The Detroit times., 1908-09-14
OHIO W0RK|NGMEN
AGAINST TAFT
AND HARMON
BRYAN ENTHUSIASM is FIERY
AMONG ALL CLASSES OF BUCK
EYE STATE RESIDENTS DIS
CORDANT ELEMENTS IN c. o. p.
(By a staff Correspondent

COLUMBUS. o., Sept. l4.-By a
singular coincidence both VIM. IL.
Taft. the Republican presidential
nominee, and Judge Harmon, the
Democratic candidate for governor of
Ohio, are opposed by labor. This Is
due TO the antipathy of the laborinS
classes which was engendered years
ago. and today the unionists are still
arrayed against both candidates with
bitter antithesis. Temperance people
also are opposing Judge Harmon be-
cause OF his name being linked Win
the liquor interests, but he will be
strongly supported by the Liberal
league, an organization formed TO fight
the rapidly sweeping prohibition
movement.
Political parties Of Ohio are arrayed
against each other with unerring con-
sistency. Charges Of bribery and cor
ruption against Republican bosses
in Ohio cities will play an important
part in the election this fall, and Will
subtract from the strength Of the Re
publican ticket. both national and
state There Is lack of sentiment in
Ohio for Mr. Taft but the Bryan en-
thusasm- in all sections is fiery and
yitriolic The Nebraska commoner is
stronger with all classes in Ohio to.
day than he has been since he first
ran for president in 1896. Talk to a
farmer In Ohio and he is all glow and
fire for Bryan talk TO the laboring
man and he is for Bryan: talk
TO the average person in the
middle" and Clover" classes and he
Is generous in his laudation OF Bryan;
talk TO the average business man and
he admits that Mr. Bryan stands for
reforms that are essential and primary
In business circles.
Close Vote Portended.
The situation in Ohio portends a
close vote this fall. The normal Re
publican majority in this state is be-
tween 10000 and 100000, but Mr.
Bryan has an excellent fighting chance
10 carry Mr.. Taft's own state. The
people accept Mr.. Taft's candidacy in
a matteroffact manner.
The lack of enthusiasm for Mr.. Taft
aroused the state Republican leaders
at an early date. When the Republican
campaign was opened in Ohio, some
time ago, in Youngstown, sort Of
sentiment for Taft was "manufac-
tured' among the working classes.
Committees were appointed by the
business men of Youngstown to supply
uniforms to the laborers in the great
mills at Youngstown. and when the
day OF speech.making had arrived over
10000 workingmen paraded-at the
urgent request of their employers.
Besides being handicapped by lack
OF enthusiasm, Mr.. Taft is confronted
by other discordant elements In Ohio.
His speeches have failed TO reconcile
laboring classes, who still are bitter
against him because OF his injunction
record. Labor Is also arrayed against
Judge Harmon the Democratic candi-
date for governor. When Judge Taft.
sitting In the United States circuit
court, in Cincinnati, enjoined the labor
unions from interfering with the af-
fairs OF the Cincinnati Southern rail
road, during the A. r. L. strike In
1894, Judge Harmon was receiver of
the Cincinnati Southern. Labor union
lists declare that Judge Harmon. owing
TO his corporation affiliations, is not.
and will not be fair to labor. Judge
Harmon's law firm, workingmen de-