The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-10-15

Columbus, o., Oct. 12-Within a
week after his appointment it has been
found necessary to demand the resig-
nation of State Inspector of Work
shops and Factories, George w. Bope,
of Columbus, because of repeated acts
of intoxication. Governor Frank b.
Willis was aware of the habits of this
man when he appointed him and men,
bers of the State Industrial Commits
sion strenuously but vainly objected
to executing the order issued from the
capitol to install him in office. To
make place for him the governor
commanded the dismissal of Thomas
p. Kearns of Dayton, who had been in
the Office for nearly seven years and is
sober, practical machinist who came
to the inspectorship from a superin-
tendency in the National Cash Regis
ter works. Bope is a lawyer with
nominal connection with the musi-
worked an hour in factory in his
life and knew nothing of the essen
tials of the great labor department
over which he was appointed TO gov.
e,n. His appointment was frankly ad-
mitted to be reward for his support
of the governor in 1914. Previously
he had campaigned for Bryan and for
Roosevelt.
The action was part and parcel OF
the governors program to break down
the present labor laws or at least pre-
vent them from operating in favor of
the working classes. The workmen's
compensation act has been butchered
through the permission issued by Will
lis's superintendent Of insurance to
casualty and liability insurance COM
panies in New York and Great Britain
to compete against the state and con-
spire against labor and through the
wholesale discharge of trained and ex-
perienced employees. In desperation
the State Federation of Labor is ap-
pealing to the supreme court to save
the law by overturning the insurance
commissioners construction. Prior to
the naming of Bope successive dis
charges and nominations transformed
The sub-departments in the Office of
the state inspector into farcical come
dies. Politicians without any training
were named to take the places of skill
ed workmen who for years have ad-
ministered the laws regulating their
occupations. The law requiring licens-
es of these new officials was ignored.
A travelling salesman was made state
boiler inspector; commission mer-
chant was appointed to check reports
of architectural and building examina-
tions; and a newspaper editor was
placed at a desk where ne was to
wise reports on strains and stressures
of metals. In Toledo grossly fat
election worker was given a position
as inspector OF steam boilers and had
to be removed when it was found that
it was an impossibility for him to get
into boiler manhole.
The climax came when Bope, the
lawyer. was designated as chief of the
department which has to do with the
safety and health Of every factory
worker in Ohio, male and female. His
drunkenness was open and scandalous,
but no action was taken until an in
dignant citizen who had been abused
by the new official went to the state
house and filed formal complaint.
Then it transpired that Rev. 2. E..
Campbell, of the state civil service
commission. Lieut.. Gov. John H. Ar
mold. DR.. Clarence Maris, of the state
fire marshal's Office, and other Willis
appointees, had seen him intoxicated
before and after his appointment and
prior to his attack on the complainant
But they held their peace and he would