USA > Ohio > History of Ohio; the rise and progress of an American state, Volume Four > Part 23
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RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
From a painting by T. C. Webber in the Capitol in Columbus.
Born in Delaware, Ohio, October 4, 1822; graduated from Kenyon College, 1842, and admitted to the bar, 1845; removed to Cincinnati; became City Solicitor, -1858; offered his services on the first call for volunteers in 1861, and was appointed Major of the Twenty-Third Ohio In- fantry; served with distinction during the war, rising to Brevet Major General (March 13, 1865); member of Con- gress, 1865-67, and reelected; Governor, 1868-72, and elected for a third time, 1875; nineteenth President of the United States, 1877-81; died in Fremont, Ohio, January 17, 1893.
THE RISE AND PROGRESS
His subsequent career has been narrated in these pages. When his 2HYAH CHAHona Broadantuhe retired to his homai dotige rent mi, nsddow, and ve gminieqhistime to chari- table, educational and philanthropic laderjo In 1887 Betsubsig : $$81 A Todotod oido weiswssd ai modUniversit rusted of the
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man.oinQ |@nomsthe chillbeibh;8-regiulastsfer maintenantyears, a upon the breaking out of the RedeNtoswHel prompi offered his services to his adopted country. For gall conduct at Resaca, he was brevetted a Brigadi General. In 1866 he was elected one of the repro- sentatives from Hamilton county and in 1872 he chosen as Senator. In 1875 he was elected Lien tenant Governor. His administration of the remain of Governor Hayes's term was devoid of events of pub lic interest. He died July 20, 1888, at Cincinnal
The Centennial of the Republic was celebrated Jim 4, 1876, by a National Exposition at Philadelph Ohio's part in that great enterprise will be given detail in a subsequent chapter. In addition, hower to participating in the Exposition, the Centennial celebrated all over the State by festivities and rel ings commensurate with the day. The great and the small towns made the Fourth of this year occasion of a carnival of patriotism. One featu. this Centennial year is especially deserving of meni This was the publication by many counties, cities towns of centennial histories that have done mwe
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preserve their local records. This collection of publi- cations has added greatly to the historical literature of the State, and has preserved much of the record of the past that otherwise would have been lost. They form a fruitful source of information for the historians of to-day and of the future, and are the only permanent remains of the celebrations of that important year. The State also contributed to this literature. The General Assembly authorized the publication of "A History of Education in the State of Ohio," "Historical Sketches of Public Schools in Cities, Villages and Town- ships of the State of Ohio," and "Historical Sketches of the Higher Educational Institutions, and also of Benevolent and Reformatory Institutions of the State of Ohio." These three volumes are lasting monuments to the greatness of Ohio, and are a faithful reflection of the marvelous educational and eleemosynary work per- formed by the State in the first century of the Republic.
Following the joyous Centennial year came one of great public disturbance and distress, which materially affected Ohio in business and politics. This was the great railway strike on the principal trunk lines-the Pennsylvania, the Baltimore and Ohio, the Erie, the New York Central and all their western extensions. The strike commenced July 14, 1877, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and spread rapidly over the country. In Ohio the railroad centers were the scenes of military preparations to prevent violence, and near-rioting was the condition for weeks. In Stark and Wayne counties strikes prevailed among the coal miners, growing out of the railroad situation. But no serious disorder, violence or lawlessness developed in the State.
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In the midst of this threatening and strained con- dition of the public mind, the Republican State Con- vention met August Ist, at Cleveland. The party was broken with factional differences growing out of President Hayes's Southern policy, and was neces- sarily agitated by the existing conflict between capital and labor. There was much ill-feeling in the Con- vention and great confusion as to what to do. Judge Alphonso Taft, of Cincinnati, and Judge William H. West, of Bellefontaine, were the leading candidates for Governor. Judge Taft had been a candidate for the nomination two years before at Cincinnati against Governor Hayes. Judge West was nominated on the second ballot. The Convention had no sooner ad- journed than trouble commenced for the Republicans. In the evening an immense ratification meeting was held in the Public Square. Senator Stanley Matthews and Judge West were the principal speakers, and it was evident from the boisterous interruptions of the Senator's speech that turbulent strikers were present. Judge West was an old campaigner and a great popular orator. The loss of his sight and his powerful eloquence had given him the name of the "Blind Man Eloquent." Tall, gaunt and impressive, he had swayed audiences in Ohio in every campaign since the beginning of the Republican party. But with all his experience and judgment he was about to make the political mistake of his life.
