of Agriculture.  The first named organization would combine every existing department which deals with the relation between capital and labor.  It is certainly a logical observation that the department heads clothed with the responsibility of details will find it extremely difficult to rise to the moral vision necessary to construct and conserve policies dealing with big things.  Besides duplication of service is a waste of both human energy and state funds.”

In summing up the results of a single year of Workmen’s Compensation Law, the Governor at the beginning of 1915 said: 

“The humane results of the Workmen’s compensation Law have been so widespread and the wisdom of the people in changing the constitution so as to make this plan compulsory has been so completely demonstrated that manufacturer and employee now join in praise of the act.  While the liability insurance companies contend that the State could not administer this trust and that the cost would run into millions of dollars per year, the experience of the first twelve months shows the cost of the administration to be approximately $160,000; and the claims, running far in excess of 50,000 in number, have been adjudicated with such promptness as to justify in the fullest measure the soundness of the State plan.  The balance in the fund December 15, 1914, was $2,418,414.07.  The number of accidents is diminishing and the cost to the employer is decreasing; so that both lower rates and larger compensation seem assured.  As one who passed through the stormy period that led to the passage of this law, I urge upon you the extreme importance of the highest manifestations of vigilance, patriotism and humanity in order that the fundamentals of this beneficent legislation may be preserved.  Under the pretext of improving the law it can be easily emasculated.  Ohio assumed the lead in this legislation, and if the fundamental principle is maintained here, the plan, by its demonstrated worth, will be adopted elsewhere.  This means the ultimate loss of ill-gotten millions by potential interests that have grown rich from the tears, blood and maimed bodies of our working people.  They will not give it up without a continued struggle.  Your duty to humanity and to your State calls for extreme watchfulness.

Though he suffered defeat for re-election in 1914, neither the Industrial Commission Law nor the Workmen’s compensation Law nor any other major piece of social legislation was disturbed by his successor.  In reviewing four years of the history of the law at his re-accession to power in 1917, he said: