The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-09-23

Cleveland thanked him, and every dis
appointed Office seeker In Ohio blamed
Jud Harmon for knocking him and
preventing him from sacrificing his
private interests for the public good
A short while afterward President
Cleveland and Mr.. Harmon were both
guests Of James Il. Campbell then
governor of Ohio. They became rather
chummy on this occasion. After Mr..
Harmon left Mr. Cleveland made the
remark to Mrs Campbell that he con
sidered that fellow Harmon" a
mighty fine man.
1t wasn't long after that that Jud-
son Harmon, in opening his mail at
the law Office of Harmon. Colston,
Goldsmith e. Hoadiy. in Cincinnati,
found a brief letter, hand written,
from President Cleveland, inviting him
to become q member of the cabinet,
with the attorney generalship as his
particular job.
Mr.. Harmon read 1t over carefully.
He got up and paced back and forth
In the Office few times. Then he
called Mr.. Colston and explained the
situation to him.
"Now," he said, "I'm going out home
and put it up to Mrs. Harmon. If she
wants the job she can have 1t. That
is, If she wants to go to Washington
as the wife of cabinet officer she
may. If she elects to stay in Cincin-
natl, here we stay"
And so 1t happens that Mrs. Harmon
really settled the question and that it
was her verdict that made Judson Har-
mon attorney general of the United
States
No more vigorous attorney general
has ever filed that exalted position.
When Mr.. Harmon took hold he pro-
ceeded carefully, as he always does.
There was nothing revolutionary about
his methods. But during the period Of
his incumbency he took stands and
carried through prosecutions and rem
dered decisions that have established
worldwide precedents. And he did 1t
all in that easy, natural way that
marks every move that he has ever
made. before and since his cabinet ex-
periences
For prior to his service as attorney
general Mr.. Harmon held other pub
lie positions. He was superior court
judge in Cincinnati and was succeeded
I'm that position (Which he resigned)
by William II. Taft, now president.
Later he became district judge" and,
strangely enough, Mr.. Taft followed
him in that position. Then Mr. Taft
became solicitor general of the United
States, Harmon followed him to
Washington as "A cabinet member.
81 don't know whether Bill Taft is
following me or I'm following him."
he laughingly remarked one day, "but
we seem to be moving along in the
same general direction. / wonder If
he won't follow me into the cabinet"
Sure enough, Mr.. Taft did follow him
into the cabinet by becoming secretary
of war under Mr. Roosevelt And
those who believe I'm the Harmon brand
of destiny are inslstently confident that
Jud is to follow Mr. Taft stu further
However-
i Out I'm Ohio they still call him
"judge." Nine out of every ten men,
referring now to the man who has
been attorney general and governor
since he sat on the bench, speak Of
Judge Harmon" And yet he doesn't
look particularly judicial To look
conventionally judicial one must be as
solemn 0s a treefu of owls. Governor
Harmon doesn't come up to specifica-
tions in this regard. He has big gray
eyes that are set wide apart, and little
laugh made wrinkles radiate from
them in all directions. There is always
the suggestion of smile under the
lashes. Over these eyes are great
bushy brows that really need trim
ming. There Is plenty of hair left on
the outskirts of the massive Harmon
head, but up on top 1t Isn't congested
to speak of, There are strands OF
gray-many of them-but there is also
much that seems to retain the color
of youthful days. His nose is plent.
ful and arched bit, and under 1t there
bristles forth a gray mustache that
looks like the business side of wire
brush. A mouth that is wide and
straight, teeth that are white and even
and ears that are neither modest nor
retiring complete the facial picture
that Is. except the chin. 1t Is built
like stone abutment. The Harmon
body is long and lank and loosely knit
"a sort of Abe Lincoln body, with
long legs and long arms attached mt
regular places and way of doubling
itself up in u chair that makes you
wonder il 1t will come out without
kinking. But 1t does come out all
right, and when the Harmon mentality
directs its activities that body can do
athletic wonders.
Mr.. Harmon Is siXty-three years old.