The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-29
HARMON REPLIES TO BRYAN.
RAVORS DIRECT ELECTION or
SENATORS MT NOT NOW.

Tee late fer ThAa Campalgn. the GoveF.
nOP aaya- ahsuld Have neea Cons
aldercd IN Primaries ~ IN Cen, entioa
Cah-Ohio RlluAtioa 10 Peculiar
COLUMBUs. May % Gov. Harmon To-
night issued a statement In reply 20 the
demand u W. J. Bryan In the COmmOasr
that he get busy and So that a candidate
for United States Senator IL indOraed by
the State convention. Gov. Harmon says
sentiment in the State II not favorable
10 such endorsement. that u Il were
desired Il should have been announced
~ the time the call for the convention
was issued He says:
4 am convinced that lt would be best
20 elect senators by direct vots " the
people. but WHISTLER until this change Is
effected attempts should be made 20
ascertain the will Of the voters and impose
it on the Legislature depands on con-
ditionS A. they exist Such measures
have worked well in some States and
badly in others At some times and not a
others
In Ohio this year the sentiment among
the Democrats has been that the matter
should be left 10 the members Of the
Legislature and their constituents. Il
was 10 strong that though a number 81
prominent men aspire 20 the Seuatornhip
none Of them took advantage Of our new
primary AW to 90 before the voters.
AZ they might have done. like Senator
Dick, or. am tod. even thought OF doing
40.
When the committee mot Win FUN
attendance to issue the call for the state
convention Il occurred tOnobody even
20 suggest that the nomination or in
dorlement Of a candidate for senator
DO Includes In the business 20 bs done.
did not create this sentiment, though
shared II. and share Il still.
IL N dils 10 the general belief that In
the present unusual situation in Ohio an
attempt 70 settle the SenatOruhip in adj
vance would Increase the risk OF having
no SenaioTship to settle. Many Of those
who succeeded in having this course
taken % the last convention oppose Il
now. For the FIRST time the delegates
VIII all he chosen directly by the electors
under the sanction Of law. Many Of them
are already elected. | have felt and
w. 49, N-AN = w NlVtEA " MunulNu
by the convention I should not attempt
70 control ia action in other respects
even u ! could but should trust the ia.dR-
ms1t OF a thousand direct Representatives
o. tho Democratic voters a. likely 10 be
better than my own. though owe them
whatever benefit there may be in the
knowledge Of IL.
II the subject was 70 BE- taken up at
all Il should have been done az the pri-
mary. Failing that. IL ahouH have been
included IN the call for the election OF
uelegatos. For the cSsssv6sitIUn now 70
iaHe it up would produce discord and
lead 20 charges Of bad faith and snap
Judgment on an oocasion 70 which all
Democrats lOok forward with gladneaa
and hops. And II nevertheless the people
should elect q Democratic Legislature
abundant excuses could be- afforded 20
members for refusing 10 BE- bound by tho
action Of tho convention.
Mr. Bryan's opinion IL always entitled
70 the greatest respect hut arm confident
that hia long absence has made him un-
familiar With the present peculiar cundi- |
tons In Ohio and that u he knew them a.
they are known here he would SEE the |
good policy Of emitting the Senatorship |
from consideration by the convention. /
Nobody has been mentioned as ths first |
Democratic senator frUm Ohio for many |
years who would not wOFthily represent |
The people Of the State. and with nuhlic |
sentiment aatiF ~ Il IL nObodv can hOpe |
10 he considered who would not 30 repre- |
sent them