The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-05-09
Gov. Harmon And The Honest
Democratic Legislators
To Purge The State House
Of The Dirty Grafters
And Break Up The Practice
That Existed For Years

Columbus, O., May 6-Developments
In Columbus which followed the hurl-
ing Of bribery charges against men,
bers of the general assembly show
that Governor Harmon and those as
sociated with him in the Democratic
administration will not protect any
one. A screen will not be thrown up
to hide the guilty ones. Instead a
powerful searchlight will be turned
onto all transactions the past four
months in the general assembly.
There is no single act that could
be performed that would benefit the
whole state so much, as the complete
breaking up Of the vicious practice OF
soliciting money for legislative action
that has existed in the general assem-
bly, for many years. If Governor Har-
mon and honest Democratic general
assemblymen purge the state house of
these grafters, that accomplishment
will stand forth as The greatest
achievement that has been brought
about by state administration in sew
eral decades.
1t was but few years ago that
Wade H. Ellis, former Republican at
torney general, attempted to send
former State Printer Johnson, a
Democrat, to the penitentiary for
merely charging that his predecessor,
Mark Slater, Republican, had been
a CRATER. A Democratic state ad-
ministration was responsible for send
ing Slater to the penitentiary for
stealing $4,000 of the states proper-
ty.
Governor Harmon, as head of the
administration has assumed full re-
sponsibility Of leadership in the fight,
which is to be waged to establish the
truth as to the bribery charges and
punish to the full limit of the law ev-
cry guilty man, whether he be bribe
giver or bribe taker.
The governors actions show he will
not handle the situation with gloves.
In order that no guilty man might es-
cape through the immunity route, the
governor first ordered that no legis-
lative investigating committee be ap-
pointed. He directed that the grand
jury probe the charges, in order that
indictments be speedily returned and
prosecutions follow as rapidly as pos
sible. Heretofore legislative investi-
eating committees have granted i'm
munity to suspects.
Thanks to the wise and firm stand
taken by Governor Harmon the i'm
munity bath tub has been covered,
and the prison door stands open to re.
ceive all guilty persons. All decent
Ohioans will rejoice If the governor
succeeds in wiping out the lecherous
band that, it is charged, has infested
the state house. Sometime ago Gov.
ernor Harmon was criticized by GER
tain persons for not being more Sc
we're with legislators who obstructed
his measures. The governor has sus-
pected some illegal influence was at
work and he was simply giving rope
to the general assemblymen to hang
themselves.
The backbone of the bitter opposi.
tion that has been manifest against
the Harmon reform measures through
out the legislative session, has snap
ped under the sorrow and uneasiness
that has come with the bribery ex,
posures.
Tuesday Governor Harmon scored
two distinct triumphs in the enact
ment of the Wyman bill, embracing
the Oregon plan for the direct nomin
alton and election of United States
senators, and in the passing Of the bill
which abolishes IL separate boards oil
trustees of state institutions, and
places their duties in the hands of j
single board.
In addition to these triumphs, the
governor had the satisfaction of see
ing the house pass the bill providing
for the transfer of the management
of the Girls Industrial School from
male to female control.
These progre siye steps will not bt
the only cnes. Indications are tha
b n houses will ma ch forward ii
t clos dfys OF tue 5ession, ant
I. .le Will ge' more bene cia