USA > Ohio > Ohio legislative history, 1913-1917 > Part 33
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HON. PRICE RUSSELL
The chairman of the Ohio Board of Clemency was born at Leroy, Medina County, Ohio, March 25th, 1865. His father George Rodney Russell was a native of Portage County, Ohio. Price Russell received his education in the public schools at Leroy and he attended Ohio University at Athens, Ohio, from which institution he received the hon- orary degree A. M.
Mr. Russell attended the Cincinnati Law School, graduating there- from in 1890 and was admitted to the Bar at Columbus in 1891. He located at Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, where he practiced his profes- sion until he was chosen to represent Wayne County in the Ohio House of Representatives 1909-'10 and 1911-'12. In his second term Mr. Rus- sell was chosen the Democratic floor leader to which party he belongs.
At the beginning of Governor Cox's term in 1913 Mr. Russell was appointed Executive Clerk which place he filled until in 1914 he was appointed Superintendent of Insurance by the Governor.
In January, 1917, Mr. Russell was again appointed Executive Clerk to Governor Cox where he remained until July Ist when he was ap- pointed by the Governor a member of the Ohio Board of Clemency.
In the month of December, 1898, Mr. Russell was united in mar- riage with Miss Augusta Miller of Smithville, Ohio, and they have a daughter Marian Russell, aged 19 years.
ALEXANDER E. McKEE
Alexander E. McKee was born in Indiana but grew to manhood in Missouri. He was educated; in the public schools and had one year in a college preparatory school. Spent his early life on a farm but took up newspaper work at his majority. For a number of years owned and edited a country paper, leaving that in 1891 to take up city news- paper work. For nine years he was political writer on the Kansas City Journal. Later he was with the Scripps newspapers, three years at Kansas City and Cleveland, being transferred to the latter city in Octo- ber, 1900. For two years he was financial editor for the Cleveland
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Press, and later held the same position on the Cleveland Plain Dealer for four years. Leaving the newspaper business in 1906 he spent five years in the employ of the Cleveland Trust Company, as manager of one of its branches. In February, 1911, he returned to the Plain Dealer, and later in that year was sent to Columbus as state political writer, retaining that position until June, 1917, when he resigned to accept membership on the Ohio Board of Clemency. He was married June 7th, 1888, to Miss Fannie L. Knight, of Topeka, Kansas. Two sons were born, Leonard K. McKee, who died Dec. Ist, 1916, and A. L. McKee, who is employed as manager of Workmen's Compensation De- partment of the Standard Parts Company, of Cleveland. Mrs. McKee died in New Mexico where she had gone for her health in June, 1918.
Edw. J. Fahey was born at Springfield, Ohio, was educated at St. Joseph's Parochial School and Business College. Formerly worked for Postmaster, Springfield, Ohio, until accepting position as secretary for Ohio Board of Clemency.
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PRESTON ELMER THOMAS, Warden Ohio Penitentiary.
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PRESTON ELMER THOMAS, Warden Ohio Penitentiary
The important post of chief executive officer of the Ohio State prison has been in able hands since 1913, when the present warden was assigned to the position. Mr. Thomas has proven beyond question that kindness and firmness can go hand in hand in the management of prisoners. The time was not so many years ago when inmates of the Ohio Penitentiary were almost crucified with punishment for what were, in some instances, trivial offenses against the prison rules. War- den Thomas was born at Cairo, Allen County, Ohio, November 30, 1871. His father, David D. Thomas, was a farmer and school teacher and he was a native of Wales, England. He came to America in 1840 and settled in Allen County. The mother (nee Sarah J. Ward) was born in Fairfield County, Ohio. This couple reared four sons, who adopted the profession of teaching. The son, Preston, attended the district schools and West Cairo High School, also Ohio Northern Uni- versity at Ada, Ohio, whence he graduated in the class of 1892 with the degree of B. of S. Mr. Thomas was a classmate of Ex-Governor Frank B. Willis. After teaching in the public schools for 16 years Mr. Thomas was appointed teacher at the Mansfield Reformatory, and from 1908 to 1913 he was field officer of that institution. The ability shown by Mr. Thomas at the Reformatory and his success in the handling of prison inmates fully justified the State Board of Admin- istration in transferring him to the more responsible office of warden at the penitentiary. Warden Thomas is greatly interested in his work and says that his interest has constantly increased as he becomes better acquainted with the necessary qualifications for successful prison man- agement. On January Ist, 1895, Mr. Thomas was joined in marriage with Miss Mary Elizabeth Blue of Wapakoneta, Ohio, and they have a daughter, Amanda, 22, now a senior student at Ohio State University, and son, Don R., 19, also a student at Ohio State University.
