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

Certain projects for the welfare already under way
need to be completed and the question before the Ohio voter
whether Cox is the man to do the work.
Two years ago people of Ohio themselves the task
of cleaning out The accumulated dry rot of reaction the laws
that governed them They up their old and cons
tuition, and substituted that has placed this
wealth the forefront of the toward social justice
and public cleanliness
They took into their hands the right make laws and
unmake them, candidates for Office, establish home
rule in communities where it is desired
They shook up the courts with view toward speeder udg
ments They made possible the of real workmen
compensation law gd mothers pension law They abolished
contract labor prisons They made possible drive from
the state hc crooks who had ecccd the people out of many mil
lions by The sale of fraudulent securities.
To make many Of these amendments operative, it
sary that the legislature enact many laws to fit the
ditions, and to repeal old ones, which did not fit
When Cox elected governor he pledged himself the
exact and honest fufmcut of the obligations imposed upon the
state government by those constitutional amendments.
1t would have been easy for reactonary and tricky gov
in control of the legislative majority ange up the big
job Of making such way annul nearly every reform
demanded
would have been easy for politicspaying Legislature
abeed by corporations do the thing under the of
weak governor
record that Governor Cox sat on top of that
legislature amid hows of bom" from the reactonaries and
grnts of protest from the legislators who considered themselves
Overworked until every last item of his program had been
acted into law.
1t small task demanding the services of governor
with iron backbone.
Men who in this city while the wormens compensation
bill being enacted into law will forget of
this outrage" they expressed it. They didn't stop it.
Big interests fought practically every reform sub
mittcd aided by feeble Indifferent reaconary legislators
1t notable thing, and thing in Ohio, where gov
and legislatures have often destepped their pledges,
that Cox did he promised in the face of discourage
ments and difficulties.
Al the end of his term able to show balance of over
SS000OO0 the treasury, and he called the legislature
qeer in special session reduce the smallest
figure in the history of Ohio
The pentenary process of creation It's
aim is to turn out men instead of criminals
The results of other reform legislation just beginning
bc felt by the people.
1t is essential that these reforms do not fall into the hands
Frank B. Willis, Coxs chief opponent for the governorship
insists that the dominant issue in Ohio the reputation
of the present state administration"
Willis Is at least partly right
Cox the stronger of the two naturally must
center of discussion.
Yet is worth the while of the consider Willis too
find what of administration might be expected from
him if he elected
Willis in the Legislature in 1900.
He voted favor OF prison contract labor He voted against
the eehhour day for workmen public works failed
all the bill safeguard machinery for the protection
of the empoye.
He voted against the bill to abolish the infamous "feOw
servant rule In other words he voted favor of the employer
and the indemnity insurance companies and against the
when progressive trying to abolish the rule of law
which had left destitute the families of thousands of manned
killed workmen.
helped Kill bill protect employees from the results of
negligence the part OF their employers.
lie voted against bill which required vote of the people
before street railway franchises could be granted extended
He reported member of the taxation committee in favor
If dene poporemen of bills that sought put concealed
tocb- and bonds the tax duplicate.
e voted smother bill that would forbid members of the
legislature to accept railroad passes
So far his national record memba Of congress is
ened he has speak Of He has benmerey of those
oores congressman who do little good bad attract the
ttention of the public
As between Cox the rcaconary Willis and the uncertain
Garfield there only choice for who wish their state to
progress and who fear the forces of reaction.
That choice is Cox
The editorial simultaneously every the