The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-15
PEOPLE VOTED
FOR A CHANGE

Last fall the people of Ohio made
up their minds that they wanted a
change in the administration of the
States affairs. They voted for that
change when they elected JudsOn
Harmon to the office of governor.
Anticipating the right of his chos-
en- successor to properly organize
the executive forces of the State
that are directly under the control
of the governor and in utter disre-
gard of the demand Of the peop'e as
expressed at the polls last November,
Governor Harris called the legisla-
ture into extra session during the
lass week of his incumbency and
sent to the senate long list of APP
polntments for confirmation.
! Whatever doubt may exist as to
the regularity of Governor Harris
action in Issuing 20 general as
sembly not yet in existence proc
! lamation calling an extraordinary
! session to begin just before the eX-
piraton of his term as acting gov
ernor. the fact remains that It con-
/ vened in response to that call, and
/ that the senate Immediately after its
/ organization uproceeded to confirm
| all the appointments sent in by the
/ retiring governor.
! This partisan action on the part
of the Republican majority of the
senate was accomplished by an act
of political chicanery which is with
out precedent. In order that the
retiring governors appointments
might be railroaded through without
delay the Republican majority OF the
senate first rescinded its rule requir-
fng that appointments shall be re-
ferred to appropriate committees for
inquiry, as Is done In the United
States Senate The purpose of such
reference Is that the senate shalYI
have the benefit Of proper invest-
cation by committee as to the fitness
of an appontee, and act intelligently
in advising and consenting to each
and every appointment
Having thus removed from the
standing rules Of the senate an OBJ
stacle to hasty and inconsiderate ac-
tion, in order that a partisan out
rage might be perpetrated by put |
ting all obstacles possible in the way |
of the incoming governor, and over
the protest Of the Democratic mem
bers of the senate, the appointees of |
Governor Harris were confirmed the
Hpct dow Of bn
other business was transacted before
the inauguration OF Governor Har-
mon.
This brief summary + given 50
that the reader may realize the s't-
uation which confronted Governor
Harmon at the beginning of his
administration. lie made his position
plain in the special communication
sent to the senate Tuesday of this
week asking that the confirmation of
the Harris appointments he reconsid-
cred. AS he said in that communi-
cation: 'iAGy election as governor
plainly meant that the people want 4
change of administrator"
This is the view the people in
general take of 1t. Wherever one
may go, except among the profess
sional politicians, Will be heard the
comment that Governor Harris act
ed unjustly in trying to saddle his
appointees upon Governor Harmon's
administration. Governor Harmon
also stated clearly the effect of this
imposition, setting forth that II the
appointees are fastened upon his ad-
ministration for dull terms their
tenure Will extend well toward the
end of his term, that he will have
to undertake the work to which he h
has been called with officials mot
of his own choosing but chosen by h
his opponent in the campaign last
year whose administration the voters d
disapproved
The same condition will go on
ad in6,nitum, and each governor will
suffer the same handicap, as the
governor points out, If this precedent
is allowed to stand.
But the senate turned a deaf ear
to Governor Harmon's respectful re.
quest for fair dealing. His communi-
cation was referred without comment
to the judiciary, which means that
no further attention will be paid
to 1t by the senate But Il will not
be 50 with the people. II is the will
OF the people that Governor Harmon
should be free handed and unfetter-
ed in his service to the State.
Every obstacle nlaced In hi ,,o,
VIII be properly charged to those re-
sponsible for it.
The people know that he IS willing
to obey these commands and they {
viii not forget within the short IN