The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-07-01
Governor Harmon and the Ohio
Democracy.

"What imparts peculiar interest in this
years political campaign in Ohio says
the Philadelphia Record, is the recon-
mendation of Judson Harmon for Presi-
dent simultaneously with his renomina-
ton for Governor by the Democratic
State Convention. So far from being UNI
timely, this recommendation is justified
alike by political conditions in Ohio and
by the eminent character and antecedents
of the candidate. 1t does not follow,
however, that this closes the field against
candidates from other States. There is.
for example, promising candidate in
Mayor GaynOr, and there are others in a
party not controlled BY bosses or ma
chimes.
but should Governor Harmon be
selected this year ii IS most likely that the
rival candidates for President in 1912
would come from Ohio. Recognizing
the danger in Governor Harmon's re-
election, President Tai, has already de-
tached Assistant Attorney General Ellis
from Office in Washington and sent him
back to the State to conduct the campaign
at close range. Ii may be expected that
the Executive who has not SCrup,ed to
employ the spoilS of the Government
against the lnsurgent Republicans will
so the length in contest with Democ-
{ racy in which his personal interests and
ambition are involved In fact. should
/ Governor Harmon be reelected in de
( spite OF all the patronage of the Admins
I tration. President Taft might be regarded
4 by his party as no longer an available
/ candidate in 1912. Such is his stake in
I the event of this Ohio campaign.
Singular as II may sound in the evolu-
1 ton of politics. Ohio is now ranged
Z among the doubtful States. although re.
/ SaTded but few years ago as an impreg-
nabie Republican stronghold. Besides a
( Governor, the Democrats have one-third
of the Ohio representation in Congress.
while several of the Republican members
hold their seats by extremely small mar
gins OF votes. The promise OF Demo
cratic gins this year in the Ohio Con-
| gresSional delegation is stronger than
ever. This Is not wholly explainable by
the confusion and disarray in the Repub.
lican camp and by the popular discomfort
with Republican tariff legislation Itmay
be attributed largely TO the high standard
OF the Ohio Democracy on natural issues,
in contrast with that of the Republicans,
as well as 1.-THE vigorous State admins
tration of Governor Harmon. The Ohio
platform is a mastery exposition o
Democratic principles And policies ir
thorough harmony with the progressive
tendencies and sane conservatism of the
party
In the State conventions held thus fal
by Democrats and Republicans this veal
the party in power has no reason for self
graduation, from the Machine-made con
vention in Pennsylvania 10 the conven
tons in Ohio and Minnesota. not to men
ton series of untoward events wei
calculated to fill the reactionarv adherent:
of the Administration with gloom anc
despair as TO the future. In Indiana the
Republican State Convention has sus
tanned lnsurgent Senator Beverage anc
repudiated the Payne-Aldrich tariff. The
Minnesota Republicans III State conven
ton have unanimously re-nominated In
surgent Senator Clamp. In Ohio tn,
Democratic State Convention in platform
and proceedings has defined the ground.
upon which the Democracy appeals witt
confidence to the country as the onl,
party that can guarantee suppression o
popular discontentS with vicious legisla
ton and restore wholesome methods o
administration and government.