The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-02-04
Nippcd In the Bud.

menueu on all slues Tor MS prompt
and vigorous action with reference
to the reorganization Of the state
board of agriculture. Not even
the most rabid Republican news
papers have found in 1T anything
they could reasonably y criticIse.
Only the week before Governor
Harmon had made the board hi.
partisan. Prior to the enactment
of the law n year ago giving the
governor power to appoint mem.
bers of tins board, either in ac.
cord with recommendations made
by the state agricultural society
or of his own selection, the board
was composed Of six Republicans
and four Democrats. 1t was to
maintain this partisan control
that Governor Harris appointed
all the members of the old board
to be the first board under the
new law. This was in keeping
with other tlagrant exhibits of
party bias by Governor Harris be-
fore and since.
And so this very importment
state department, instead of de-
voting it's energies unsuIied to the
agricultural interests of Ohio
farmers became auxiliary to a po-
litcal machine. This is why Gov
ernor Harris, who was so loudly
acclaimed as "the farmer COVER
nor" during the campaign last
fall, was willing to leaye the insti-
tuition of greatest value to the
farmers of Ohio in control of the
party bosses whom he served.
1t was to correct this evil that
Governor Harmon in his firm but
quiet way. without blare of trum-
pets or shrieking from the house
tops, went about his resolute pur-
pose to divorce the state board of
agriculture from politics. In
stead of reappointing two Repub-
licans whose Terms were about to
expire, he named one Democrat and
one Republican to succeed them.
He could have named two Demo
Gratis, and made the board six
Democrats to four Republicans,
but that would have been as
hagrant an exhibition of partisan
ship and of utter disregard for
the real interests of the farmers of
OHIO as had been committed by
Governor Harris year ago.
That Governor Harmon acted
wisely in declining to reappoint
DR.. H. M. Brown, of Highland
county, and L. P. Bailey, of Bel
mont county, was fully justified
when it became known that the
board was to meet this week ard
reorganize before the retirement of
Brown and Bailey. This move
was meant to thwart the object of
Governor Harmon by maintaining
at least for one more year the par
tisan connections that have given
rise to general complaint; and 1t
was on par with the action of
state senate in it's precipitate
haste to confirm appointments of
retiring Republican governor
iustbefore a change of administra
tion and its insolent refusal after
the Inauguration of Governor Har-
mon to right that wrong.
But Governor Harmon did not
have the partisan senate to deal
with in forestalling the attempt
to steal the organization of the
state board of agriculture for ar
other year. He seized the ak Of
power, not because he wanted TO
but because he was obliged to do SD
in order that he might nip CON
spiracy in the bud. His summary
removal, therefore, of Brown and
Bailey before the conspiracy could
be consummated, and his immedi-
ate notice TO the new members to
take their places on the board
week earlier than was contem-
plated so that they might have
part in completing the reorganlza-
tion, proved conclusiyely that he
meant business when he set out to
accomplish long needed reform
in the interest of the farmers of
Ohio.