The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-04-13
And Controls The ActiOn Of
Gov. Willis
SeRg Of Assembly, MARY.
Lee We Roll AIORg'

Columbus, o., April 10--For the first
time in the history Of the state the ad
ministration of Ohio's government ap
pears completely dominated by Mary
q. Lee, of Westerville, who is recog
nized as the most pernicious of the
female lobbyists and perhaps the lead
er Of them all. This year she rules
the situation. She controls the actions
of Governor Willis and tbs said guides
his statements regarding legislation. In
the name of so-called school fedora
tion she is registered as legislative
agent. She says she works for the
Grange. So complete is her sway that
she has been granted a seat in the
Senate and has the use of desk.
She dominates the majority in the
House.
Hers was the influence that pulled
through the agricultural ripper which
now hangs fire in conference over a
minor matter. Hers was the power
which eliminated the agricultural in
structors. Hers is the directing hand
in all administration measures. Not
by personality so much as by fear she
rules the governor and the assembly.
She is not especially attractive in per-
son, she has no winsome ways, but
she cajoles and she threatens, button
holes and pats on back, and wins.
Her latest success is in the matter
of the school ripper. On March 20
she wrote her constituency: "The bill
that will pass will be introduced to-
night in both branches and will be
known as the Plumb-Stone bill" She
describes a conference with the gov
ernor, first naming Derthick, Laylin
and others, and reports further: 81
later called conference with Mr.. Der
thick, Mr.. Dawson, Mr.. Lewis and Mr.,
Ingleson, who with the Governor, Sena-
tor Myers and Stone, and Representa-
tives Plumb, Better and Danford spent
considerable time over the bill. Mr..
Derthick and myself also acted for the
Ohio State Grange" Yet this is not in
keeping with the Grange action against
a school ripper in the state meeting
at Chillicothe. Still further Mary Lee
says: "Then we abolished the agricul-
tural supervisors" These quotations
speak for themselves of the influence
Mary Lee has with Willis nor does
she seek to hide her sway or save the
oh fAN h,,v iot In
the conference herewith mentioned,
one of the men in attendance who
swore at her seeming power, said that
she would not permit the governor to
have voice. but when he attempted to
speak she said: Nov Governor, you
don't know what you are talking about.
Let me explain this. know what we
want and you don't, etc." and the ami
able governor subsided without further
word. Three or four times, it is said
he was sQuelched in like manner, and
Mary Lee had her way.
The Plumb-Stone bill was introduced
as scheduled and went to the schools
committee. This committee was fixed,
and late in the week at secret ses-
sion of the majority members. it was
decided to report the bill out for pas
sage. Report was not made out but
was signed in blank, it is said, and
placed at the disposal of the woman
lobbyist to be made out as the "ad-
ministration" might desire. On this
report the Plumb-Stone bill will be. ad-
vanced on calendar and passed. s
Governor Willis seems to have fallen
completely under the influence of Mary
Lee and her agents and in turn has
permitted the majority in the general
assembly to be oppressed by her. Re-
publican leaders do not hesitate to con-
demn this female lobbyist and her
ways but when put to test vote just
as she demands. The expressive thing
in the entire matter is that her de-