1912 Ohio Constitutional Convention composite photograph   Save
Ohio History Connection Archives/Library
Description: Composite photograph of delegates to the Fourth Ohio Constitutional Convention, 1912. Men are identified numerically by their name and the county they represent, or the position they hold in the convention. A small inset photograph shows the opening day of the convention, taken January 9, 1912. In 1911, Ohio voters approved the election of delegates to a constitutional convention. On January 12, 1912, the 120 men met for the first time to begin revising the existing constitution. Because the 1874 convention failed to convince a majority of voters to support its revised constitution, the 1912 convention offered voters the opportunity to approve or reject amendments individually. Of the 41 amendments proposed, voters approved 33. Some changes that were approved included mandating an 8-hour day for state-funded workers, establishing compulsory workers' compensation and revising the judicial system. Voters rejected amendments that would have allowed women to vote or hold offices related to care of women and children, as well as the removal of qualifications that voters must be white, despite the fact that African American men had been voting since 1870; the language was not changed until 1923. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: OVS3117
Subjects: Ohio Government; Constitutional conventions; Constitutions; Elected officials;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)