The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-07-13
Another Ada Graduate Is Civ.
en- A Position
Seeking In Vain For Offices
Returned To Capitol


petitions have been placed in circula-
ton seeking to bring to vote of the
people the Infamous congressional
gerrymander made purely for political
purposes by the Willis general assem-
bly,. The petitions are being circulat-
ed through the regular Democratic Or
ganization in keeping with the decision
of the state committees.
Every citizen, who believes in fair
play for President Wilson, should sign
one of the petitions and should vote
against the gerrymandering act next
November. He should urge every
neighbor to do likewise. 1t is time a
stop was put to the gerrymander busi-
ness in this state as it will be If the
people act in this case.
The Sprague gerrymander bill seeks
to divide Ohio so as to make possible
the election of II Republicans and
only Democrats, and for the benefit
of certain Republican districts it
makes the election of Republicans in
other districts impossible
The redistricting act of the preced-
ing general assembly, made necessary
to conform to the 1910 census was a
much fairer division. Under it the
Republicans elected 13 congressman
and the Democrats g. The average
vote would make more equal divi-
sion.
Next year there will likely be uni
versal demand for the return of Presi-
cratic congress to support him, be-
cause he will heed men to help him
who are in sympathy with his views.
The difference in political complexion
of three congressmen-or even one or
two-may mean the swing of the bal
ance in congress. This fact makes
the gerymander of general import
ance and should override any petty
feeling in local quarters where the
partisans of President Wilson think
they have been given personal
strength. Every Democratic congress
man, and every aspirant for 1916, owes
1t to his state, to his party and to the
national administration, to assist in
every way possible to overthrow the
Willis gerrymander. That this will be
done was indicated at meeting at
tended by Congressman Sherwood, AL
len, Keyes and Overmeyer, who ar
ranged for a future meeting at which
all interested will be invited to attend
Meanwhile the work of getting sigma
lures to petitions is going forward.
Sorting out from number of strong
contenders Governor Willis selected
another Ada graduate for the import
ant post of state fire marshal to sue
ceed E. r. Defenbaugh, whose record
has been remarkable in efficiency ant
executive management The lucky
Adam is Bert B. Buckley, who also
qualities further by being a member
of the Republican Central Committee
Buckley has been practising law ant
politics in Dayton for several years
and has been candidate for Offices
both elective and appointive hitherto
but without success until he pleaded
his Ada certificate after Willis be
came governor.
One of the favorite pastimes of visit
ors to Columbus now is sight seein,
trip around the Capitol to learn hov
many of the "outside" offices Willis
walled were unnecessary, have beel
returned" to the Statehouse. Re
markable as it may seem the tourist Il
truthfully informed that with all tn
noise he made about it Willis not on
ly has not returned" any of the offic
es. but the floor space now used /
many thousand feet greater than