The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-08-20
State Feels War.

ments of the state. For a whole
week corporations and public utilities
have ceased to petition the state pub
lie utilities commission for permission
to issue stocks and bonds, form COM
binations and mergers, or to do any
of the other things depcting Industrial
activity. The formation of new cor
porations is slowing down perceptibly.
In normal times the announcement OF
dozen or even 20 new interpretations
in one day is not rare. Friday only
one incorporation was announced.
The same temporary cessation Of ac-
tivity is evidences in the various
other state departments, excepting
| those departments not closely related
to commercial and business life. The
whole aspect of things indicates
general marking of time. The busi-
ness world seems to be waiting, hold
ing its breath as 1t were, to see what
| happens on the other side OF the
waters. Meantime the state is feel
ing the new conditions directly in the
rise of the prices of food that must Be
fed to the 10000 public charges in the
various state institutions. Sugar,
beans, coffee, lemons, cheese and
other products have begun to shoot
skyward in price and because the
state is a big user of all of these
products the states purse is bound to
be touched soon, particularly if the
European war lasts very long. Tenn
porarily the state will be saved by the
fact that it has quite a large supply
of foodstuffs on hand or contracted
for at ante-war prices.
! A Public Benefactor.
If the present rise in the prices
of food stuffs can be checked in Ohio
the name of the late Peter j. Collins
of Canton will go down in history
as a public benefactor. Collins was
the author of the Ohio law making
it a felony for any food dealers
to effect a combination or even an
understanding to raise the price OF
food The Collins law makes 1t a pen
itentiary offense for any group OF per-
sons to combine to elevate food
prices. When Collins proposed his
law in 1912 no such situation as now
exists was even thought Of. Many Of
his colleagues laughed at the idea
that conditions ever could become 80
serious for the public that men would
have to be put in the state prison for
boosting the necessities of life. But
Collins argued that the future could
not be foretold and that If the public
ever got into place where 1t was
being squeezed by food sharks a law
carrying penitentiary sentence
would be extreemly convenient. His
law was passed, but without any very
serious fears on the part Of the Ohio
house and senate that it would need
to be used. That was in the winter Of
1918, less than two years ago. Its
author died only a few months after.
ward But he is best remembered for
his efforts in behalf of the people who
can't afford to pay extortionate rates
for food and by them always will be
fondly remembered.
Old Republican Dies.
One of the best known Of Ohios Re-
pOllLlSldAo HI LCSCAI yOoLo
was William Kirtley, jr., who died of
heart trouble at his home in Defiance.
In many respects Kirtley was a rare
political figure, for although he be-
gan his career without prestige and
although he never attained the abil-
ity to sway political audience by
oratory, he nevertheless for at least
L. do 20 ofn xuh
potential powers were fully recognized
by nearly all Republican office aspi-
rants. Kirtley was elected In 1902
member of the old state board of pub
lie works and was successively re.
elected until the new constitution Of
1912 abolished the board entirely.
Dark Horse Wins Out.
The unofficial announcement of the
nomination of ]. H. Arnold of Colum-
bus as candidate for the Republican
nomination for lieutenant governor
tells the story of the winning Of
typical dark horse" Arnold was not
thought to be in the running seriously
: until the actual results were an.
nounced. He had not made a state
wide campaign, and although he is
we'll known at the capital, he is not
we'll known throughout the state.
Either of his competitors was better
acquainted with the voters of the
state as a whole than was Arnold.
Yet it seems that Arnold has won in
the face of his comparative obscurity.
If he wins at the election heRwill be.
come lieutenant governor of the state
with an unique distinction, for he be-
gan life as a machinist, studied law &C
night, and fighting against odds, was
finally admitted to the bar.
Are Getting PeeVish.
Members of boards Of complaint in
: the various counties are getting
: peevish, according to the reports here,
because of the rather dismal prospects
! facing them in the way of salary.
Under the Warnes law there is estab.
: lished board Of complaints in each
' county. Each board consists of three
. members and the compensation OF
3 each ranges from S. to $40 a day
: But in the smaller places the mem
/ bers won't work more than 10 days
3 and they consequently viii not draw
Dare than $50 all told.
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