The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-07-02
ACTIVITY
OF LOBBY
In Connection With Session
Of Legislature
Is Shown In The Meagre
Statements Filed
In Partial Compliance With
Anti.LObby Law
Meeting To Be Held In Col.
umbuS Next Week
To Start Referendum On Con.
greSSiOnal Gerrymander

Columbus, o., July Evidence of
questionable lobby activity in connec-
tion with the last session of the legis-
lature is given in even the meagre
statements filed in partial compliance
with the anti-lobby law. Though the
law has not been fully met in the re-
ports, there is acknowledgment of en-
tertainment for legislators at suppers
and theatres by certain interests who
got WHAT THEY WANTED with
Willis signing the bill, and yet much
of the hedonic influence used is not
told. There is no admission of the
part played by certain sirens in at
tempt at seduction of legislators nor
reports of amounts paid them by their
employers. Some of the evidence
may be locked in the safe of the at
torney general, as it is whispered in
the state house corridors where de-
tectives tramped for time. It is
said that comparison of the detectives
reports and those of the lobby will be
made. 1t is probably up to the at
torney general to show that the lobby
law is not dead letter, the governor
apparently having acquiesced in the
methods employed. OF course, it can
not be overlooked that corrupt in
fluences took certain campaign state
ments to mean that under the pres
ent administration they were to be
accorded privileges.
Reports from normal schools of the
state show unprecedented enrolment
for the summer season. Ohio Univer-
sity reports that it's summer school
is crowded, while the condition at
Ohio State University is satisfactory,
Notwithstanding the political scandal
there. At the latter place more than
500 teachers are taking special cours-
es This indicates that teachers are
preparing themselves for more eff
cient work as demanded by the new
Ohio school code, which came so near
destruction in the Willis legislature.
Persons interested in having the
voters reject the Willis gerrymander
of the state in congressional district
reapportionment which deprives the
Democrats of fair representation in
congress of the United States will
meet in Columbus next Wednesday
to arrange for a referendum cam
paign. This includes congressman
and prospective candidates. Petitions
are now in the hands of the printer
and will be distributed in few days.
Interest manifested is greater than
was anticipated. Democrats as a
whole are against the gerrymander
because it gives Ohio only five Demo
cratic congressman as against seven
teen Republicans, and independent
voters join with the Democrats be-
cause they are generally opposed to
gerrymanders. Republicans are not
at all unit in the matter because the
reapportionment was to serve certain
political ambitions at the cost OF 9TH
ers and in several cases at the cost
OF public good. The fact that If al
lowed to stand the gerrymander
might swing the next congress
against President Wilson will prove
good argument for the referendum.
Here's the end of the first six
months of the Willis administration.
Commenting on this visitor to the
capitol said: "Well, it looks just
about the same around here. / don't
see that any Of the state offices have
been moved back into the state house.
They do tell me that they are going
to build a new office building to house
the outside offices and pay for 1t out
of interest on state funds. When Will