The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-18
GOVERNORSAIp OF OHIO
Ex-Governor Harmon Gives Ms
Reasons For Preferring
Cox to Willis.
youngstown vindicator.)


to In the state of Ohio iS certainly
that Of Ex-Governor Judson HRr.
mon-and justly so.
Governor Harmon was elected chief
executive when this state had for
many years been under the control
OF one party, and. as is usual In such
cases, offices had been multiplied,
salaries had been unduly increased,
and the taxing system had become
oppressive and confused.
Harmon, great lawyer that he is,
ssiEsd the reins OF power with firm
grasp, reformed our tax laws, abol-
ished useless Offices and in general
cleaned house so thoroughly that the
people, without regard 70 party,
united IN re-slecting him. He was
the first Democratic governor given
q second term since the Civil war.
It is well known that some OF the
amendments to our constitution
adopted In 1912 and some of the laws
passed to give them effect did not
command the approval of Governor
Harmon and that he thought Cover
nor Cox too much of q progressive
during his first term.
All Of this makes of highest i'm
portance TO the people Of the state
Governor Harmon's speech at Green
vile on Friday night in which he de-
elared that between Cox and Willis
"the choice 10 too clear for anybody
TO make a mistake whose heart and
head work true"
OF Governor Cox he said this
Governor Cox has made an excel
lent war governor. He has been dill
gent, resourceful and efficient in be-
half Of the thousands who represent
Ohio under arms and also in behalf
Of the more numerous citizens who
carry on the varied Industries which
enable US to feed, clothe and main
tain our soldiers. BY word, conduct
and hearty support Of the president
he has put Ohio proudly and staunch-
ly behind the government, from the
first day of his term. II you want a
war governor, there he is."
OF Ex-Governor Willis he said this
Mr.. Willis was governor during
1915 and 1916. He was one Of the
few governors who appointed repre-
sentatives to sail with the possibly
sincere but certainly silly Ford peace
expedition. He publicly declared, .
time and again, that the government
ought to forbid our citizens to sell /
munitions to the warning countries /.
This alone, he claimed, would be !
strict neutrality. That is just what .
Bernstortf paid large amounts for to .
have preached and published by .
others. The governor of Ohio did it .
for nothing
Among other occasions, he repeat
ed this in a speech in st. Loui
after the president had sent Bernstor.
packing with his gang of spies and
scoundrels, and this was certain. n
then made a public declaration con-
corning the German murders on tn
high seas, beginning with the sins
ing Of the Lusitanla. l confess tha
If he had not himself furnished hi
speech to the press l would not be
lieve he said what he did. l quote
from the leading Republican paper il
St. Louis:
In defending American rights We
must be sure that they are rights
and not mere whims. Mere pleasure
seekers have no business in the war
zone. II they go there. let them go
at their own peril. The United States
must not be embroiled IN war by
harebrained seRrchers for thrills.
Let such people stay at home and
not imperil the nations welfare By
going where they have no right to
go. Americans are willing to fight
for a principle, but not to protect
man who feels he must go 20 England
10 play goIf.'
"Not a word then or ever, 90 far
rs l have learned, did he speak In
condemnation Of the brutes who or. !
1ered or those who committed this
shameless crime against humanity, /
and the laws Of the world. II Mr. {
Willis, as governor or man, ever con- t
1emnsd the horrible atrocities com. I
nitted on the helpless and harmless
nhabitant Of Belgium, France, Pc s
and, Serbia and Italy, which WSre T
,ften too gross for pubIis mention, Il
I has escaped my attention. II he
,ver expressed approval of the pres.
dent or of congress, l never heard
Il 1t. 4
Il do not say Mr.. willis h not a
Oyal and patriotic, according 10 his L
lights. I have no doubt he is But v
lis lights are dim and badly adjusted, q
lie does not perceive the bearing d
md significance Of what he does see a
3ut l do say, and l would say It II u
10 were the Democratic instead OF 81
he Republican candidate for cover. 81
.or, that il would be most unwiss 70 q,
hoose him for Ohio's leader In the le
var" Al
There 10 no better or broader o.
airSr mind In Ohio than that of OK ii
ioVsrnoF Harmon-no mind that ID
sss swaysd by partisan feeling. His ii
hoice between Cox aAd Willis, and u
is reasons for that choice are OF b,
rofound significance to the people OF
I our state and win be accepted as Ii
conclusive guide by many voters Ii
Ohio is back on a paying basis OF
,s&h a. aEg pA7 an q, "a A-A a.