The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-11-01

such authority being in keeping
with the partys position as to
local Home Rule"
In a message to the General Az
gembly ! said
Il recommend that the protec-
ton afforded the taxpayers OF the
state by the one per cent tax
limitation law be retained While
there has been much agitation In
favor of breaking down this limi-
tation altogether In my Judgment
repeal OF this law would be In
fmical to the best interests OF the
people OF the state, and In the
long run, would be detrimental to
the very municipalities which
feel that their progress would be
enhanced through the repeal Of
the law. However, some method
must be provided whereby in
terest and sinking fund charges
for existing municipal indebted
ness can be cared for"
Mr.. Willis called attention to his
messages to the legislature. Tecfting
the conditions In many Ohio cities,
and to the reports of State Auditor
Donahey on this question. Then he
said:
tion has studiously ignored the situ-
alton above set forth. and by hiding
its head in the sand has sought to
make the people believe that there is
no difficulty in municipal finance. The
Republicans Of Ohio affirm their con-
yiction that the beneficent results Of
the Smith One Per Cent Law shall in
no way be diminished by legislative
action. yet they recognize the ex-
istence OF the situation which de-
mands relief and 1t therefore cour-
ageously faces this question. which
the present state administration has
eyaded and failed to solve.
Schools Face Disaster
The schools of the state are face
20 face with financial disaster. This
condition has bees brought to the att
tention of the present state admins
tration repeatedly, yet no effort has
been made to solve the problem,
other than by unsought advice to the
school people that they should st
still and not rock the boat. That is
the trouble with the educational
principles OF the present Democratic
state administration. 1t wants the
schools TO sit still and they have
been sitting so still that many Of
them are perishing for lack Of sup
port. Many schools are now without
teachers and consequently a large
number Of Ohio pupils Will not be
able to obtain the henest of the com
mon schools. The Republican party
In It's platform pledges such iesIsia-
tion as will furnish sufficient funds
10 maintain the schools OF the state
and to afford relief TO the schools
that are now In financial distress.
Ohio Proud Of colored citixena
Ohio Republicans are proud Of the
record by our colored citizens both in
peace and In war. Colored soldiers
dt q nov h5liIi6 lhC DaItAC Va iiDOl ~
on European soil 1t is strange and
vet fitting coincidence that this race
emancipated and brought into Its own
under the leadership of Abraham Lin
coin, and the Republican party should
now be the one called upon to play a
dom not only for colored men but for
white men the world over. A race
that is great enough to contribute SO
much to history in time of peace and
to shed its blood for the nations
honor In time of war Is too great a
race to be insulted and belittled In
such a profiiteering motion picture
as the Birth of Nation This un-
historical and malignant film was ex-
cluded from Ohio during Republican
administration but was Immediately
admitted as soon as Democrats came
into power. This Objectionable in,
sulting film having been barred from
the state during the whole time Of the
last Republican state administration.
has been shown generally over Ohio
throughout the present Democratic
state administration TO the hurnilia.
tion OF our colored citizens but now
another election is approaching and
accordingly it is announced In the
daily press that this film is with.
drawn and that the Birth OF Ma
ton Is not to be shown I'm Ohio dur
ing the war 1t is further stated In
the press that this action was taken
at the request OF Governor Cox as O
means of preventing race antagonism
between white and colored people al
time when united efforts Of both are
needed to win the war" IL this film
promotes race antagonism between
the white and colored people in time
OF war, 1t certainly would have the
same effect In time Of peace. The
reason now assigned for barring the
film from the state has been in ex
istence all the time. The only rea
son why action is now had by the
present Democratic state administra
tion is because 1t hopes thereby te
. secure a portion of the vote ol
colored citizens, but colored citizens
will not be fooled by any such deatt
bed conversion to principles OF fair