The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-06-23
Who Has SafeguardGd The
People Of Ohio
Against III Considered And
Vicious Legislation
Review Of HarmOn'S Use
Of The Veto Power

Columbus, o., June 20-GOyerner
Harmon has demonstrated that the
electors acted intelligently when they
adopted a constitutional amendment
giving their governor the veto power.
Never before has an Ohio executive
welded the veto more vigorously and
exercised better Judgment in the use
of it than Governor Harmon.
OF the 2S4 bills passed by this years
Democratic legislature. he vetoed 80
and partially vetoed 8. Last year
Governor Harmon vetoed n and par
TALLY vetoed 2. The Cleveland Plain
Dealer in a recent editorial In speak
ing of the governors veto said: Ohio
has waited more than years for g.
complete and indubitabie proof that
she acted wisely in indorsing the con-
stitutional amendment known as sec
tion 16 of article 2. This is the veto
provision.
The executive veto is everywhere
upheld as wise measure of preven.
tion, safeguarding the public from i'll
considered or viciously conceived leg
islation. Four Ohio governors have
had this right, bui not until the ad
iournment of the recent session was
an opportunity given TO prove beyond
question its efficacy for good
A glance at the bills or parts OF
bills which Mr.. Harmon has kept of
the statute books proves the conten
ton absolutely And he tried to Kill
the salary grab. but was overridden IL
the assembly. The governor has aavet
the state from q number OF vicious en-
actments and his fearless use of the
veto commends him to the people who
desire a square deaf from their stat'
government.
The usual eleventh hour rush of /
legislative session ia prOmotive o
carelessness; 1t may even prove an ei
fective shield for vicious intention. 4
governor without courage would b.
an easy mark for eicventh-hour bun
glers or burglars But Mr.. Harmon
is not that kind OF a governor.
Students OF public affairs all owe
Ghe state are frank to ADMIT that Gov
eTnor Harmon acted wisely when h
vetoed the Hudson bill and q sectlo
I.ss.f AI,Gttfra hnth nf ghia
would have produced under leYies az
thorlzed $6,5O0,O0O year for roa
construction. Governor Harmon wa
right in his decision that we had bet
ter continue spending $1,000. 900 yea
for good roads until after the one pc
cent tax law has passed the exper
mental stage The Times-Star of Cir
cinnati, Republican, has this to sa
about the governors action on tn
good roads bills "We congratulate
Governor Harmon on his veto of tn
Hudson so,called good roads bill.
"This rs the grotesdue measure tina
would have taken from the big ooul
ties OF Ohio one-twenticth of the totp
income allowed under the new / pc
cent tax limit law and caused neari
all OF Il TO be expended on road col
struction In other PARTS OF the STATE
Under the Hudson bill Hamilton coui
ty. for instance. would have bee
mulched of about 100000 year.
return for which about s35 900 u yea
would have been spent on roads With
this county,
The Finneirock bill requiring st'
dents In educational institutions I
go home to vote was the last OF thl
years batch OF laws 20 be vetoed b
Governor Harmon
As the Kimble corrupt practices a,
will make Illegal the practice OF coul
~ committees defraying the expense
OF students going 70 their forme
homes TO vote, a tlarger proportio
than In the past would have lost the
VOTES II forbidden to vote In the co
bng 10 swear that was their resldenc
1eise precinct even II they were vii
'as 'they We're by the Finnetrock bill
IN his veto message, the govern'
states IL Is clear under the present Ia
that no person may vote in a count
into which he came for a temporal
purpose. and that there il now fu
provision for bringing out the fac
by questions which under the Ne
Hudson law, may be aoked not on