The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-01-21
People Voted For a Change.

Last fall the people OF ONO
made up their minds that they
wanted change in the admin
stration of the States affairs.
They voted for that change when
they elected Judson Harmon to
the office Of governor.
Anticipating the right of his
chosen successor to properly
orgsnize the executive forces of
the State that are directly under
the control of the governor and IN
utter disregard of the demand Of
the people as expressed at the
polls last November, Governor
Harris called the Legislature into
extra session during the last week
of his incumbency and sent to the
senate long list of appointments
for confirmation.
Whatever doubt may exist as to
the regularity Of Governor Harris
action in issuing to u general
assembly not yet in existance q
proclamation calling an extra
ordinary session to begin just be.
fore the expiration of his term rs
acting govei einor, .he fact remains
that they convened in response to
that call, and that the senate
Immediately after it's organization
proceeded to confirm all the
appointments sent in by the re-
firing governor.
This partisan action on the part
of the Republican majority of the
senate was accomplished by an
act of political chicanery which is
without precedent. In order that
the retiring governors appoint
ments might be railroaded through
without delay the Republican ma.
iority of the senate first rescinded
its rule requiring that appoint.
ments shall be referred to approp
riate committees for inquiry, as
is done in the United States Sem
ate. The purpose of such refer
ence is that the senate shall have
the benefit of proper investigation
by the committee as to the fitness
of an appointee, and act intelli-
gently in advising and consentlng
to each and every appointment.
Having thus removed from the
standing rules of the senate ar
obstacle to hasty and inconsIder
ate action, in order that partisan
outrage might be perpetrated by
putting all obstacles possible in
the way of the incoming governor,
and over the protest of the Demo
CT attic members of the senate, the
appointees of Governor Harris
were confirmed the first day of the
session, and no other business was
transacted before the inaugura-
tion of Governor Harmon.
This brief summary is given so
that the reader may realize the
situation which confronted d Cover
nor Harmon at the beginning of
his administration. He made his
position plain in the special com
sent to the senate
Tuesday of this week asking that
the confirmation of the Harris
appointments be reconsidered. AS
he said in that communication :
"My election as governor plainly
meant that the people want a
change of administration"
This the view the people in
general take of it. Wherever one
may go, except among the pro.
fessional politicians, will be heard
the comment that Governor Harris
acted unjustly in trying to saddle
his appointees upon Governor
Harmon also stated clearly the
effect of this imposition, setting
forth that if the appointees are
fastened upon his administration
for full terms their tenure will eX-
tend we'll toward the end of his
term, that he will have to under
take the work to which he has
been called with officials not of his
own choosing but chosen by his
opponents in the campaign last
year whose administration the
voters disapproved.
The same condition will go on
ad infinitum, and each succeeding
governor will suffer the same
handicap, as the governor points
out, if this precedent is allowed to