The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-23
WHO WILL BE THE CAPTAIN

The Ohio Democratic convention, which on
Wednesday unanimously renominated Judson
4 Harmon for Governor, formally announced his
candidacy for President by a resolution endoro'
iur him as the choice OF the Ma ional Democracy
In 1912.
1t is not too much to say that this resolution
I il the crysalzed expression Of growing ma
lstion wide sentiment. Harmon holds the pres
int hope OF the Democracy. The party Is en-
teling upon fresh period of militant service
ii has come out of adverse fires purged ana
strengthened. Like Haggards She, it needs
only that at periods of reaction from folly, al
+ times when 1t returns weary from wanton plI-
grimage into strange places, the old party should
throw itself back into the vital flame OF
ancient principle, to emerge with the body OF Il
glorious youth and the wisdom of a ripcned age.
Seven years of defamation at Washington
have been succeeded by Il year and half of tepld
policy that has nauseated the public. The head
sof the administration has shown himself man
who has misconceiyed his trust to be the duty of
loyalty to II corrupt party, The party itself has
shown that it lives for itself and not for the peo-
Die who made il. 1t has shown itself shameful
in disregard of promise. 1t has shown itself
weak in moral fiber 1t has shown itself inefficient
EVEN TO sin straight. 1t has compromised, and
crawled, and squirlned. 1t has waged wordy
battles III It's own ranks over inconsequential mat
tiers. 1t is torn with scandals which ii has the
Speridy to try 10 cover, instead of the courage to
Rlance- II il a lettering hulk, habby, Initiated
y uerveless, afraid.
81 These are the armies. The question is one OF
leadership. The Republican army must change
B Generals on the march, or it is beaten inevi
tally as The battle is joined. The Democratic
party, resting before the charge behind i'm
pregnabie Notifications, looks for Captain
The Republican hosts are faced with alliance tc
discredited leader or the choice of whom
they followed only through fear, who does not
express their sentiment, whose virtue is the
cooked hat of hero. Who, III this emergency
will the Democrats select!
Harmon would defeat Taft, certainly. 1t ap
pears that he, or whoever may be the Democratic
choice, will be called upon to defeat Roosevelt
Il This fact strengthens Harmon's candidacy. TIL,
man stands for everything that Roosevelt Is not
He stands for law, not as Taft stands for it
but as Roosevelt might be imagined TO stand fo
4 1t if his every instinct were not against it. III
stands for the stern and impartial law which i.
understood by the popular ideas of justice HI
believes iii making the law effective, and in ap
plying il without prejudice. When he was Sc
l.cted by Roosevelt 10 prosecute railroads, biz
resignation, because Roosevet rould not perni
hsas 10 proceed against has friend, Paul Morton
set for all time i'll political history the illustration
\ of the difference between a man who uses the law
as an advertisement and one who considers ii
4 rule Of conduct and of conscience Harmon ii
safe without being, a. Parker, harmless because
dead lie is alive, without being, Roosevelt
destructive a. an incident of his own virility
\ He is for property rights without being the slav
q of property Unless in New York Mayor Gay
nor should become Governor. the nomination o
Harmon would seem TO be that which, by com
4 bining aggressive principle with constructive
\ policy, would best operate TO appeal to the PEG
u pie against the hurrah of Roosevelt, and to prop
erfy by offering it within the law the square deal
4 ing which the law is created to give, rather than
that rendered by man whose first motive il
B discovering what the law is seems TO be the de
sire to hit it for public applause with the BIZ
Il Stick Of a reckless egotism.