The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-02-18
KAMpEo powN BY HARRIS.

How easy 1t is for republican news
papers to garble facts, and how
prone they are to do so-and to dc
it often.
The Ohio State Journal, always
noted for its biased statements, has
this paragraph at the head of an ar
ticle in its Wednesday edition: Gov
Harmon and the members of the
prison committees of the senate and
house have about reached the con-
clusion that the convict labor prob
lem is too big to be solved at the
short session, though this was one
of the main objects for which Gov
Harris called the extra session
The astounding part of this state
ment is that which attempts to make
it appear that the solution of the
penitentiary problems was one of
the main objects for which Gov
Harris called the extra session"
In his proclamation of Dec. Is
calling this extra session Gov Har-
ris gave no reason for so doing fur
ther than that when assembled the
legislature would receive a message
from the governor stating to both
houses the purposes for which they
have been convened"
When the legislature met the mes
sage of Gov Harris set forth that
"the purposes for which you have
been called together are to make the
necessary appropriations for the
three quarters ending Nov. Is, 1909
and the quarter ending Feb. Is, 1910,
for the election of United States
senator for the term beginning March
4, 1909, and for such other action as
may be deemed proper"
Stating further in the message that
he would leave the matter of gen.
eral recommendation to his success
sor, Gov. Harris made some refer
ence to state deposits, competitive
and state inspection, but
NOT ONE WORD DID HIS MES
SAGE CONTAIN WITH REFER.
ENCE TO THE PENITENTIARY
as should have been the
case if it was "one of the main OBJ
jects for which Gov. Harris called
he extra session"
1t is true that at the same time
Gov. Harris seEt a special message
20 the legislature the only purpose of |
" AAANh "eNos Go bNuNHu III us HISl sen [
.ence, to transmit the report or the
legislative committee relative to the /
and he recommended !
hat it be given early and favorable
but in no part of this
special message did Gov. Harris state
n even intimate that this was one
# the main objects" for which he
alled the extra session.
AS claimed in his message explain
ng why he called the extra session
he two main objects" of Gov. Har-
is was TO have an appropriation bill
assed and a senator elected: the
uch other action as may be deem.
d proper" was the confirmation of
ne Harris lap-over appointees, which
roved to be the MAIN object of the
ytra session. !
After this Highlander political
ltrage was perpetrateds and Mr.. |
urton was elected senator, the re-
lblican leaders in the legislature
tempted TO force an adjournment ]
thin four days after the recess. !
lth the understanding that NO !
THEIR ACTION was to be taken !
Scept to pass the appropriation bill. ,
hey had no intention whatever to do I
1ything with the penitentiary prob
m, and Gov. Harmon had to COM :
Ell them to take cognizance of it.
The present situation at the peni.
sntiary is a result of the general
competency of the Harris admins ,
alton, which was given up chiefly !
the Vaccinations of petty politics. :
Gov Harris made no attempt to ,
eet the oncoming conditions at the /.
which could easily be
reseen, as the Wertz law was pass {
THREE YEARS AGO. He let II {
by default, and it became one of :
e inheritances Gov. Harmon receiy- I
from the Harris administration a
ong with the lap-over appointments. !
No matter how republican papers t
ay garble the facts they cannot ex- t
erate Gov. Harris for his failure G
meet the penitentiary question. h
y more than they can exonerate l
w. Harris for his petty partisan. r
ip in fastening lot of political a
rnacles upon the administration of t
". Harmon. s