The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-09-20
COX MADE HOBOS
HELP TO WIN WAR
Governor Offered Migrants
Choice of Working or
Cein to Jail-and
working
OHIO ALWAYS READY
HER EXECUTIVE MET PROBLEMS
SUCCESSFULLY DURING THE
STRUGGLE AND THE RE-
CONSTRUCTION PERIOD

4. New York, Sept. 20-Making con-
structive patriots out of vagrants was
one Of the war achievements of Ohio,
already great In achievements. Be-
fore the Slogan. "work or Fight"
had become q nationwide command.
Ohio had applied the stern alternative
In slightly different phraseology.
"Work or go to jail-and work any
how" was her ultimatum.
How Governor Cox in his second
term dug up from the dust Of obliv-
ion q law which made vagrancy
not only q crime but an actual felony
ia told in his record as war and
reconstruction governor, set forth in
the Democratic Campaign Textbook
just issued from national headquar-
ters, Grand Central Palace, New York
City.
Governor Cox from the beginning
had realized that production In all
essential activities was a requisite
to the winning Of the war. Discov-
ering the almost forgotten statute
he issued proclamation calling for
the arrest of vagrants everywhere.
with the alternative of n parole on
condition that they went to work
Immediately, or Imprisonment at labor
on workhouse farms or the state
penitentiary farms and factories Most
Of the idlers chose to avoid imprison-
ment by finding jobs and going to
work
Cox as War Governor
The United States entered the war
with Germany in the fourth month OF
Governor Cox's second term and he
set about to make Ohio responsive TO
evcry call Of the nation for men. food
md commodities. AS farmer he
New the importance OF keeping the
delds manned for crop production
;lhat should be adequate to the needs
<6f the nation and the allies, and at
his suggestion. thousands Of high
shhool and college students received
4edits for completing the years school
work by engaging in farming or war
Industries.
To meet the situation Of reduced
man power on the farm caused by the
draft. Governor Cox issued farm
tractor proclamation" urging all farm
ers. II necessary to get fun acreage
under cultivation. to purchase tractors
A tractor school at Ohio State Univer-
sity afforded to men. women and boys
an opportunity to learn operation ot
tractors. the banks everywhere extend
cd credit and thousands of tractors
were purchased.
The states five free employment eX-
changes were increased to thirty-siX
with farm labor specialists at each
OF them. When the call came for
thousands OF cantonment and ship
Builders Ohn's quota was always FUR
n,shed by these exchanges overnight.
This service vas so well organized
that the federal government adopted
the Ohio plan. Most Of the war activ-
ities Of the state were handled through
defense council Of fifty members.
|the outgrowth OF Governor Cox's war
cabinet." whose personnel Included
Representatives Of business, labor, ag-
riculture and all the social agencies
Within three weeks after the decla-
ration Of war with Germany the Ohio
NATIONAL UtN wv HsN''
10 a strength of 27,0O0 officers and
men and later went over the top as
the Thlrty-seven,h Division The
Guard also furnished one regiment to
tho Rainbow Division In addition to
these troops. more than 100000
ohoans went into active service un-
der the draft Prior TO the adoption
OF the selective service act the state
was organized by counties through
The agencies OF common pleas judges.
DO that when the draft came nom
partisan boards were promptly set up
In every community and the law was
administered fairly and without taint
or scandal.
Ready for Reconstruction
The war ended soon after Governor
cox's third election and he attacked
continued on page y