Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-03-13
DULL BROWN DAYS
CONTINUED from Page One)

the North where hard political battles
must he fought during the summer and
early autumn. Such states as Minneso-
ia, Wisconsin, Iowa, and California
have not yet elected Democratic gov
ernors and. of course. the Republican
or Progressive governors. as the case
may he. are not expected to come to
Washington TO talk politics.
And with all the gubernatorial visit
ing there has been much comforting
in Congressional delegations from
these states. The Ohio delegation IN
Congress had something of a rumpus
while Gov. Cox was in town. He was
formerly a member of the House and
now finds himself, while closing cut
his first term as governor of the Buck
eye state, facing two Congressional op-
poncnts. Representative John j. Whit
acre of Cantcn, the home of the late
President Mckinley, seeks the Demo-
cratic nomination against Gov. Cox,
who wants another term. and Repre-
sentative Frank b. Willis of Ada, one
of the most prominent young Repub-
licans in the House. stumper Of great
ability, has announced himself for the
Republican nomination of governor
The Ohio people are always lively on
politics whether they are at Wash
ington or on their native heath and
whether they be Democrats or Repub-
licans. Their state is rather passing
cut as the mother oe modern Presi-
dents. There is hardly a presidential
candidate of either party now LETT III
Buckeyedom. But they do hustle around
and get the offices just as usual. In
which connection, it is worth While
noting that while Gov. Cox sojourned
at the Capital City, it seemed to have
been arranged that Representative
William G.. Sharp, Democrat of Elyria.
Ohio should be the next ambassador
to Russia. Fer twenty years he was
a successful manufacturer Of pig iron
and chemicals, having also been rath-
er active in Democratic politics. This
nomination, it seems, has been plan
red as a sort OF gift to Ohio to COM
memorate the trip here of her Demo
cratic governor.
1t may be little wonder with such
things happening that the coming Of
a governor from certain of the big
states is noticeable in spite of all the
ington. And yet there are scores of
governors who may come to Washing
ton and get no notice at all. They are
not regarded of mighty importance in
the political equation and. in Wash
ington, are Just left to themselves and
such immediate friends as may come
around to see them.
For their own importance as individ-
uals. governors of the As states at this
juncture do not include many big men.
There are very few of them who have
anything like a national reputation.
Who can name, right quick, the gov
erners of 81 half dozen states of the
Union Try the question on some of
your friends. New York generally has
a governor of wide reputation Sulzer
had notoriety but was nnpeached and
is NOW member CT the assembly. The
governor Of Ien1syt9ania is president
OF a liaScL.ll league aiil the fans will
know his name. Otherwise one would
,l;tte TO lock in tie Almanac for John
~ TeHel, Republican. and incident
ALL n very mlcre sting nah. There is
net 4 man of presidential size in all
the eubernatoriai aggregation, not
even including Gov. Hiram johnson of
California. who ran for vice president
On the Progressive ticket in 1912 and
IS rrot ably as Well known as any gov
ernor Of any state Of the Union.
There seem to have been no very
concrete results in the visits Of the
Democratic governors to President
NilsCn. but probably no such results
could have be en- expected The govern
ors have had an opportunity Il talk
things over with The President, get
some ideas how politics are working at
Washington, and then go home under
standing better the significance of
things and prepared to govern them
selves accordingly Trey VIII cooper
ate, I / course. os best they ear to help
Ne ticket. Some Of them wI'l he candi-
oates for reelection. Others, like
Dunno Of Illinois. and Ralston OF Indl-
ana (who looks rather like ex-Fresi-
dent Taft were elected for four years
wears and have no campaign of their
own in 1912.
In passing, it might be noted that OF
the AS governors of states. 50 are
pemocrats; II are Republicans and
one {Johnson) Progressive. Johnson,
however. was elected feur years ago
as Il jtt pQD-ican aflu tH302eu MS COdt
long after he got into office.
The visiting governors, Of course.
bring information here about their con-
stituencies. The administration is inter
estcd in chat The governors have
different point Of view than the Rep
lrescntativcs. The Httel go into their
districts. stay few days, try TO learn
w!ist is going on and come down to
Washington to resume. The governor
is right on the Job most o. the time
L Tie safe capitol. He sees more peo-
pie 20! !i.1ps. than any othe; man in
hls sta se end he las au..f RACES for
getting inte touch with public senti-
mH.it. Consequently his story has fresh
ir'n'est ut Washington. Ec can do
niuth here and there to lleln the ad-
n4ElStration along for, l,s,Ges listen
in, TO what people nave 10 say he can
say a word himself now and then.
tcsiies bringing the Democratic
s5t erncrs in fer (; nVrrsatioii and ex-
change of views, the aGmI stration is
doing some few chores at otherwise
keeping in touch with the people. Sec
retary Of Commerce Red6eld is de-
velODirc into the travelling member of