Part 3 (2/2)

A startling co the administration of Governor cox's successor, disclosed by contrast the value of the peaceful plan Through a policy of uncertainty and wavering, a riot was allowed to start andlost in the process

The details of the incidents of similar nature to that of Akron need not be recounted here, but the invariable policy pursued was the collection of all the facts, so far as possible, by a representative of capital and one of labor Of this course, the simple statement can be made that it was eminently successful

This recital has been reat steel strike of 1919 on which the Governor's faely rests The saation and research was pursued Soleiven that freedoidly but that neither must become the instrument of license nor of subversive speech or conduct At the tie the Governor issued this statement:

”To the Mayors of municipalities and County Sheriffs of Ohio:

”I am impressed with the importance of a statement to the uide to government, both state and local, in the matter of turbulent conditions which have developed inindustrial disputes

”We have inquiry at the executive office fro that no rule of action has been developed in the face of present eencies and further that none is in prospect The constitution imposes upon the Governor the very definite responsibility of law enforcement While it is the duty of the mayor of a municipality and the sheriff of the county to execute the laws, the founders of our charter of governht to keep vigilant eye on conditions in every coation so to do Therefore, in no part of the state must a public officer permit the violation of the law The mayors and sheriffs seem to have proper concept of their duty in the abstract The purpose of this statement is to deal with specifications

”The sections of the state which give the greatest concern have large masses of alien residents Thousands of thee They are not familiar with our laws but it is safe to assume that the individual conscience tells every

”Officers of co plants are closed by strike or other cause have expressed to me the intention to resume operations At the same time they have asked for 'protection' Inquiry develops this fact--that soovernment to transport their employees into and out of the plants in question This is not a function of governhout the years, the policy has been not to make use of soldiers nor policemen to man street cars, for instance, nor in any way toa strike to an end If either state or local officers provided safe conveyance of workovernent of one of the parties to the dispute If, however, the plant resumes, and disorder of any sort ensues as the result of e into or out of the factory, then that becoovernmental concern and the mayor of the municipality or the sheriff of the county, as location within or without the ely determines, must suppress violence and arrest those who violate the law I shall exact this fro as we understand it is neither prohibited by law nor condeo no further than overnovernment will not live unless the laws are respected They not only express what experience has taught us, but they are the official mandate of the will of the majority, and after all, that is a fundamental principle in a republic

”All officers must act with care It will be found that trouble can often be avoided by an open, frank and firm contact of public officers with both the representatives of the employers and employees No call that I have ever one unheeded

”We are in the midst of unprecedented conditions, but if we devote ourselves to the single thought of ency of justice and the instru swift punishment to those who violate the laws of this coh the storm safely

”No man must be permitted to define the rules of his individual conduct The law is supreme I shall expect its enforcement by local officers When they have rendered their utmost effort and failed to meet conditions, then the state will act pro was sufficient, but in Canton it became necessary for the Governor to remove the mayor His successor speedily re-established the peace

CHAPTER VI

HOW HE HAS DEALT WITH INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

The story of the result of Governor cox's treatment of industrial issues is told in his parallel of statements from Thomas J Donnelly, Secretary of the Ohio Federation of Labor, and W S Tho manufacturer

Statement by Donnelly:

”Before Ohio had a Workmen's Compensation Law, only twenty per cent of the injured workers, or the s and children of deceased workers, were paid any co whatever When cox was first elected governor, about five per cent of the workers of Ohio were covered under an optional Workovernor was to insist upon the passage of a Workmen's Compensation Law that would benefit all the workers In this he h his determined efforts the opposition was overcome and the laas passed To-day the Ohio State Insurance Fund is the largest carrier of workmen's compensation insurance, public or private, in the world More than acollected by this fund, all of which is paid out for compensation and medical treatment for the injured workers or the dependents of those who are killed in the course of eent need in the state that the e people of Ohio now look upon it as an accomplishment that outshi+nes any other achieveislative agents of the Ohio State Federation of Labor show that fifty-six laws in behalf of laboring people were passed during cox's three ter the exploitation of wo forfor safety codes to protect life, limb and health and numerous other beneficentsense of right and wrong, and the exercise of an unusual coe in expression, have been the controlling factors in his successful relationshi+p with the business interests of the state

”A single exaanized labor and organized capital in Ohio have eneral asseonism This was evidenced by the opposition of each to the proposedand little accoestion that these organizations, represented by the State Federation of Labor and the Ohio Manufacturers'

association, through their executive officers, shouldto the interest of either Finally this plan was adopted, and it is the testi tat it did reat deal towards sane and safe legislation There is not known any instance of this plan being adopted in any other state of the Union The fruit of this sensible procedure is that there are no laws in Ohio that haer property interests, and at the saislation that proives labor its due, and helps the weak and needy

”Athree administrations would be a failure at the very outstart if he resorted to devious conduct or political duplicity He has but one e To reach this position he had to have courage, be truthful, exercise sound and practical business judg to the betterment of the condition of his fellow-islation is the Workmen's Compensation Law, the story of which is told in the state archives, in theof his first term as Governor in 1913, Governor cox said:

”It would certainly be common bad faith not to pass a compulsory Work the last careater elaboration, and it enerally that regardless of the differences of opinion existing for many years, the justice of the compulsory feature is now admitted Much of the criticism of the courts has been due to the trials of personal injury cases under the principles of practice which held the fellow-servant rule, and assurounds of defense The lay the lines of common sense, and the practice in personal injury cases has been so sharply in conflict with the plain fundaht, that social unrest has been much contributed to A second phase of this whole subject which has been noted in the developreat industrialism of the day has been the inevitable aniation growing out of these cases The individual or the corporation that ee scale has taken insurance in liability companies, and, in too many instances, cases which admitted of little difference of opinion have been carried into the courts