Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-18
er OF the powers that were.

Off and was not to receive his sheep
skin did not dawn on the audience till
near the close of the exercises 1t was
mean and small way Of getting even
and created an uproar OF protest.
Harmon, Harmon!" went up the
shouts from all sides, and in the midst
of the turmoil the faculty completed
the ceremony and filed out through a
side door. Thereupon the student body
and alumni hastily convened and
passed resolutions after the good old
American way. Whenever two or
three Americans get grievance there
is the resolution In the midst Of them.
They as naturally run to "whereases"
and oratory as an Italian vendetta
does to stilettos or an Irish fair to
shillalahs.
The Dension students and alumni re-
solved that Jud Harmon should be
graduated without waiting for the aid
or consent of any other nation on
earth. The faculty refused. The stu
dents thereupon resolved to strike, boy
colt the institution and to do all the
dire things that could suggest them
selves to an excited body of young
men. This made dent in the faculty,
and after some further "whereasing"
and resolving" consent was given that
Harmon might graduate.
The next day when the ceremony
was to take place the student body got
out brass band, formed a procession,
escorted Harmon to the hall like con-
quering hero and after he received the
coveted sheepskin "rah-rahed" all the
rest of the day and into the beginning
of the next. The spirit of the Declare
ton of Independence got in Its work
on that student body In fine style.
What chance had mere board of
college trustees before force that had
walked all over kings and thrones?
With such a start In life there is no
wonder that Jud Harmon's friends
think he is endowed with certain in
alienable rights, among which are life,
liberty, the pursuit of happiness and
the right to run for president.
One of the Home Guard.
1t was shortly before this stirring
revolt against the tyrant that young
Harmon had his war experiences. Hav
Ing martial ardor and being preach
er's son do not go together. Young
Harmon found it so, and when he
would soldier be he discovered that
the first enemy he would have to whip
was his father, Not caring to gain mil
ltary renown In such hard way, he
relinquished his dreams. He did run
away from home, however, to join the
home guard, that gallant body which
went to repel Generals Kirby Smith
and John Morgan. Like the king of
France, the home guard marched up
the hill and then marched down again.
Unlike Caesar, 1t came, 1t saw, 1t scam
pered.
After participating in this valiant
feat at arms young Harmon had an
actual warlike bout with his father.
In this celebrated battle the weapons
were shingles, and only one side was
armed. The late member Of the home
guard was totally and disastrously
defeated, after which he was bundled
off to school. The warlike spark was
not entirely quenched, but 1t had to
blaze into eloquence rather than into
valor. Young Harmon made one speech
on the college campus which was so
illed with fiery patriotism 1t is re-
membered to this day. Bryan Is not
the only boy orator.
Like all Ohio hen and some others,
Mr.. Harmon is an optimist. 1t is hard
er to be an optimist now than it was
six months ago, but so far as heard
from Judge Harmon Is still sticking.
That eminent but intermittent Cincin-
haitian, William Howard Taft, Is like
wise as optimist. All men are who
weigh over 300 pounds.
One thing In Judge Harmon's favor
Is his name-it Is SO much like har-
mony. II there is one thing the Demo
cratic party long has sought and
niourned because" II found II not"
that one thing Is harmony. If a radi-
cal is nominated, the conservatives
knife him; II conservative is nomi-
mated. the radicals knife him. and II n
betwixt and between man Is nomi-
mated they jump on him both ways
from the middle.
Judge Harmon Is even more of an
athlete than President Roosevelt. He
has a hand and foot as big as Jeffries
and hits almost as hard. IIeis also
good shot and, while he does not hunt
bears with brass band. Is not with
out fame as Nimrod. That is one of
the things that recommended him to
President Cleveland.
Mrs. Harmon was a Miss Scobey.
Slaughter of prominent physician of
Hamilton. o. She is as large and fine
looking for woman as Judge Harmon
Is as man and has the same cOnserv-
atiye ideals and tastes They have
three daughters. all of whom are popu-
lar in Cincinnati and Washington.
Personally Judge Harmon Is not
worried about his prospects of becom-
Ing president. He is convinced. as are
some others. that this is not n good
year for conservatives. but he Ia ready.
as he ever has been. to stand Up for
his principles.