OHIO PENITENTIARY COMMISSION
Should the penitentiary be re-built at Columbus, or a new one constructed on a large farm? This question had been discussed and debated by Governors and Legislatures for ten years previous to 1913. Soon after the Legislature convened in 1913, a Special Commission, composed of Dr. J. A. Leonard, superintendent of the State Reforma- tory, Mansfield, Ohio, Dr. A. F. Shepherd, Alienist and Member of the Ohio State Board of Administration, Dr. Harris R. Cooley, in charge of the Warrensville Prison Farm, near Cleveland, Ohio, and Hon. Rutherford H. Platt, prominent real estate dealer, Columbus, Ohio, was. appointed by Governor Cox to investigate and study the State Prison problem and make a report to the General Assembly as to the feasibility of moving the penitentiary from Columbus to a large farm.
After a comprehensive study of this subject, without any expense to the State, a report was submitted recommending that a farm of not less than 1,000 nor more than 2,500 acres be purchased to which the penitentiary would finally be moved. Primarily a farm adapted to agriculture was desired, in order to furnish the many state institutions, which were not raising sufficient farm products for their own use, with these necessities. Secondly, it was thought desirable to select a large tract, if possible, a part of which contained clay and shale land to the. end that additional prison labor be employed in the manufacture of paving brick for which there is a great demand by the many political sub-divisions of the state.
A bill, embodying the provisions of this report, was introduced in the House by Samuel J. Black, the Member from Wyandot County, which provided for an appropriation of $250,000.00 and the appointment of a Penitentiary Commission of four members, together with a secre- tary, all of whom were to serve without remuneration. It was the duty of this commission to select and purchase a site, employ an architect, provide ground plans, specifications and detailed drawings for a com- pleted institution, after which the commission was to act in an advisory capacity in the actual construction of the walls and the various units, this construction to be under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Board of Ad- ministration on account of the prisoners which are to do the work being under their control.
This bill became a law and the members of the Special Commis- sion were re-appointed by Governor Cox as members of the Ohio
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Penitentiary Commission, except that, Senator William A. Greenlund, a prominent real estate dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, was appointed to suc- ceed Hon. Rutherford H. Platt, who after the original findings had been submitted, had gone abroad. Samuel J. Black, the author of the bill, was appointed Secretary.
Since there is only one penitentiary and as it is a State rather than a district institution, only farms within a radius of 25 miles of Columbus were considered, this territory being so situated geographically as to be readily accessible to all parts of the state. After a personal inspection and careful study of all such sites, the Ellsworth farm of 1,4481/2 acres in Madison County, near London the County Seat, was procured by condemnation proceedings, the average price per acre, in- cluding court costs and damages was $173.00, or in all $251,346.66. At the Special Session of the 8th General Assembly an additional ap- propriation of $25,000.00 was granted, while the 8Ist General Assembly, when Hon. Frank B. Willis was Governor, appropriated only $10,000.00. The 82nd General Assembly during the 2d administration of Governor Cox appropriated $50,000.00 more for additional land and $230,000.00 for construction. The old penitentiary site, of nearly 23 acres in Co- lumbus, can, in the opinion of real estate men, be sold for not less than $500,000.00 - some have placed the price at $750,000.00.
