Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-13
HARMON DEFENDS RECORD
Governor of Ohio Makes Address at
Auditorium Meeting.
IN FURTHERANCE OF CANDIDACY
Claims for His Administration
Large Amount of Prosressivencss
and Declares Self Opposed to
Graft Of All Forms.

Governor Harmon of Ohio delivered
spirited address here tonight in reply to
criticisms OF his public record and the
assertion that he was ''reactionary."
He resented as a slander the intlmation
that he stood for or permitted special
privileges-"an offense little short Of
treason in the eyes Of the democrats'-
and declared the charge that he took part
in the sale Of government bonds while
cabinet officer was mere wanpnness.
Governor Harmon's visit to omsha fol-
lowed an announcement that William j.
Bryan would speak In Ohio In opposition
to Governor Harmon. Mr.. Harmon did
not mention the name Of the Nebraskan,
but said. -
The good people Of Ohio will bear me
.pus when i. say, las dos.that- not IN .
generation have their affairs been so
honestly. fairly. economically and ca
pably managed as they have been by the
present democratic administration. II has
been because Jeffersonian principles we're
practlced and not merely prated about
Comes by Invitation.
~ am here by the invitation OF my
good friends in Nebraska, and. while !
am always adverse to speaking about
myself, feel that It is due to them to
speak Of some matters Of public nature
about which falsehoods have been oircu-
lated so wholly unfounded that persist
ence in them cannot be aseribed to proper
motives. It would not be necessary to do
this at home.
There has been no retraction Of the
published statement that took part In
sale Of government bonds which oc-
CURED months before I entered the cab
met. And as the facts are matters OF
public record making the charge without
inquiry was mere wantonness.
AS that is the only attempt at specifi-
cation under the charge Of favoring any
interests but those of the public. Its
complete refutation discredits the charge
with every lover Of fair play. When one
has been In public life as much as ] have
his conduct affords bettep test oil MIN
than the assertions Of others Of his own,
Attitude on Trusts
Among the many things 1t was my good
fortune to accomplish as attorney-gen-
eral. the one best known, and for which
even my republican successors have com
mended me. was securing from the su-
preme court the first decisions upholding
the sherman antitrust law. These we're
not announced until my term had ex-
pired, but afterward became the basis
Of the cases In which that wholesome
law was enforced. until the recent ones
wherein the idea OF reasonableness was
introduced. Yet, though these facts are
Of common knowledge. the false state
ment is reiterated that l neglected my
duty in that regard.
But my first election as governor.
when Ohio went republican by almost
7oeo majority, was due to the knowledge
of my public services and the belief by
the people Of Ohio that their continuance
would bring about reforms whose need
had become urgent.
One Of these related to favoritism
and grating In connection with the DE-
pcsit in banks Of the public money. While
l was making the campaign largely or
these matters one Of my associates ON
the ticket. as / sfterward learneJ. was
trying to better his prospects Oy promls-
ing deposits in case of his election TO
bankers who would give him support
by votes or contributions. This man is
now nolsily progressive and fabricator-
in-chief of a league at whose first
meeting the door keeper was under indict-
ment for bribery in the legislature and
is nox In the penitentiary.
League" Men Fail.
Only the governor and the treasurer
we're successful at that election and
another member Of this league who.
I understand, has been stumping in Ne
brsSl1a. did his best 10 prevail on the
treasurer to break faith with the people
by going on with the favor practice
they had so sharply condemned. 1 sent
for him and threatened to denounes him
publicly. Ii turned out that he had a
client who had borrowed ssea0o0 Of state
funds from one Of the favored banks
which had them at 24ss interest. while
it was paying 81 interest on all other
deposits. .
But the treasurer kept the faith and
under the promised plan Of free and fair