whole
question for a year, told the governor
that the law was safe and desirable,
the entire force of the administration
went behind it and it was passed.
Practically all of the so-called rad
ical reforms of the Cox administra-
tion we're put into effect only after
careful and deliberate investigation.
The workmen's compensation scheme
was approved by commission of in
vestigators. So was the new educa-
tional reform. So was the child well
fare code and the mothers pension
law. So we're many other accom-
plishments for which the governor is
being dubbed radical by the inter-
ests who have lost some selfish priv
ilege.
These things show that while the
governor is thoroughly progressive
in his political principles, he is at the
same time conservative in his meth
DDS Of bringing them about The
charge that he is radical in the un-
favorable Interpretation Of that term
is belied by the facts which the cam
paign have brought to light.
The campaign is virtually without
precedent in Ohio history in the very
fact itself that the governor, seeking
reelection, is not charged with being
controlled by some outside influences.
The charge is not made for the sim
pie reason that it would be ridiculous.
1t would fall of its own weight. be-
cause the special interests are lead
ing the fight against the governor now.
The opposition to the governor is
stalking virtually the whole fight on
their contention that the governor
has built a machine. 1t is charged
that the governor insisted on naming
tax deputies and liquor license dep
uties, for example, to enhance his own
power. The simple fact Is that the
governor wanted to be held respon-
sible for the administration Of these
and other new reforms. He was will
ing to stake his political future upon
their success or failure. He could
have played safe" and permitted the
various counties to take the RESPONSE
bility for the proper or improper ad-
ministration, say, of the tax reform.
In such a case he would would have
been able to go before the voters and
plead that he had no power to compel
the assessors to do their duty. He
could have placated one class of oiti-
Zens with one argument and another
class with another argument. And IN
that case, although tax dodgers mAght
be pleased, the honest citizen could
we'll accuse the governor Of trying b
dodge the Issue.
The governor foresaw all these con-
tingenoies when he determined to take
upon himself every ounce of respon-
sibility for everything under his ad-
ministration. Had he been inclined to
shirk responsibility he would not have
created a condition which necessarily
prevents him from shirking. The up
shot Of the whole thing is that while
others are evading responsibility, the
governor Is shouldering all RESPONSE
bility. If somebody complains Of the
operation Of the saloon license system
the governor doesn't advise the COM
plainant to tell the license commits
sion about it. He assumes the burden
of the responsibility himself. The
same situation pertains throughout the
entire state administration.
People Are the machine"
This assumption OF responsibility
the opposition calls political ma
chine. In his speeches the governor
himself declares that if machine ex-
lists it is the machine of the people
themselves. For example, II a ma
chine reduces the tax rate for the peo-
pie, 1t is certainly operated in the peo-
ple's behalf. If It brings into being
reform in education which upbuilds
the country schools, 1t certainly is not
being operated against the people.
The real significance of the situa-
tion is that the entire system Of state