The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-09-23
The Impartial Course OF Governor
Harmon.

Governor HARMON Of Ohio seems 10
be- an indifferent politician. The Column
bus street railroad strike offered him
exceptional opportunities to improve his
prospects OF reelection, particularly by
following the shining example OF Mavor
MARSHALL. who likes TO be known as q
friend OF labor. but Governor HARMON
has not taken the popular side In
evading the damaging consequences Of
strict neutrality he has displayed no SIX III
at all TON JOHNSON would have shown
him how TO do il by dramatic appear
ance in the danger zone and timely
and noncommittal speech Of sympathy
With the striking carmen. but Governor
HARMON has not followed even the eX-
ample of TON JOHNSON. who il known to
be an expert in the correct attitude Of
executive officers during such troubles
II was only a question Of time when the
ineptness and singular unConcern Of
Governor HARMON would involve him
in political difficulties Al last the blow
has fallen The following despatch from
Columbus tells the story:
s'Aisplde lght 20 defeat Governor HARMON
for reelection was started here TO niGhtAtG meet.
ns Of representatives % atty iabor oTGShiIa lions
Of the S's's rh'S Uas decided upon when the
Governor FATTY toned down . labor committee
ahich asked him 10 eIert his Ia nuence for set
uenru, Of the ors street car stnke BY declaring
publicly ioT arbitration.
Governor HARMON has had warning
enough In the end OF August a com
mittee waited on him. and all that cosIld
be got ont of the Governor was that he
would do what he could to bring about
q settlement Of the strike favorable TO
union labor. since that interview he
has not constrained the Columbus Rail
way and Light Company to submit TO
arbitration The company has always
stubbornly refused TO arbltrate its diff
fer-nces with it, old employees. Some
time ago the CITY Council offered TO
act a. hoard Of Judges. bat the com
panN declared that there was hing
10 arbiirate After the conference with
the labor leaders on August ~ Governor
n NRMON left town wit bout indicating
What answer he would make to the de
mand of labor Leaders that IN a formal
mmbu- RAILWAY AMI Light Company To
arhi'ra'" with It's striking employees
Governor HARMON has never said
word against that corporation except
To speak sharply about the water ia il
stock As TO forcing u into a court Of
arbitration. he has taken no step. merely
saving that there was no law TO compel
il 10 do what II wouldn't do. A. various
times h. has been ~ conf-reuce with
he officers Of the COMPANY and the
,trik" - not settled yet. taliei upon
bv Mavor MARSHAL. TO summon the
Legislature IN extra session TO enact
a compulsory arbitration law the Gov
ernor replied:
You assume that ! have only IN csll me
Legislature and tell them shat to DO A. both
.~ssious the Rspubursn majority Which controis
10th branches took special pains 70 treat my
recommends ions with ntu. or no respec,
Governor HARMON has done nothing
important during the strike but order he
militia TO Columbus TO protect property
aud save IN. lives OF itS citizens nothing
else certainly but denounce both the
militi and the police for cowardice in
the presence ~ lawbreakerr. And he
might have done ~ much more ~ a
candidate for reelection and a. an
aspirsnt Ia the Presidency. For in
stance il was little thing he was asked
Ia do BY the strikers or WAS u the poll
ticians behind them . merely 10 forget
that he had said time and again. what
was perfa,siy true. that he had no power
10 compel the company To srbitrate. and
call upon IL publicly and nenacingly
TO do so. A sorry politician. A man
stubborn in conviction and consis,cnt
10 a fault not Whilst anding his political
interests. The consequences must be
upon his own head.