He had scarcely spoken a dozen sentences when he had the crowd, strikers and all in full sympathy with him. He said that he did not own any Government bonds, bank stock, railroad bonds or stocks, and never expected
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to do so. He said that if he had the power he would try an experiment, at least. "I would prohibit the great railroad corporations, the great thoroughfares of business and trade, from so reducing their rates by ruinous competition as to disable themselves from paying a just compensation to their operators. I would go further and try the experiment-but I do not know that it would succeed-I would arrange and fix a minimum of prices for all who labor in the mines and upon the railroads, and then require that of all the net receipts and proceeds of the capital invested, [sic] the laborer at the end of the year should, in addition to his fixed compensation, receive a certain per cent of the profits. Then, if the profits were insufficient to compensate you as liberally as you could otherwise desire, bear with your employers a portion of the loss. But if their receipts be sufficient to make a division, we would in God's name let the laborer, who is worthy of his hire, share a portion of the profits."
This speech was received with general dissatisfac- tion by the Republicans, and was a decisive factor in Judge West's defeat at the election. It was regarded by the conservative class, and by manufacturers and farmers, generally as too socialistic for a Republican candidate for Governor.
The Democratic candidate for Governor was Richard M. Bishop, a successful business man of Cincinnati. His only political experience was as Mayor of that city, to which office he was elected in 1859. His record was that of a plain and honest citizen, colorless in his views, having no connection with the political controversies or contests within his party. He was
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elected by the plurality of 22,520. The "third party" vote, composed mostly of working men, was unusually large this year-29,500. The entire Democratic State ticket was also elected, as well as the Legislature by a majority of forty-four Democrats on joint ballot. On January 10, 1878, George H. Pendleton was chosen United States Senator to succeed Stanley Matthews for the term commencing March 4, 1879.
In 1879 the Republicans determined to make a strong effort to wrest the State from the Democrats. For ten years, elections had been extremely close, and during that time the head of the Democratic State ticket had been elected three times-in 1873, 1874 and 1877; while in the elections of 1876 and 1878 the Republican majorities were very meager. The Democrats declined to renominate Governor Bishop, owing to dissatisfaction among the politicians of his party over the distribution of the official patronage. The candidate was General Thomas Ewing, of Lancas- ter, and with him Americus V. Rice was nominated for Lieutenant Governor, thus presenting the unusual example of two former Union generals on the same ticket. General Ewing was recognized as one of the ablest Democrats in the State. Coming from a family distinguished for its services to the country in peace and war, he certainly was one to command the support of his party and the respect of his opponents. The Republican candidate was Charles Foster, of Fostoria. In private life he was a well-to-do country merchant, and the Democrats called him "Calico Charlie," from his occupation as a general storekeeper. With a genial and democratic disposition he was popular with all
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who knew him; and while he made no pretensions to statesmanship, he was elected three times to Congress in a Democratic district. In the Gubernatorial campaign Mr. Foster made the first application of "practical politics" to Ohio. He was a gifted master of details and introduced the system of preëlection polling of the voters, thereby estimating in advance the results of election day. He was a firm believer in "organiza- tion" and to him must be given the questionable credit of first spending large sums of money in a State cam- paign. He organized his forces like an army, and in every county he selected workers whom he "hired" to get out the Republican voters at the polls. To him politics was business, and he applied to it all the methods and system that made his mercantile career a success.
