The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-06-18
LITTLE
DREAMED.
How Strong Would Be The
Public Sentiment
n Support Of Pres. Wilson
And His Policies
When Willis Legislature
Obeyed Governors Orders
To Pass The Bill Gerryman-
dering Congress Districts
To Take From President
Support He Should Have
To Pass The Bill Gerryman-
dering Congress Districts

Columbus, O., June 15-When on the
last day of it's session the Willis legis-
lature on orders direct from the gov
ernor's Office SO arranged the districts
of Ohio that the Democrats might have
only five of the twenty-five congress.
man of the state it was little dreamed
how strong would be the sentiment in
support of President Wilson and his
policies. Nor did even the Democratic
committees know how popular would
prove their decision\to call for refer
endum on the unfair Willis unwanted
and unnecessary gerrymander Of con-
gressional districts. Now it appears
that the public welfare and idea of
fair play will entirely override any per-
sonal advantage thoughts. Ohio voters
will eagerly await the perfection of
the referendum election so that they
may emphatically assert their support
of the Wilson policies.
Not only is the issue one of national
import, but it is also of local effect in
asmuch as Governor Willis is accused
of double-dealing in the matter. While
driven by popular feeling to issue a
statement to stand by the president, f,
on the same day he used his influence
over the legislature with his club of
patronage to secure partisan advan-
tage and deprive Wilson of the sup
port in congress which is his just due
from Ohio. Therefore, it is consider
ed that a vote to sustain the present
equitable districting of the state and to
refuse the Willis gerrymander will be
not only upholding the hands of the
president, but will be repudiating the
partisan attack of the Willis legisla.
ture on the Wilson administration.
Regarding the decision of the Demo
referendums, the Dayton Daily News,
owned by former Governor James M.
Cox, speaks in approving manner, as
follows:
The Democratic state central COM
mittee acted wisely in yetoing the sug-
gestion of submitting the laws passed
by the present state administration to
referendum this fall. The plan as
adopted calls only for the reference of
the Sprague bill, which is pure polit-
ical gerrymander of congressional dis
tricts. Public opinion is well-fixed and
concrete with reference to the present
state administration. There is neither
exaggeration or elaboration in the
statement that it has worked a pure
travesty on constructive government,
and in no part of the state is there
found any one with an intelligent un'
derstanding of governmental matters
who makes so bold as to defend the
present regime. Every official act has
been positive refutation of the claims
made during the campaign of 1914
Deficit was charged in the treasury
and the largest cash balance in the his
tory of the commonwealth was shown
"The claim was presented also, thai
space in Office buildings was being un
necessarily rented for state depart
ments, and the unqualified promise
was made that they would all be pu
in the state house. The legislative de
velopments show the necessity of al
office building to be built and owned
by the government, and 1t is proposed
to pay for it with interest on the sur
plus in the state treasury. Never be
fore in the history of man has defic
it been known to bear interest.
1.-THE governor in his inaugural ad
dress said there would be no relation
whatever with the legislature = tina
the executive and legislative branch
es of government were separate by cor
stitutional provision, and should re
main so. Following this policy whic
was held to in the early days of tn