The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1914-10-16
THE CLEVELA AND PRESS
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cox IND WILLIS

whether Cox is the man to do the work.
Two years ago people of Ohio themselves to the task
of cleaning out the accumulated dry rot of reaction the laws
that governed hm They tore their old and outworn const
tutlon and substituted that has placed this common
wealth in the forefront Of the toward social justice
and public cleanliness.
They took into their hands the right make laws and
unmake hem to 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 enactment of real workmens
compensation law, and mothers pension law They abolished
contract labor in prisons They made possible to drive from
the state the crooks who had eced the people out Of many mil
lions by the sale Of fraudulent securities
To make many of these amendments operative
say that the legislature enact many laws to fit the con-
ditons, and to repeal old ones, which did not 6t
When Cox elected governor he pledged himself to the
exact and honest funn of the obligations imposed upon the
state government by those constitutional amendments
It would have been eay for eactionary and tricky gov
in control of the legislative majority to ange up the big
job Of awmakng in such way annul nearly every reform
demanded
1t would have been easy for pocspaying legislature
abeed by corporations do the thing under the of
weak governor
of record that Governor Cox top of that
legislature amid hows of bom" from the reaconares and
grunts of protest from the legislators who considered themselves
ovrworked until every last item of his program had been
acted into law.
no small task demanding the services of governor
with an iron backbone.
Men who this city while the workmens compensation
bill being enacted into law will not forget the of
powerful rich who here to the governor and top
this outrage they expressed it. They didn't stop it,
Big fought practically every reform sub
mtted aided by feeble Indifferent reactionary legislators
1t notable thing, and thing in Ohio where gov
ernors and legislatures have often sdesepped their pledges
that Cox did he promised the face of discourage
ments and difficulties.
Al the end of his em he able to show balance of
SSO0O0 in the state treasury, and he called the Legislature to-
geher special session to reduce the state tax rate to the smallest
figure in the history of Ohio.
The penentiary is in process of creation It's
aim is to turn out instead of criminals.
The results of other reform legislation just beginning to
bc felt by the people,
1t essential that these reforms do not fall into the hands
of their enemies.
Frank Willis Coxs chief opponent for the governorhip
insists that "the dominant issue Ohio is the reputation
Endorsement of the present state administration"
Willis is at least partly right
Cox the stronger of the wo naturally be the
center of discussion.
Yet is worth the while of the consider Willis too
to find out what sort administration be expected
him if he were elected
Willis was in the legislature in 1900.
Ee voted in favor of prison contract labor He voted against
the eghhour day for workmen on public works He failed
all the bill to safeguard machinery for the protection
of the employee
He voted against the bill to abolish the infamous "feow
servant rule In other word he voted favor Of the employer
and indemnity insurance companies and against the worker
when progressive trying to abolish the rule OF
which had left destitute the families of thousands of manned
killed workmen.
He helped kill bill to protect employees from the results of
| negligence on the part of their employers
He voted against bill which required vote of the peopo
before street railway franchises could be granted extended
He reported, member of the taxation committee in favor
of ndene pospormcn of bills that sought to put concealed
stocks and bonds on the tax duplicate.
He voted smother bill that would forbid members of the
legislature to accept railroad passes.
So far his national record member of congress
cerned he has speak Of He has been merely those
coorcss congressman who do little good bad to attract the
| attention of the public.
As between Cox the rcactionary 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.
/