Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-02-29
What He Has Done,

William J. Bryan claims that Gov
ernor Harmon is reactiOnary and re-
fuses to put him in the COmmOner list
of "eligibleS." HarmOn's friends re-
tort that he was the first attorney gen
eral to galvanize the Sherman anti
trust law into semblance of life and
point to long list Of progressive meas
ures he has put through as governor
Of Ohio. For one thing he has equal
lied taxation. putting upon the rail
roads and other corporations some
thing approaching their just share of
the public burden. For another he
has introduced economy, cut off sine
cures and prosecuted grating and dis
honest state officials. For third he
has put through corrupt practices
act and has made elections u little
cleaner and more decent. These are
but the beginnings Of the good things
he has actually accomplished, and that
with very little noise.
l recall two actions of Harmon as
governor that indicate his character.
One was his advocacy of legislation to
enable cities to adopt the initiative
and referendum. Personally he did
not believe in direct legislation, but
the Ecnocratic party had placed an
initiative ard referendum plank in the
state platform. and he thought it his
duty to carry out the promise. The
oihpr instance was his firm stand in
handling the street car strike. There
was high feeling, and popular senti-
ment was with the strikers. Yet Gov
ernor Harmon risked losing the sup
port of all these people by his firm
ness in handling the situation. A
weak man might have hesitated. Har-
mon moved promptly. and so much do
the American people love honesty and
courage that the incident did not hurt
him at all. even among wOrkingmen.
Won Over Tom johnson.
There are many other occurrences in
kind. When first candidate for gov
ernor Judge Harmon was opposed by
Tom l.. Johnson. The candidate Of
the Johnson men was Atlee Pomerene
VI SdulOu' 4eL tWO years. IdlcE Tie
governor openly supported pomerene's
candidacy for the United States SEN
ate. 1t Is not without interest that
johnson lived to reverse his opinion
Of Harmon and supported him in man.
~ fashion two years ago.
At the time Of his first Inauguration
Governor Harmon was receiver Of two
railroads. He resigned. but Judge
Lurton. who had appointed him re-
ceiver. refused to accept the resigna-
ton. The fact that Harmon held this
Office after becoming governor and re-
ceived more salary from 1t than from
the state Of Ohio occasioned criticism.
Yet there Is no evidence that he neg
lected either Office. On the contrary.
he received high praise for his man
Ter of conducting the recelvership,
and what the people Of Ohio thought
Of his handling of the other job they
told him by 100000 majority in 1910.
AS receiver it Is said of him that he
never cut wages or had strike, that
he dealt with the official representa-
tives Of the unions and that on the 0c-
casion of the wreck Of an excursion
train carrying employees he waived
his legal rights and dealt directly with
the injured persons in the matter OF
settlements.
Is He Another Jackson
As a candidate for president Gov.
ernor Harmon has had little to say. az
usual. but has gone the even tenor Of