The money question and the fact that the year preceded the Presidential election, gave the campaign a National cast. General Ewing's candidacy served to intensify the issue. He was one of the foremost champions of the greenback idea, and had, while in Congress, introduced a bill to repeal the "Resumption Act." He secured its passage through the House, but it was defeated in the Senate. Since that time resump- tion had become an accomplished fact, and the country had entered upon an era of prosperity and financial solidity. As might be expected, General Ewing was unable to hold the vantage that his party had in Ohio, and Charles Foster was elected by a plurality of 17,129.
In the Presidential political field Ohio figured very conspicuously, her public men of both parties playing an active part. John Sherman was the choice of the
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Republicans of Ohio, and Allen G. Thurman of the Democrats, for the nomination for the Presidency. In their respective parties they had no superiors for ability, high character and National distinction. Mr. Sherman's record in Congress and as Secretary of the Treasury had placed him on the highest plane of statesmanship. His successful accomplishment of the resumption of specie payment had stamped him as a financier to be classed with Alexander Hamilton. Judge Thurman's career in the Senate had given him a place among the great characters of his time. As an incorruptible and rugged public man, he was called "the noblest Roman of them all," and he was affectionately referred to as the "old Roman." In the Senate he was no mere partisan; his abilities as a constitutional lawyer gave him great influence among his colleagues, whether he was in the majority or minority. This was due to the confidence reposed in him growing out of the knowledge that his great reasoning powers on constitutional ques- tions were exercised for his country rather than for his party. As chairman of the judiciary committee he was regarded as the highest authority on law. Senator Conkling, of New York, himself a great lawyer, on one occasion, in a speech in the Senate, said: "When I speak of the law I turn to the Senator from Ohio as the Mussulman turns toward Mecca. I turn to him as I do to the English common law, as the world's most copious fountain of human jurisprudence."
Both of these eminent Ohioans failed to attain the Presidency. Both were denied the great honor on account of petty spite and jealousy in their parties. In the Republican National Convention of 1880, James
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A. Garfield, who was Secretary Sherman's manager, and who presented his name in a speech which was a model of eloquence, power and rhetoric, received the nomination. In the Democratic National Conven- tion the divided counsels of the Ohio Democracy offered the names of Senator Thurman and Henry B. Payne. Thus Ohio destroyed her influence and power and the greatest Democrat of his time was defeated.
General Garfield, after a campaign of great bitter- ness, was elected President. Within a few weeks he became involved in a political difference over patronage with Senators Platt and Conkling, of New York. This resulted in an open rupture in the Republican party, and out of it grew the "stalwart faction." A crazy partisan, who said he was identified with this faction, influenced by the political situation, shot President Garfield, July 2, 1881. He lingered with much pain and suffering until September 19th, when he died. His tragic death deeply impressed all Christen- dom, and messages of sympathy came from all the powers of the earth. To Ohio, where he was so well known and so deeply loved, the loss seemed personal.
In 1881 Governor Foster was renominated. The Democratic nominee was John W. Bookwalter. It was a year in which there was no politics. While the President's life was suspended in the balance no interest was manifested in public affairs. When his death was announced, both Republican and Demo- cratic State committees, by mutual agreement, can- celled all political meetings until after the funeral at Cleveland. But public interest could not be aroused. The same disinterestedness appeared at the polls. The
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Republican vote fell off over 62,000, and the Democratic over 52,000. The Republicans elected their full State ticket and carried both branches of the Legislature. Governor Foster's plurality was 24,309.
In the two administrations of Governor Foster he brought to bear upon State affairs the same business rules and integrity that he had exercised in his private enterprises. The result was that they were models for economic management and honest dealing. He was the first Governor to urge and secure the taxation of the liquor traffic in Ohio. It was through his influ- ence that the "Pond Law," the first enactment of that nature, was passed. This question became one of the vital issues of the time. The opposition to any legis- lation of this nature was bold, organized and effective, and it required no little courage for the leader of the Republican party to favor taxation. But Governor Foster took this position, and for a while he was unsuc- cessful in accomplishing results. As the subject of liquor taxation and regulation is one of the most inter- esting and important in the economic and political history of the State, its origin, progress and develop- ment will be treated in concentrated detail in a later chapter.
