The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-10-13
GOVERNOR GIVEN
RESOUNDING SLAP
Former Senator Green Says
Liability Companies Are
For Executive

Columbus, Oct. 10-Governor Will
lis yesterday got his answer to the re-
iterated demand for a denial of his
charge that his predecessor, James M.
Cox, forced into the workmen's com.
pensation act, against the protest Of
organized labor, section. which per-
mitted liability insurance companies to
compete for business against the state
fund.
1t came from former Senator Will
liam Green, of Coshocton, author of the
law and Secretary of the International
Mine Workers Union, and 1t fatty con-
tradicted the Chief Executive, winding
up with this terse thump: "The EN-.
ployers' liability companies are for
Willis and against Cox. They know
who will be for them"
Specifically, Senator Green said that
no amendment had been made to the
bill over his protest or that Of organ
lied labor. The amendment over
which the turmoil exists, said the au-
thor, was agreed to by the labor rep
resentatives "as a matter of justice
to those employers who already had
provided compensation for injured
workmen voluntarily and had main
tanned hospitals at their own expense,
and who still do that of their own
free will"
Says Cox Barred EN-
1t was intended said Senator Green,
to bar liability insurance companies
forever, and while Cox was governor
the act was so construed. When Will
lis came in, and with Insurance Com
missioner Frank Taggart ruling, they
resumed business.
Green is now president of recently
formed league, whose purpose 1t is to
protect the workman's compensation
law in Ohio, and for that reason is re-
garded as speaking with expert au-
thority on the subject.
In his addresses Governor Willis as
serts that the amendment was placed
in the bill after a conference at the
home OF Governor Cox in this city.
This IL what Green says in reply to
this allegation. II wrote the compuls-
ory workmen's compensation law, Gov
ernor Cox supported the amendment to
the constitution permitting It. Gov
ernor Willis did not. Governor Cox
forced the laws passage against the
same employers liability insurance
companies that now support Governor
Willis because Willis permitted the
constructive weakening of law in re-
turn for their support in 1914.
81 was consulted with and agreed
In the amendment Of law without pro-
test as a matter of Justice to those en-
ployers who had provided compensa.
tion for injured workmen voluntarily,
and had maintained hospitals at their
own expense, and who still do that Of
their own free will.
Insurance Companies Resumed
1T was intended, and the amend
ment was framed on the best legal ad-
vice with that in view. that employ
ers' insurance companies should be
barred forever. Under Gov. Cox they
were barred. Under Governor Willis
and his Judge Taggart ruling the liza,
bility companies resumed business.
"The initiated statutory amendment
now sought by labor would not take
away the right of self insurance OF
employers, This is evidence that la
bor did not protest against this right
in the present Law, but the initiated
amendment would take away the rlgh
sought to be given the enemies of la
Dor by the Willis administration,
Governor Cox took direct anC
firm stand against the employers liza
buity insurance companies in 1914
The platform on which he is now |
candidate emphasizes that stand il
1915. Neither Governor Willis nor hi
platform is on record,
"rhe employers liability companie
are for Willis and against Cox. The,
know who will be for them"
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