Governor William Allen portrait   Save
Ohio Governors Collection
Description: Photograph of a portrait of William Allen (1803-1879) who served as Ohio's governor from 1874-1876. As governor, Allen worked to reduce the state government's budget and was able to lower taxes in 1875. Not all of his actions were as popular as his tax cut. Ohio, like other parts of the nation in the 1870s, experienced a number of labor disputes. Allen tended to be more supportive of managers and business owners than of workers, although he still believed that big businesses must respect state laws. If necessary, the governor was willing to call out the state militia to enforce order in labor disputes. His most unpopular measure was his support of the printing of greenbacks. Greenbacks were money without backing in gold or other precious metals, Allen believed they would help alleviate the economic problems that Ohio faced at this time. This issue cost him public support in 1875. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: R_378_Allen
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government; Ohio--Governors--Portraits
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)