In the State election of 1883 the contending candi- dates for Governor were George Hoadly, Democrat, and Joseph Benson Foraker, Republican. They were both Cincinnati lawyers; both had served as Superior Court judges in that city; both were energetic and brilliant campaigners; and both on this occasion were making their initial appearances as political leaders. Judge Hoadly, to his intense chagrin, was smitten soon
CHARLES FOSTER
From a painting by E. F. Andrews in the Capitol in Columbus.
Born near Tiffin, Ohio, April 12, 1828; was success- fully engaged in business many years; member of Congress, 1871-79; Governor, 1880-84; Secretary of the Treasury under President Benjamin Harrison, 1891-93; died in Springfield, Ohio, January 9, 1904.
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Republican vote fellifadezarAH, and the Democr over 5 mjdotiqso Trø iRwerbeAida As vdlsuiteidq thain Full Sta ticket and carried both branches of thedmulog. Legislatun
brought bibite-Jesi moinsH ainsined tropico Johan upon siate affairs rules and integrity that he had exercised in his priva enterprises. The result was that they were mod for economic management and honest dealing. was the first Governor to urge and secure the taxaf of the liquor traffic in Ohio. It was through his in ence that the "Pond Law," the first enactment of t nature, was passed. This question became one of z vital issues of the time. The opposition to any le: lation of this nature was bold, organized and effecti and it required no little courage for the leader of Republican party to favor taxation. But Gover Foster took this position, and for a while he was uns! cessful in accomplishing results. As the subject liquor taxation and regulation is one of the most int eiling and important in the economic and politi history of the State, its origin, progress and devel ment will be treated in concentrated detail in a la chapter.
In the State election of 1883 the contending cai dates for Governor were George Hoadly, Democ! and Joseph Benson Foraker, Republican. They v both Cincinnati lawyers; both had served as Supe Court judges in that city; both were energetic brilliant campaigners; and both on this occasion making their initial appearances as political lead Judge Hoadly, to his intense chagrin, was smitter
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after his nomination with malarial illness, which pre- vented him from delivering any speeches until a few days before the election. But his rival, in the enjoy- ment of health and activity, canvassed the State with the greatest thoroughness and ability. The sick and silent Hoadly was elected, and the well and fluent Foraker had to bide other times. The election of Judge Hoadly was due entirely to the dissatisfaction of the German Republicans of the State with the legis- lation relating to the taxation and regulation of the liquor traffic. The fear of "sumptuary legislation" as a supposed infringement of personal liberty operated to drive them from the Republican party. Another factor of the same nature was the endorsement by the Republican State Convention of the submission of two constitutional amendments, one for regulation and taxation of the liquor traffic, and the other for prohibition. Judge Foraker stood firmly for the taxa- tion side of the issue, and hence his defeat.
Judge Hoadly's plurality was 12,529, and the Demo- cratic State ticket was elected, together with a Legis- lature of like political persuasion. On January 15, 1884, Henry B. Payne was elected United States Sena- tor, Senator Pendleton thus being refused a reelection.
Governor Hoadly was born in New Haven, Connecti- cut, July 31, 1826, of distinguished New England ancestry. Coming in childhood with his parents to Cleveland, Ohio, he was educated for the bar, and soon after admission engaged in practice in Cincinnati as junior member of the firm of Salmon P. Chase. As a
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young lawyer he was somewhat concerned in defenses of fugitive slaves-activities to which he always referred with pride in after life. At the age of twenty-five he was elected by the Legislature Judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati, and subsequently was twice elected by the people to that bench as reorganized. In his entire career he never held any other responsible public office, with the single exception of Governor. Essentially a lawyer-and one of the soundest and most accomplished of his generation,-he seems never to have mastered the intricacies and ingenuities of the political avocation, though always greatly attracted to it. This is indeed curious, for Hoadly lacked nothing of those personal recommendations which most readily engage the interest, respect and affections of men. He was of bold and decisive opinion, tenacity and remarkable consistency in his positions on public questions; a logical, acute, and eminently appealing speaker; a tireless worker; and in his private character conscientious, loyal, and most open, amiable, and kindly. In early life an adherent of the Democratic party, he left it on the issue of the Union, supported the Republican organization until the adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment, was a leader in the Liberal Republican movement, and afterward, reviving in full animation the merely suspended love of his youth, advocated with exceeding zeal the venerable faith of the Democratic fathers to the severe exclusion of greenbackism and other newfangled interpolations. As Governor he is entitled to grateful remembrance for
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his powerful plea to abolish the mischievous October elections (Message, 1885); and his Administration was altogether creditable to the State and honorable to his personal reputation for integrity, sense, and firm- ness.
