The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-09-21


mon. OF Ohio. Saturday night In a
speech before a gathering of Demo-
cratic clubs. Governor Harmon said
that the Presidents course in vetoing
tariff bills passed by the special ses-
sion of Congress indicated that he had
been reached by wrong advisers"
Speaking of the Presidents objections
TO these bills, he said: These and
other marks of paternity suggest the
question whether the vetoes may not
have been adopted offspring, like the
defense Of Ballinger."
He needed no commission" said
the speaker, when he promised a
general reduction before his election.
nor when he called the special ses-
sion TO keep the promise, nor when
ne signed the bill that broke the
promise, nor when he confessed that
the wooden and cotton goods duties
were too high, nor when he made the
agreement with Canada. His position
is simply that those who, by the trick
cry of tariff-making, have secured
incense to impose eXorbitant prices on
the American people shall go on do
ing 1T, In spite of the action of both
houses of Congress, until five men
VINO are not responsible to the peO-
pie, nor even experts, shall advise him
how much these favor taxes ought to
be reduced, and how to do il scienti-
hcally. He admits they are too high
on these absolute and universal ne
cessities of life, but he fears these
bills may have cut them too much
All the men, women and children in
the land must continue to suffer an
admitted wrong, that affects health
and comfort rather than run any risk
of causing too much shrinkage in
profits made excessive by law. The
people must not even have the bene-
fit of the doubt.
IF the present tariff charges had
been fixed merely without proper
knowledge and skill it could well be
said that an 'unscientific' remedy is
good enough for an unscientifc
wrong, especially when those who ap-
ply the remedy have the advantage
of dealing with actual results, while
those who did the wrong acted only
on conjecture. But the Payne-Ald-
rich-Smoot law had a far worse sire
than ignorance. And it is a reflection
on our plan of government to say
that the fragrant iniquities of that
law shall go on defying good sense
common knowledge and honest pur-
pose until commission, without le-
gal responsibility or authority shall
decide how the duly chosen lawmak-
ing body r-'y deal with them.
TIE Veto Power.
Il believe in the veto power. But
II is to be employed only on the clear
and positive conviction of the execu-
tive that the public interest so re-
QutreS. He is allowed ten DAYS to
consider and decide. If he remains
in doubt at the end of that time ac-
and the judgment Of the legislative
body becomes effective without il. For
the President to defeat the action of
Congress, especially when il follows
the plain mandate Of the country
merely because he is not certain about
II himself. and wants TO wait for some
body else TO advise him. is a new and
perilous departure from the wise de-
sign OF the Constitution.
I'VE have had tariff commissions
before, but none Of them ever accom-
plished anything but delay. And If
ever time is money il certainly is TO
the benehctaries of a favor tariff. The
consumers Of the country were enti-
tied to at least partial immediate re-
llet TINS Congress gave and the Presi-
dent took away. His tenderness was
an Tor the few who profit by the
present excessive rates. He hardened
his heart TO the multitude who are
compelled to pay the eXorbitant
prices which include them"
Not content with calling the ma
Jority in Congress unscientific, incom-
petent and ignorant" continued Gov
ernor Harmon, though in his vetoes
ne dld so IN parliamentary phrase, the
President now, in public speeches.
charges them with insincerity. en-
ploying the ruder language of the
stump. He says they were playing
politics.
This gives a fellow feeling for
Messrs. Clark and Underwood and
the reforms in Ohio which 1 was elect
ed to secure, l found myself con-
fronted by a General Assembly, Re-
publican in both branches, which un-
dertook TO discredit my administra-
ton in every way it could. 1t smoth-
cred or defeated measures proposed to
prevent further grating with the
treasury funds, to limit taxation and
distribute it fairly; to reduce expenses
and secure effective conduct of the
public business. When ! persisted in
urging measures for those and other
worthy objects, though l knew the
fixed purpose to make my efforts
fruitless, l, too, was charged with
suing a course from some unworthy
motive, and any motive except to
promote the general welfare is un-
worthy in a public officer.
But at the first Opportunity the
voters of the State most emphatically
declared that they play politics who
thwart efforts for reforms. and not
they who make such efforts, however
hopeless of Immediate success
Talk of Playing PoIitics!"
And talk OF playing politics! The
members of the obstructive Republic
can Legislature were, according to
press reports, in constant touch with
the national administration during
both sessions. The Speaker and lead
ers frequently went to Washington
and conferred with the President. Half
the Cabinet were sent to take part in
the campaign last fall where the direct
issue was, who had been playing poll
tics and who were trying to serve
the public interests. Yet, in dispatches
inspired in Washington, the claim is
now set up that this great record of
accomplishment by a Democratic adj
miniStration is due to those who had
to be twice defeated at the polls to
secure it. Even from Washington
says one of these, after reciting with
praise what has been done, where it
was realized by the Republican chief
tain that the Democrats would claim
most of the credit for the passage of
such legislation. Republicans in the
Legislature were urged and advised TO
support proposed laws which, in their
operation, would prove to be a benefit
to the great masses of the people, This
chieftain must have little influence
with his followers in Ohio, because,
with now and then an honorable eX-
ception III either house. they continued
to oppose a solid front against the
entire program of reforms for which
the Democratic administration was
contending with its slender majorities
in Senate and House SnralV irving TO