The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-10-20
WORK MEMS FOES
GETTING ACTIVE
Liability Companies Openly 0p-
pose Governor Cox
WILLIS CONNECTED WITH Them

Letter Soliciting Opposition to Gov
ernor Because He Secured Enact
ment Of Compulsory Compensation
Law Appears Simultaneous with
Attack by Republican Candidate on
the Industrial Commission.
Information reached Democratic
headquarters this week that insurance
companies handling liability business
were making vigorous efforts against
i,overnor Coxs election. After he had
ObraiDed u copy of one letter sent out,
Democratic chairman w. L. Finley ad-
dressed an open letter to Frank D.
Willis, Republican candidate Tor gov
ernor, demanding in the name Of the
workingmen of the state TO- know
where he stands on compensation and
what his plans for the future were.
The letter In question was sent out
by s. M. Ferris of Cincinnati, presa-
dent OF the Ferris Agency company.
and was written on stationery OF the
National Insurance company of 115
Broadway, New York.
1t was an instruction to agents OF
the company to get after bonds OF pub
lie officials after the election in the
state Then came the following post
script
"As the attitude Of Governor Cox to-
wards insurance interests in general
has been unfriendly and antagonistic,
especially as relates to the present
workmen's compensation law, 1t Is my
earnest desire that you use every ef'
fort to elect a Republican governor,
from whom we can expect relief"
Telegrams from Cincinnati quoted
President Ferris as admitting he had
written and sent out such letter.
On receipt of that information.
Chairman Finley put out an open let
ter to Congressman Frank Il. Willis
In which he said
81 demand of you on behalf or the
voters of Ohio and OF all the workmen
and their wives and families who are
interested in the Industrial commits
sion and the fund 1t handles, what Is
your plan?"
The open letter was In course OF
preparation before the Ferris letter
was given out. The letter was in reply
to the speeches of Mr. Willis, In which
he had criticized, as an example OIL ex.
travaganace, the commissions formed
by Governor Cox and had made the In
dustrial commission one OF the fea-
lures OF the address, claiming its ex-
pense was 329 per cent above that
which had preceded 1t.
Repeatedly since the campaign
started Governor Cox has said the lia-
bility companies were fighting him In
the hope Of having the compensation
law so changed that liability COM
panies could compete with the state.
The Democratic Headquarters says
the Ferris letter is proof Of all Gov
ernor Cox claimed and brings into
the campaign an entirely new issue,
"Are you taking the place OF the
Ohio Equity association at tho head
Of tho organized liability companies
who stand ready to spend millions to
break down tho workmen's compensa-
tion iaw?" Ia a question In the Open
letter to willis.
I'm the course of your extended
campaign seeking election on the Re
publican ticket to the Office Of gov
and have made the most reckless
statements and misquotation of facts
on various subjects" the letter
goes on.
Passing by your onslaught against
tho state highway department, your
equlvocal explanation of uncertain
platform planks, the question ol
veracity raised by yourself and you
organization, and, for the time being
legislature and the national congress
as well as your connection with the
trusts az shown by the infamOu,
Archbold letters. wish TO take u!
specifically your more recent charges
That Governor Cox has given to the
state the most eXtravagant and imam
cially reckless administration In thu
states history
"You charge that this Is due TO thu
creation of expensive commissions
and then, In an attempt to mislea'
and deceive, you enumerate leglsla
tive commissions, created by ever,
general assembly. even those OF which
you were member.
"You take up specifically the com
parison OF the administration Of Gov
ernor Harris, last Republican gov
ernor, In 1908, aud that of GOverno
Cox, in an effort to show great iu
der list of twenty-five. including tn
Legislative commissions, and quot
figures in way that Is dishonest, u
deliberately and willfully misrepre
sent. You say:
"'The Industrial commission, 20
employees, receives $500 ,660, or an q,
erage of $l.29681 for each emplOye
an Increase Of 1929 per cent over tn
expenditure for this this work !. in 1909.
give the basis of your figures. Unde
Governor Harris the workmen of Obi
had no industrial insurance. Yet yo
make comparison with the cost OF tn
new compulsory workmen's compeI
sation, to which you add the previou
expenditures of seven boards OF n,
teen members.
"You failed to state that now ther
Is but one board Of only three men
bers, and that the increased activitie
and benefits under workmen's compel
sation have necessitated increase
cost and that the results are worth tn
price Nor did you state that th
commission has paid out nearl
$l,000.000 TO injured workmen and
widows and orphans Of killed worl
men at the cheapest cost to employer
In the country.
"Are you taking the place of Ii
Ohio Equity association, at the he's
OF organized liability companies, wi
. stand ready to spend millions to brea
down the yorkmen's compensate
law?
"Is It your purpose. II elected go
ernor. to tear apart the industri
; commission into the numerous uni
: from which IL was madeg !s It yo,
, idea to do away with the industr,
commission which administers II
: workmen's compensation fund
l