The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-04-23
To Change The Constitution
Extending The Terms
Of The Elective Offices Of
The State Of Ohio

COlumDuS, w., April lV-GOVeTuOr
Willis is said to stand squarely behind
one proposition that has been offered
for consideration in the Eighty-first
geenral assembly. That proposition Is
for four years more Of Willis, to be
secured under a constitutional change
which would make the terms Of Office
Of elective state officials run four
years instead of two, and provide that
no official shall hold two consecutive
terms after the passage Of the act.
Coincident with this measure is the
plan to change the election laws to
provide for blanket ballot as of yore
so that the governor of the state and
his cohorts may be swept into Office in
the presidential landslide which some
Of the Republican brethren are consol-
ing themselves is going to happen their
way. In Ohio now the law provides
that separate ballots must be used,
and this would eliminate all chance
of Willis for reelection.
Governor Willis may lack ability as
a governor, but he does not lack po-
litical acumen or astuteness. He real
ICES that he has not done anything to
gain the confidence Of the people and
that he has estranged what supporters
he won by his campaign deceptions.
But he still has ambition for Office be-
cause of the salary connected there
with. He realizes that on his own
merits he has not the ghost of show.
and that the separation Of ballots plac-
es him as candidate for reelection
solely on his record, whereas he thinks
there is at least fighting chance for
a countrywide landslide, which, If the
Joint ballot be restored, will help his
bosom friend, Frank B. Willis. If luck
is to go his way he wants it to be
high tide, and this explains the bill to
make four year terms in all state Of
fees.
The rider on the Yeatman bill to
make tenure of appointive officers con-
current with the official life of the ap-
pointing power is too foolish for SER
ious consideration, and it is the opin-
ion that it is merely offered as an ex-
cuse for the other feature of long hold
ing desired by Willis.
1t must be comforting to the men,
bers of the Eighty-first general assem-
bly, to know that Governor Willis is
held personally responsible for their
shortcomings. Otherwise some of
them might hesitate to return to the
PAGES where people know them by
sight.
Nelson w. Aldrich lost an opportun-
ity to leave a monument of lasting
fame. Yet the comment on his life
was in the reporters story: when
Nelson Aldrich entered political life
he was poor man. He left fortune
estimated at from s1o.000.OO0 to $751;
000.0O0." 1t win be recalled that Mr..
Adrich helped to revise the tariff up
ward.
(sf -
At the beginning of the seventeenth
week the Eighty-first general assembly
shows no more Of q reason for life
than it did sixteen weeks earlier. II
has not done any good thus far, and 1t
has not done a great deal Of material
harm. Lack of leadership has rendered
it inane. But 1t is f1oundering in evil
ways. The worst it has done has been
to call attention to its work of making
Ohio back number, and this is ser.
ious enough when demonstration is
given of what it means. Starting with
the petty graft among the Legislative
members, then working into the lobby
scandal which involved the chief exec
utive. the stage of still worse things
is approached. At the time when Other