The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-14
HARMON ANSWERS 2.
 BRYAN'S ATTAC' ; Pays Tribute to Underwood and Denies Combination IS NOT REACTIONARY Names Progressive Measures Under His Administration-Says He Has
 Had Ample Opportunity to
 Favor Special Interests
IS NOT REACTIONARY


 Wooster, O.. May Ex-Governor Judson Harmon of Ohio tonight began his cam paign in Ohio for the presidential nomi- nation with a reply to the attacks made on him by William J. Bryan, who re- gently made a tour of the state. MT. Harmon declared he had been unani- mously selected by the last state con vention as Ohio's candidate for President and that it was not self-seeking which had put him before the country and sub jected him to the Justification and abuse which are disgracing American politics this year.'
 The governor said the watchword adopt ed for the gubernatorial campaign was Harmon has made good
 Scores Opponents
 But there were some who thought I had made too good" continued Mr liar. mop and to stave off political bank ruptcy from bipartisan combination I had to be beaten. The commoner's mail- ing list was secured and the separate circulars sent out filled with falsehoods and denunciation. They bore Mir Bryan's picture and urged his friends to vote against me because my reelection would make me the candidate for President
 T was reelected by more than 100000 majority, though Colonel Roosevelt and most. of the cabinet came into the stat. to oppose me.
 Tt may be thought wiser to select some other candidate than myself at Balti- more. I would not, if I could, interfere with the free choice of the convention. But if the unanimous action of the Day. ton convention is to be reversed at the primary 1t will be heralded as repuda- tion of my administration.
 Now my opponents have brought Mr. Bryan and carried him around the state. He was reliably informed of the charac- ter and motives of the moving spirits in this rule or ruin movement, but seems not to care.
 Now. as to MT. Bryan. What has caused the change in his attitude to- ward me?
 Relations With Bryan
 At the national convention of 1904 he offered to place me in nomination if l would have the Ohio delegation re- consider their decision not to have my name presented.
 Tn 1908 l constantly urged his cleo ton, declaring would willingly be defeated for governor if it would help him And during our joint campaign he repeatedly praised my efforts in his behalf and told many persons he meant to offer me a place In his cabinet if he was elected.
 What have l done which leads him now to say l am not fit to be even A justice of the peace? He has stated not single fact from my official rec ord or elsewhere to justify his conduct. except that l repudiated the platform on the initiative and referendum This is not true. I advocated before the joint caucus and signed when passed the bill authorizing resort to 1t in ,nu- nicipaIities, which was all our consti- tuition would permit.
 He says l am not a progressive ! ut 'reaetionary.' This is merely call ing names. the last resort in poor case. If 'progressiveness' means sim cere and successful efforts to secure practical reforms in government in stead of mere. talk, where has so much been accomplished as In Ohio during my administration?
 pay ic ls TfOgreSSlVe
 After mentioning many reform laws passed during hhis administration. in- cluding acts for protection of employees direct election of federal senators. and income tax. Hr. Harmon continued:.
 IT MT. Bryan knows of the many reforms accomplished fin Ohio he is grossly unfair to me and my comrades in the administration. If he does not know them, then 1t Is sheer wantonness for him to come into the state of my birth and home try to discredit me with the people without specification or proof, though even an accused criminal is entitled to both
 He would have the people believe that l would serve special interests in- stead of the public If l were elected President. If he really thinks so him. self, he ought to have cut my acquaint- ance slong ago.
 T served for years as a judge and also as Attorney General. I have been for more than three years governor. In all of these positions there have been ample opportunities to favor special interests or shirk my duty If MT. Bryan will point out a single instance where I ever did either l will get out of the way of his desires, whatever they are.
 The Only Interpretation
 Does he mean have only been act ing a part in all these positions just to secure the confidence of the people so as more fully to betrsy them if 1 should ever become President? Silly as that sounds, 1t is the real meaning of what he says
 Was that why l put the antitrust law on it's feet by the three cases in which for the first time if was enforced?
 Was that why I threw up profita ble employment when President Roosevelt refused to agree with me that guilt is always personal and ordered that a rail- road company only, and not It's responsi- ble officials should be prosecuted for pay- ing rebates to a trust?
 was that why I have always de- nounced our tariff law as the. worst form of special privilege, the breeder of trusts
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