THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF Ο ΗΙΟ BY GEORGE WELLS KNIGHT, PH.D. PROFESSOR OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY REVISED EDITION PHILADELPHIA ELDREDGE & BROTHER No. 1425 Arch Street. PREFACE It is not the national government, but the State government, acting through its local agencies, to which the American looks for the protection of life and property, for the security of his home and family, and for the education of his children. To understand the workings of State and local government is, therefore, even more important than to know the details of the national government. Since, however, the beginnings of no two States have been the same, the governments of hardly any two are alike, and no general description of the American State, as a mere chapter in American civil government, exactly fits any actual State. It is the purpose of this book, accordingly, to present such an outline of the civic history and of the governmental machinery of the State of Ohio as will enable youth in the high schools, and the higher grades of the grammar and rural schools, to understand both what the government is, and how it came to be, and what the duties and responsibilities are of citizens of Ohio. It is not possible to note in this book all the variations in county, township, and municipal government and powers, due to special legislation. The general type has been carefully given, and the leading exceptions have been indicated. Each teacher should ascertain and call attention to the peculiarities, if any exist, in local organization in his county and township, village, or city. While a knowledge of the form and powers of the government is important, two things should be borne in mind in the teaching of civics: (1) that concrete examples of governmental work drawn from local observation and study are the best aids to an understanding of the use and operations of orderly government, and (2) that the knowledge of forms and powers is barren, except as it leads to a conception of the duty and responsibility of eacl citizen under those forms for the right exercise of the powers. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY,} Columbus, Ohio. G. W. K. |