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T HE year 1884 is memorable for three sinister and calamitous events-the great Ohio River flood, the Cincinnati riots, and the Hocking valley strike.
The historical flood of 1832 has already been referred to in Volume III, Chapter XIV. In that year the river at Cincinnati reached a height, on February 18th, of sixty-four feet and three inches, much exceeding anything before known. There was an approximation to this record in 1847, when a height of sixty-three feet and seven inches was registered on December 17th. No recurrence of the sixty-foot stage was experienced until 1883, a limit then being attained beyond that of 1832-sixty-six feet and four inches on the 15th of February. More than fifteen hundred business houses and many homes were under water in Cincinnati, and some twenty-four hundred people of the city were thrown entirely upon charitable aid for their support. Throughout the Ohio valley the visitation of 1883 was unprecedented in the disaster and distress wrought. It was hoped that, as an excessive rise of the waters had up to that time occurred at only long intervals, many years would elapse before a similar catastrophe would be due.
But the very next year witnessed a deluge which greatly surpassed the one of 1883 and stands as the maximum in the recorded history of the Ohio River. In the month of December, 1883, the considerably high stage of forty-nine and one-half feet was marked at Cincinnati, but owing to extreme cold weather during most of January-said to have been the coldest of the century-there was no accession from melting
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snow and the river fell until, on the 29th, it was below sixteen feet. From that date the rise was steady and prodigious-fifty-five feet in sixteen days. The high- est stage at Cincinnati was seventy-one feet and three- fourths of an inch, February 14th. Heavy snows had fallen in the whole Ohio watershed, embracing an area of some twenty thousand square miles; and con- tinuous rains, accompanied by milder weather, swept these great accumulations into every tributary. It was the suddenness of the delivery from all the sources of the river, together with the persistence of the wash of rain, that produced the unparalleled volume.
At Pittsburg business was entirely suspended as early as February 6. Tremendous losses were sustained by the great manufacturing plants, while the dwellings of from twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand people, mostly of the poorer classes, were inundated and many of them swept entirely away. Steubenville, one of the highest located towns on the river, had a hundred houses submerged and her industries suffered severely. The damage at Wheeling, West Virginia, and the immediate vicinity was calculated by the Intelligencer at six million dollars. At Bellaire two hundred and fifty buildings were carried away or damaged beyond repair, and the financial loss aggregated three hundred thousand dollars. The ancient town of Marietta was among the worst sufferers. The people, driven from their homes, were quartered in such public buildings as were not flooded, on steamboats, and in the houses of the wealthy on high ground. General A. J. Warner, Douglas Putnam, and others, threw open their doors and cared for all they could accommodate. The
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Register and Times offices were fourteen feet under water. Marietta's losses footed up about half a million dollars. Blennerhassett's Island was over- flowed, but caught many of the wrecks borne down by the stream. Pomeroy had the impressive loss, for a small city, of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Gallipolis, thanks to its elevated situation, was not affected. In the flourishing city of Ironton, the industries were completely paralyzed and the flood bill reached two hundred thousand dollars. Ports- mouth, at the junction of the Scioto River, was (like Marietta at the Muskingum) exposed to two floods. Less than half an acre of the city and but one business house remained out of water, and there were only fifty-eight buildings that were not inundated. "Great barges were anchored in deep water at the corner of Second and Chillicothe streets, the second highest ground in the city, on which horses and cows were confined." The combined losses in Scioto county were not less than a million and a quarter dollars. At Point Pleasant the house in which General Grant was born was invaded by the river-the first time in its history.
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