In social service there has been evolved the cold storage act which has served as a model for proposed national legislation. under its provisions a strict limitation of time is placed upon the storing of food.  With this has gone strict legislation against adulteration of food and honest enforcement of the laws.

Other states have accepted as a model the social agency committee now working in effective co-operation with state departments and bringing into mutual operation all recognized social agencies.  One of the greatest steps forward was the establishment of a bureau of juvenile research with Dr. L. H. Goddard at its head.

Second to no other reform has been that effected in handling of the prison problem.  Prisoners now earn their freedom through work in the healthful out-of-doors on highways, in plants for making road material, and on farms.  There is a system of compensation to the families for work done as a balance on which to begin life anew.

Twelve hundred consolidated schools in Ohio attest the successful workings of the rural school code which was brought into existence in 1914 after careful study and after the state in general meetings had carefully studied the plans.  The old one-room school house is giving way in the country to the modern centralized school and community life is being remade.  Through the raising of the country school to the plane of those of the cities, it will be possible to check the alarming drift to the cities and depopulation of the countryside.  Governor Cox does not believe that the federal government should interfere in the affairs of local communities but he does believe that it “can inventory the possibilities of progressive education, and in helpful manner create an enlarged public interest in this subject.”

Along with the improvement of rural schools has gone a most comprehensive highway programme involving an annual outlay of millions of dollars.  Gradually as highways are improved they will, under the state policy shaped in 1913, be taken over by the state.

The agricultural legislation was in consonance with the other subjects touched.  Ohio was long a dumping ground for inferior fertilizers, diseased livestock and impure seed.  Adequate laws have changed all this.  Still, these are police measures not of necessity a true index of real vision in agricultural matters.  The boldest step ever taken was the establishment of pure bred herds of cattle by the state with opportunity afforded through breeding service at institutional farms to extend these pure strains to the small farms.  The success attained is reflected in numerous heard of thorough-bred cattle.

CHAPTER VIII

Fighting “Slush funds”