The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-08-28

nre Justify the new school code. Since
the state pays one-half the cost OF su-
pervision, the expense TO the counties
In practically every instance is dimin-
ished. Our universities. conducted at
public expense, have not been OF such
use TO the rural communities as they
should be, The abolition of the Box
we'll examinations and the restored
meaning OF a rural school diplome are
striking features of the new plan,
the future every pupil in the country
Who wins diploma in the township
high school enters, withok swamA~
tlon or tuition cost, into the saate uni
versities II It Is his wish. This auto
matlcally elevates the rural school 10
a most distinct agency in the rehabill-
tation OF country life.
In road improvement Ohio stands
out conspicuous now above all other
states, and the construction of rural
transportation facilities will give. such
spur to closer trade and community
relation between the country and city
as to aid gloriously to the develop
ment of the commonwealth.
Prison Reform
Our prison system claims the praise
Of experts in every state. In our
juvenile reformatories useful trades
are being taught. In the prisons in
dustries afford employment, and night
schools create a moral and education
al awakening. The spirit Of these In
stitutions has been completely trans
formed, and the improved behavior on
the part OF those confined shows that
when government lends itself hui
namely to the rerouting Of a human
derelict the result is but the natural
outgrowth of kindness. State and
county institutions in buying supplies
from these prison industries AFFORD
the prisoner the opportunity of turn
ing his labors into profit, not only to
the state by the removed cost main
tenance, but to his family as we'll. The
working Of the states charges in pTis-
ons and asylums, on the farms, has
resulted in impressive economies to
the public and distinct physical and
moral betterment to those now oc.
cupied in useful labors.
Efficiency in Taxation System.
The results Of the new taxation
laws have been so definite, both with
respect to the listing Of intangible
property that has been escaping the
assessors, and the reduction in the
rate to the individual owner of prop
erty, that the opposition no longer at
tempts to discuss this question on its
merits. That lands and buildings have
not, generally speaking, been in
creased in valuation-and the general
duplicate of the state has grown al
most one billion dollars-is such in
disputable evidence that the great
masses-particularl those whose
property is in sight-have been pay
ing the share of public expense be-
longing in all Justice to someone else,
that the taxation policies of old re-
feet more than a mere neglect of
duty. In short, they have so grossly
trespassed on the moral code as to
render any suggestion of a return to
the reprehensible practice shocking to
the public sense Of right.
Challenge to ReactionarIes.
In the face Of these laws, and
others equally just, which the people
would not think Of repeating, what is
the predicament of the opposition?
With business interests adjusted to
the new order and with labor march |
ing to its task with happiness prev
iously unknown; with the country dis
tricts already taking on new life, with
what method Of sophistry, with what |
school Of political strategy must the
standpat forces in Ohio approach the
Democratic bulwarks?
With not a single act Of dishonesty, |
with not an instance of official graft,
dare they make the battle on the
question Of plain integrity?
With every promise kept and the
relation between the citizen and gov
ernment raised to the homely honesty
that prevails in business and private
can they draw a con-
trast with their unbrolen record of
fifty years Of broken promises If
they ever kept in common integrity
the pledges contained in a single
platform adopted since the civil wal,
We challenge them to point out the
L{r,n opd the
What a sad commentary on a once
great political party that in its ex.
.remity it defames the memory and
name Of Mckinley by avowing that
lis policy of taxation was an act born
If treason to the people and a tres
,ass on their rights as citizens.
That the Republican leaders are
10 reduced in followers is not surpris-
ng since they are equally impover-
shed in those constructive qualities
n government that ordinarily inspire
militant support Never in its history 4
lave the leaders of the opposition ,
,arty faced the guage of battle, so {
lepleted in issues and so lacking in ,
discipline and numbers as now.
Summed up in few words, the Re {
ublican leaders have reduced their '
ause to plain ranting hypocrisy G
nd their methods are neither cal !
ulated to appeal to public reason or r
avor. q
We find the standpat candidate for s
overnor, introducing as an issue, the r
itterness of civil war times When +
ur grief-stricken president was about \
} embark on the saddest pilgrimage II
his whole life and return to the n