Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-06-26

ny ouO CiOoc W tudI eAcCullNe III
clude:
A corrupt practices act
| Public utilities bill.
Employers liability bill.
The commission form of govern
ment in cities desiring it by a 80 per
! cent majority vote, including the in
| tiative, referendum and recall
An election reform bill providing for
personal registration and an identi-
fication system in addition to the
ron-partisan blanket ballot of the
Massachusetts type
L Civil service for election of officers
A primary bill providing for direct
nomination and election of all officials
including delegates to the national
convention and United States sena-
tors-a more drastic measure than
the Oregon plan.
| A law placing New Jersey on record
as ready to aid in building ship
canal that will serve as connecting
link between the two most populous
districts of the American continent.
A law that will protect the New
Jersey public from the abuses of the
cold storage companies.
A set of laws that will reorganize
the schools of the state along econom-
ic and progressive lines.
When Democratic Legislators jump
ed the party traces and refused to
stand for any of these bills, both
Governor Wilson and Governor Har-
mon disregarded party ties and went
over to the Republican side and got
sufficient votes to have them enact
ed
In his message to the Ohio general
assembly demanding the enactment
CT pending measures, Governor Har-
mon, in addition 70 the bills in his
legislative program enumerated above
advocated the abolition of the party
emblem in purely municipal elections;
smaller city councils, with large part
OF whom elected at large; the nominal
ton by state wide primary elections
OF all who are in any way to act for
or represent the state officially or po-
lltically and the non-partisan nominal
ton of judges. The general assem-
bly,, however, disregarded Governor
Harmon's suggestion with respect to
the last four bills.
A Record Of Progressveness.
Judson Harmon has been called a
conservative and this is true if con-
SerVatiSm means one who does not
suddenly rip up governmental ma
Chinery without first constructing a
new and better driving power to sue
coed the old. If progressive Democ-
racy means constructive Democracy
then Mr.. Harmon is progressive. In
Ohio the people are claiming that the
reform measures Judson Harmon put
through the Ohio general assembly
are as progressive as any legislative
program of any executive in the
United States Mr.. Harmon is a
strong, sober, sensible, well-balanced
and well-equipped man, of the real
Jackson and JeffersOnian school-the
constructive Democracy. In diScharg
ing his duties, he selects his course
with great care and then proceeds
with constitutional exactness. In one
hand he has held the support and
confidence of the man who works, and
in the other he has maintained the
approval of what are generally term
ed the business interests.
A nOn-partisan judiciary bill which
will place all judges beyond the do
main of politics, a working mems
compensation act and public utili-
ties bill are among the big measures
on the Harmon legislative program
that Ohioans claim are far in advance
of any such legislation in the United
States.
The workingmen's compensation act
has been endorsed by both employees
and employers. Injured workmen I'M
der it will be compensated from a
fund made up by contributions from
both employers and employees. EN-
ployers who do not avail themselves
of the law can not set forth the
legal defenses of fellow servant
rule, assumed risk and contributory
negligence in personal injury cases.
In no other commonwealth will the
people have so strong rein over pub
lie utilities as the people of Ohio. In
no other state is the public so we'll
protected from over capitalization and
the excessive rates that that brings,
as the people of the Buckeye state.
The commission is given absolute
control over rates, service and issues
of stocks and bonds. Under series of
referendums which are authorized the
people are enabled to pass upon rates
authorized. A valuation of property
is to be made to determine rates and
it is provided that no franchise or
monopoly which the people grant
shall be used as an asset to author
ize high rate.
After the Ohio general assembly adj
jOurned Lieutenant Governor Nichols
issued a statement in which he said:
at is an undeniable fact that the
present general assembly has a legis-
ldtive record to it's credit, of bene-
ficent nature unequaled by any legis-
lature that has convened since the
adoption o. our present constitution
in 1851.
"The enactment of these several
laws is the work of accomplishment
of Governor Harmon, secured by per-
sstent and tireless effort without
anything of the spectacular or theatre
cal. Obstacles of seemingly in
surmountable nature We're encounter
ed-only to be finally overcome-and
the fruits of victory cannot be with
held from Governor Harmon.
"In his work thus set forth and &C.
complished he was obstructed at ev-
cry turn by a strong and powerful
minority--whose constant efforts
seemed to be to prevent the passage