The large tract of land secured is highly fertile and specially adapted for agricultural purposes, without waste land and unbroken by highways or railroads. About 1,000 acres of this land has never been disturbed by the plow and there are between 300 and 400 acres of primeval forest, mostly white oak, in which practically speaking there has never been an ax. The value of the timber was estimated by ex- perts to be worth as high as $60,000.00. The eastern portion, 60 acres more or less, is a slight elevation, overlooking the entire tract, and fronts upon the pike leading from London to Sumerford and upon the Ohio Electric Railway. This elevation was at once selected as an ad- mirable building site. It is covered by an open forest of great oaks in which the institution buildings can be erected with a landscape and architectural effect of rare beauty and dignity. There is most excellent water in abundance and it is easy of access from all parts of the state over the Pennsylvania, Big Four and Ohio Electric Railway Lines. There is building material in the form of lumber, sand, gravel and clay, suitable for making building brick and drainage tile, while building and crushed lime stone required can be procured from the State Quarries nearby. With the use of the prison labor, in connection with the materials which are on the farm for building purposes, there will be a minimum expend- iture of money in completing this great institution.
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Richards, McCarty and Bulford, Columbus, Ohio, were selected as . architects. The entire Commission, together with Mr. Richards, the senior member of the firm of architects, visited several penitentiaries in different parts of the United States in order to get the best thought of the day and to personally inspect the most recently constructed prisons before working out the plans for the Ohio institution. The work is now well under way and the preliminary plans, comprising all units, are now ready and the actual work of construction will be begun this summer, work having been begun to erect a temporary dormitory on the farm which will house 200 prisoners who will be used for the purpose of excavating, grading and actually building the wall, cell blocks and the separate buildings, and this number will be increased from time to time. Within the wall will be about 60 acres, as provision has been made for a prison population of 3,000, although at this time only enough cell blocks will be erected and other facilities provided for the present population of about 2,000.
When the original committee was appointed by Governor Cox it was in his mind to get the present penitentiary away from the very heart of Industrial Columbus, where it is surrounded by railroad tracks and yards, factories, smoke stacks, gloom, soot and dirt. The present wall and buildings are old, porous and decaying and the general appear- ance and sanitary conditions are anything but inviting - no sanitary ar- rangements whatever for a great majority of the men, and he contended that even the State did not have the right to incarcerate its convicts under such adverse conditions releasing them in worse mental and physical condition than when such prisoners were received.
The farm idea also appealed to the Governor, where useful and healthful occupation can be provided as he contends that an idle house is a shame and a disgrace to any state. In connection with the farm idea the Governor was anxious to provide additional work and forever eliminate the inhuman idle house, and to this end 300 acres of land was leased in Perry County, on which is a brick plant, with abundance of shale and clay, as the Commission could not get agricultural land adjacent to land suitable for these purposes. While there have been delays and some legal technicalities to overcome, it is the goal to have four or five hundred prisoners make paving brick for state use - brick was selected as the product to manufacture as the item of labor is the expensive proposition in making brick, - as with free prison labor it has been conservatively estimated that the cost to manufacture can be cut down one half, and even on the basis of 250,000 brick a day, thou- sands of dollars can be saved to the state and turned into the Treasury, as against a continual expense heretofore to maintain the penitentiary.
OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY. 40I
The farm proposition will mean a great financial saving as well. The experimental stage has been long since passed, as the following figures will show. With a small beginning in 1913 there are now nearly 150 prisoners regularly employed doing farm work, these men being housed in a frame building constructed for this purpose. Large horse and cattle barns have been erected together with a dairy, hennery and canning plant. This year, 1918, 150 acres of corn will be grown, 125 acres planted in vegetables, 75 acres of hay and alfalfa har- vested, 50 acres of wheat, 50 acres of beans, 50 acres of sorghum, 40 acres of potatoes and 20 acres of broom corn raised. To do this work 20 teams of horses and mules, with a complete line of farm equip- ment, are used. 400 chickens are being raised, 400 hogs fed and 200 head of cattle are being cared for, 150 of which are milch cows. Many of the other state institutions get their garden and farm products from this farm, the five state institutions located at Columbus coming first. One item will suffice to show what the possibilities are: From the prison farm five state institutions in Columbus get all the milk used and if this milk were purchased by the state it would cost $4,150.00 a day or $54,750.00 a year. The prisoners are doing all this work and in addi- tion clearing the land, building fences, roads and laying tile.
