Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-30
Nebraska
ALDUICH TALKS OF HIS TRIP
Finds Progressive Sentiment in Ohio,
but Laws Lacking.
CALLS HARMON A s1DEsTEPPER
Declares Democratic Governor Lets
bills On which He Does Not want
90 Take stand Become Laws
without Signature.
lFrom a staff correspondentl


LINCOLN, June 29.--(Special )-Governor
Aldrtch returned home yesterday from
nearly three weeks trip to Ohio. II
had great time while was away" said
he this morning soon after stepping in
his office. II feel vigorous and well
rested in spite of the fact that / was kept
going nearly every day that / was away
n change OF scenery and entirely new
conditions being present on, every hand.
II was a-sort OF a physical rest and
mental tonic even though fellow has
rather strenuous time Of it," declared the
governor
ohio is one OF the very greatest IL not
the greatest state in the union from a
standpoint OF development in every phase
of American activity. The railroad service
IL immense, Trunk lines thread the state
in all directions, and intertwined between
these are the interurban lines, and the
conditions of travelling are certainly par
excelleney in that state.
The state university has made an i'm
mense growth The buildings and equip
nent are second to none in this entire
country. These magnificent modern build
ings are located in the center of three
hundred and twenty acres of land. The
campus is beautifully ornamented by
natural forest trees. The campus is I'M
surpassed by that of any institution of
learning in the Unitedsta tes In fact, It
10 just such campus as the university CT
Nebraska will have when we remove It out
TO the farm as II ought TO be.
II delivered the commencement address
AZ the university &c a graduating class
OF AS. larger number than there were
students in tho university twenty-three
Z years ago.
Politics IN the east il the same as in
the west-slightly mixed. There is as much
progressive sentiment in Ohio as there is
In Nebraska. The people OF that state would
rejoice In the same kind of laws that we
are enjoying in Nebraska. But their ener-
gies are lying dormant; they are not yet
awakened to sense Z responsibility tina
is next to the accomplishment in getting
progressive legislation 's3u
HRrmen as sidestepper.
II called and paid my respects to Gov
ernor Harmon. I found him to be a very
genial and pleasant gentleman. He had a
BAD legislature on his hands and his man.
agement Of It did not develop his preslden-
tial DO m envy. The general opinion is that
Governor Harmon has made a fatal mis-
take, as far as his presidential aspirations
are concerned, In not exercising or en-
deavortng to exercise a more wholesome in
fluence on the Ohio legislature. The facts
generally, so II is charged, sh W that he
did not exercise enough Influence, or any
at all. saw statement In one of the
metropolitan papers where he had allowed
forty-nine measures to become laws with
out hiss ignatureI and that some of these
measures were the most imp rtant ever
passed by an Ohio legislature, He did not
care SO 1t is charged. to go on record as
ether approving or disappearing these
measures, as they had some political sgnifi-
canoe. go
The sentiment In Ohio seems to be that
Govern Harmon Is a gum shoe politician;
that he evades and shirks responsibility
whenever 1t is questionable as to what the
result will DO to his political aspirations. 1t
\ seems to be conceded back there that he
is the presidential candidate for the in
terests. and they don't believe that he has
show for the nomination.
Attitude of Ohionna.
MANY OF Taft's friends seem anxious
as to the attitude OF the west toward his
administration. find that the farmers in
the western reserve and other places, also
in Ohio, are absolutely opposed to the
reciprocity treaty. 1 talked with many
farmers-and they were republicans too
who said they believed In free trade be-
tween Canada and the United States. but
that they are opposed to having farm
4 products singled out for free trade while
duty is left on lumber All many other
things which the farm neees,.
Il also found LaFollette being widely
talked OF and discussed as presidential
possibility.
MY personal opoinion is that President
Uol a.. III
gaining some strength. but 1t is certainly
very difficult to regain that which has
been lost by blunders and mistakes. And
one thing is noticeable, however. and
that is that every one seems TO have alb
solute confidence in the sincerely. and
integrity, and patriotism OF our presi-
dent"