1940: Ohio

Area and Population.

Ohio was admitted to the Union in February 1803, the first state to be formed out of the Northwest Territory. Its total land area is 41,122 sq. mi. Its population according to the 1940 census was 6,907,612. an increase of 3.9 per cent over 1930. The urban population numbered 4,614,483, or 66.8 per cent.

Cleveland, the largest city, is sixth in size in the United States, with a population of 878,336. Cincinnati, the state's second city, has 455,610. The next largest city is Columbus, the capital, 306,087. Toledo, 282,349; Akron, 244,791; Dayton, 210,718; Youngstown, 167,720, and Canton, 108,401, complete the list of cities over 100,000.

Education.

The total expenditure for public schools in Ohio in 1939-40 was in excess of $106,000,000. Enrollment totalled 1,223,993 students, of whom 22,444 were kindergarten pupils, 691,235 attended elementary schools, 93,727 junior high schools, 392,308 three-and four-year senior high schools; 22,931 were special students and 1,348 were postgraduate students. The number of schools was 5,473, of which 206 were kindergartens, 3,980 were elementary schools, 129 were junior high schools, 1,104 were three and four year senior high schools, and 54 were special schools. Teachers' salaries averaged $1,600.44 for the state as a whole, $1,413.39 for elementary schools and $1,790.49 for high schools.

Mineral Products.

Bituminous coal, Ohio's most abundant mineral, was mined in the amount of 19,632,000 tons in 1939, a slight rise over the 18,590,000 tons of 1938, valued at $33,073,000. Production of salt, for which the state ranks third in the Union, was increased from 1,484,270 tons in 1938 to 1,794,788 tons in 1939. Coke was almost doubled in production, with 6,135,949 tons. The output of pig iron, in which the state ranks second, showed a greatly increased industrial activity, the amount being 7,249,172 tons worth $147,154,804, compared with 4,186,217 tons in 1938, valued at $85,186,824. So too did production of open-hearth steel at 8,851,298 tons, and Bessemer at 1,285,383 tons.

Legislative Matters.

Regular sessions of the Ohio General Assembly occur only in the odd years, so there was no regular session in 1940. However, a special session, called by the Governor, convened on June 17 and adjourned on June 20. The Governor's call, which determines the subjects to be considered at such a session, limited the legislation to three principal matters. The first of these was a law separating the national and state tickets in future presidential elections. This law became effective in time to be applied to the 1940 election. The second subject was a renewal of the law permitting local subdivisions to issue bonds for relief. The third was a series of acts to make the state's social security laws conform more closely to those of the National Government.

Political Events.

The 1940 National Conventions found Ohio Democrats pledged to Roosevelt, but the Ohio delegation to the Republican Convention at Philadelphia, headed by Governor John W. Bricker, supported Senator Robert Taft until Wendell Willkie's nomination became certain. Governor Bricker then made the motion to make Willkie's nomination unanimous.

Both presidential candidates made major speeches in Ohio. The election found Ohio again in the Democratic column in its vote for President, although the Democratic margin of 619,285 votes in 1936 was reduced to 146,366 in 1940. The Senatorial contest was between Harold R. Burton (R), mayor of Cleveland, who was victorious, and John McSweeney (D), former Congressman-at-large. The Republican control of the Congressional delegation was lost; there being twelve Republicans and twelve Democrats elected as compared with fifteen Republicans and nine Democrats in 1938. Congressman Bolton of the 22nd District died in office in October 1939, and was succeeded at a special election February 27, 1940, by his wife, who was elected in her own right for a full term in November.

On the state ticket, the gubernatorial contest was between John W. Bricker (R), incumbent, and Martin L. Davey (D), former Governor for two terms. Bricker won by the largest majority ever given a gubernatorial candidate in Ohio and became the first Republican Governor to be reelected in forty years. Paul M. Herbert (R), incumbent Lieutenant Governor, was reelected over his Democratic opponent, Robert S. Cox.

State Officers.

Governor, John W. Bricker; Lieutenant Governor, Paul M. Herbert; Secretary of State, John E. Sweeney; Attorney General, Thomas J. Herbert; Treasurer, Don H. Ebright; Auditor, Joseph T. Ferguson.

United States Senators:

Robert A. Taft, Harold H. Burton.