The financial question is a big one. In dollars and cents the state is away ahead, although a great many well meaning people severely condemned the Governor for advocating the moving of the penitentiary, the purchase of the farm or employing prisoners either on the farm or for the purpose of making paving brick. Outside the financial gam, however, hundreds of prisoners will soon be out in the open air, enjoy- ing the sunshine, engaged in useful occupations and learning how to work. These men will build themselves up physically and see life from a different angle, and when released they have a foundation on which to stand in order to build themselves up morally and take their rightful places in society.
While the state is going to be much richer financially, because all prisoners who are able will be given work, this great work cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. Families are being reunited, children will be kept about the fireside in the home with a mother's influence to guide them, society will be benefited, for men's lives are being saved. The credit of it all will naturally go to Governor James M. Cox.
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OHIO STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION
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MR. LANK M. SMITH, Crawford County.
MR. CLAYTON A. Mc- CLEARY, Columbus.
MR. MERRITT C. SPEIDEL, Miami County.
JOHN HENRY NEWMAN, Librarian.
THE OHIO STATE LIBRARY
"The state library is primarily an educational institution - distinct in its scope and function from other state educational agencies, yet sup- plementing them in their work toward a more enlightened and a more efficient citizenship. Through its reference and book-lending service and through the publication and distribution of documents, the library reaches people directly in every part of Ohio. Indirectly, it influences every section of the state through the assistance given the smaller libraries by the Library Organization Department. Through the Travel- ing Library Department, it supplies small shipments of books to in- dividual borrowers and larger collections to schools, clubs and other organizations. In this way direct library service is extended to those communities which have not the advantage of even the smallest tax- supported libraries. The Legislative Reference Department compiles and distributes information on matters of current, political interest, an- swers inquires from citizens and public officials, and maintains a special reference and bill drafting service for members of the state legislature. As a clearing house for library information, the state library which con- sists of more than one hundred thousand volumes is at the service of all the libraries in Ohio."
Prof. C. W. Park, president of the Board of Library Commission- ers at the time of his retirement in 1918 made the above statement.
CLAYTON A. McCLEARY
who succeeded Prof. Park as President of the Board was born in Har- risville, Harrison County, Ohio, September 24, 1875. He attended the common schools, entered Franklin College in 1893, and graduated in the Class of 1897 with degree of Ph. B. He spent three years in the law department of the Ohio State University, graduated with degree of LL. B. in 1900, and was admitted to the Bar of Ohio in June of that year. He immediately entered the lawoffice of his uncle, Colonel J. T. Holmes, where he remained for two years, and has practiced law in Columbus continuously since his admission to the Bar. He is a member of the Franklin County, Ohio State, and American Bar Asso- ciations.
Mr. McCleary is a member of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. The Ohio State University Club, Columbus Lodge F. & A. M., Ohio
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Chapter, Scioto Consistory, Aladdin Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Mt. Vernon Commandery, The Columbus Athletic Club, The Scioto Country Club and the Columbus Riding Club. He is fond of golf and horse- back riding, which constitute his chief recreation.
For several years Mr. McCleary has been a Director in the Young Men's Christian Association and a Trustee of Indianola M. E. Church. A Democrat in politics and always active in public affairs, he has never sought office. He was, however, a member of the Columbus Charter Commission and served on the subcommittee which wrote the Charter under which Columbus is now governed. He was a member of the Columbus Recreation Commission, and, in February, 1917, was ap- pointed a member of the State Library Board by Governor Cox. These positions came to him without solicitation and without notice.
Mr. McCleary was married on January 3, 1906, to Miss Maybell Crawford of Columbus, Ohio, and they live at 212 Fifteenth Avenue.
LANK M. SMITH
recently appointed to membership on the State Library Commission by Governor Cox, is one of Crawford County's most influential and public spirited newspaper and business men. He is chief owner and general manager of The Bucyrus Publishing Company, at Bucyrus, Ohio, pub- lishers of The Daily Forum and The News-Forum (semi-weekly).
