Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-07-11
HON. JUDSoN HARMON, GOVERNOR OF OHIO.

Republicans. Another graft nveSu- |
CATION brought forth the exposure,
prosecution and conviction of Mark
Slater, former Republican state print
er, on graft charges III lesser degrees;
the settlement Of an interest claim Of
over $1,000 on funds carried in the
bank for former Republican State Au-
ditor Walter D. Guilbert and the fling
of claim for over $31 900 with the re-
ceiyer of defunct bank at Columbus
as an interest charge on funds carried
in that bank by Mr.. Guilbert as au-
ditor.
These revelations during the COVER
nor's first term awakened the civic
conscience and paved the way for his
subsequent reelection. The Democrats
captured the general assembly at the
same time.
Then Governor Harmon renewed his
efforts in behalf of certain bills two
Republican general assemblies denied
him.
The most notable achievement ac-
complished by the executive during the
legislative session was the enactment
of the Wyman bill, including the Ore
gon plan Of nominating and electing
United States senators.
A conference committee was appoint
ed to frame a compromise senatorial
nomination and election bill. II would
vote for q Republican for United
States senator if the people by their
votes declared for Republican" the
governor told this committee dur
ing the conference. Il would be
proud to do it. would simply be
doing the will of the people" One of
the committee suggested the Oregon
plan was undemocratic. The executive
replied, It's the very essence of De
mocracy TO put the government back
into the hands Of the people and let
them say whom they want for United
States senator"
Governor Harmon took new tack
and had Il similar measure offered in
the house. the Wyman bill. That
| body passed it and sent it TO the sen
sufficient Republican votes to save it.
Ohioans had demonstrations recent
ly that their Judiciary, one of the most
sacred institutions of a free govern
ment, had been invaded by party boss
es in their inOrdinate thirst for power.
Instead Of being places where the peo-
pie could turn to invoke the penalties
of the criminal statutes on those who
had offended certain courts We're be-
ing used, in cases where men of vast
political power We're concerned to
shield violators from the vengeance of
the law.
But~the general assembly took a long
step forward from boss domination of
the courts by enacting Il bill provid-
ing in the future that all Ohio judges,
from the digniied gowned justices of
the supreme court down to the humble
laymen who sit as justices Of the
/ peace, shall be elected on tickets alb
solutely free from party emblem or
/ device. Nominations may be made by
/ conventions, but the power of bosses
to control nominations was broken By
a clause in the bill which says that
| nominations may be made by peti,
tons. There is not another such law
in the United States
Ohio has been hampered by the
crude, unwieldy machinery of con.
stitution which was adopted in 1881.
and the subject of making a new or.
ganic law is the biggest and most i'm
portant proposition that has come be-
fore a Buckeye general assembly in
many years. Selfish hands were being
outstretched to get control of the con
stitutional convention TO be held in
1912 when Governor Harmon took
charge of the arrangements for it and
succeeded In getting through the gen
eral assembly a bill which will remove
the Delegates from political Influence
and make them responsible 70 the peo. !
~. ~ II