Lank Smith is a farm product and was born September 1, 1868 in Lykens Township, Crawford County, Ohio, the youngest son of Fred- erick and Lucy Ann (Shupp) Smith, who died when Lank was a mere lad, leaving him to "blaze his own trail." District school instruction was brought abruptly to a close by the necessity of working to eke out a livelihood but integrity and determination finally afforded high school education and later a business course in Mansfield. Experience with a number of business firms preceded Mr. Smith's advent into newspaper business and by this avenue of development, Mr. Smith has effected political and social reforms and has brought his newspapers into the field of modern business.
Practically all of Lank Smith's business life has been lived in Bucyrus where he has been and continues a power in the development of the city. A leader in democratic circles, Mr. Smith has been the guiding spirit in progressive democracy and has served four terms as chairman of the County Democratic Executive Committee. He has also served as a member of the Democratic State Executive Committee and as a member of the Board of Managers of the Ohio Penitentiary.
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MERRITT C. SPEIDEL
editor-publisher ; born at Port Jervis, New York, May 19, 1879; edu- cated in the public schools of his native city; editor Port Jervis Daily Union ; held various municipal official postions; in 1909, came to Ohio to engage in the publication of the Piqua Call of which he has since been general manager and editor and is now chief proprietor. Under his direction the paper has greatly improved and now stands high among the recognized dailies of the state. Mr. Speidel is a member of the Piqua Club, of the Odd Fellows and of the Freemasons. He is married and has one child. He was appointed state library commissioner, April, 1915, for a term ending April, 1920.
JOHN HENRY NEWMAN State Librarian
John Henry Newman who served as State Librarian during the democratic administrations of Governors Harmon and Cox from 19II to 1915 and who resigned the place upon the advent of Governor Willis in 1915, was again appointed by Governor Cox in 1918. A complete biographical sketch of Mr. Newman can be found in volume one of this work. During his retirement from the State Library, Mr. Newman was mostly engaged in lecturing before Chautauqua societies, and in behalf of the Red Cross.
J. HOWARD DICE, State Department of Library Organization
J. Howard Dice was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the public schools of that city. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (Bachelor of Arts, 19II) and of the New York Library School (Bachelor of Library Science, 1913). For a short time he served on the staff of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, was later employed for nearly two years as Reference Assistant in the Library of the Ohio State University, and in July of 1915 was ap- pointed by the Ohio State Board of Library Commissioners as an assistant in the State
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Library. Since May, 1916, Mr. Dice has held the position of Library Organizer. In the summer of 1917 he directed the Ohio State Summer Library School which was inaugurated at that time as one of the ac- tivities of the Board of Library Commissioners. He assisted in the organization of the Soldiers' Library at Camp Sherman during the fall of 1917, and since October, 1917, has acted as Library Director of Public Information on the staff of the U. S. Food Administration for Ohio. He has been recently appointed by the American Library Asso- ciation to take charge of the library work conducted at the Columbus Barracks in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association.
GEORGE A. EDGE Legislative Reference Department of Ohio State Library
A very valuable and comparatively new department of the Ohio State Library is the Legislative Reference Department.
The act creating the department was passed by the General Assembly in May, 1910. The work of the department is to compile in suitable form for reference all the information obtainable on current and pend- ing legislation in other state and countries for the use of Ohio officials, also to aid members of the General Assembly in the drafting and preparation of bills.
Mr. Edge in charge of the Legislative Reference Bureau has been connected with the department since it was created and he is recognized as good authority on constructive legislation.
George A. Edge was born near Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, and he attended the public schools. He received the degree of Ph. B. from National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and the degree of LL. B. from the Law Department of Ohio Northern University. He was ad- mitted to the Bar in June, 1908, and began the practice of his profes- sion at Fostoria, O., the same year. He continued the practice of law until appointed by the Board of Library Commissioners to take charge of the Legislative Reference Department under the Supervision of the State Librarian.
THE OHIO BOARD OF CENSORS
MR. MAURICE S. HAGUE, Columbus.
MRS. MAUDE MURRAY MILLER, Chairman, Columbus.
MR. CHAS. G. WILLIAMS, Coshocton.
OHIO BOARD OF CENSORS
The first law authorizing a Film Censorship in Ohio was enacted by the 80th General Assembly in 1913.
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