The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-09
OHIO PROFFERS
WILSON BACKER
Atlee POmerene Is Called an
Original Bryan Man and a
Wilson Supporter.
(sy C. c. LYoN.)

Columbus, Ohio, Feb. S-There was
time in Ohio politics-back in the
summer of 1910-when the Demo-
cratic party was badly in need of a
little piety and responsibility.
The liquor and railroad interests
had almost complete control of the
Democratic state organization.
The wet reactionaries at the state
convention held at Dayton in 1910
saw that they would have to make
some real concessions to the discon-
tents.
And that's how Atlee Pomerene, now
United States senator, took the stage
in Ohio politics.
The bosses looked around for a man
who had never taken a drink in his
life, never smoked a cigar, never
cussed a cuss word, never missed q
Sunday at church. and who had never
taken orders from the vets or the
railroads.
"Pomerene, of Canton, is the ideal
man to put in the ticket with Har-
mon." they said. He's been identified
for years with the Tom Johnson crowd
of reformers from Cleveland, and the
rank and file consider him one of the
original Bryan men,
So they cornered Pomerene in 4
little room under the stage in Memo
rial hall in Dayton that hot, sultry
July afternoon.
Pomerene paced the floor as he lis
tened to the words of the committee
of bosses.
But I don't want to go on the
ticket for lieutenant governor he
pleaded. II have no ambitions along
that line The next Ohio legislature
may be Democratic. If it is 1 want
to be a candidate for the senate"
The bosses looked at him pityingly,
but they didn't lay their cards on the
table. They told him that his election
as ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS might help
that candidacy. However, they were
very careful not to pledge him sup
port for the senate.
So Pomerene was elected lieutenant
governor of Ohio.
And then the fun began.
The legisla ture was overwhelmingly
and a Democrat would be
elected to succeed the Republican.
Charles F. Dick, in the United States
senate.
The result had hardly been known,
however, before the biggest Demo-
cratic boss in the state, Edward NJ |
of Dayton, the Democratic
state chairman, announced himself
Tor the senate. He had led the move
nent that had put Pomerene on the
state ticket a few months before.
Then every other boss in the state,
pig and little, declared himself for
Ianley. and the strength of the Dem
,cratic state organization was swung
or the big boss.
For a few days it looked like walk
,uav for Hanley For his campaign +
manager he chose a rising young con-
FRESHMAN from Dayton, James NJ cox,
Who in the ten years since that time,
,as three times been elected governor
# Ohio and is now a candidate Tor
he Democratic presidential nomina-
ion.
Nobody of any consequence was
or Pomerene for senator. =
Then the newspapers discovered
hat HanleN was the Ohio agent Tor
ig gas and oil interests and was iden-
flied. with nearly twenty other finance
nd public utility corporations.
Hanley was so vulnerable that the
democratic legislature didn't dare to
ote for him. !,
pomerene the pious, the good, the
nrisht, the just, the serious mipded,
all direct heir to the storm of anti
Janlev sentiment and the first ballot
n the Democratic caucus he got the
onoina ton for the United States SEN
te. out of the go votes in the caucus ;
Ianager Cox could muster only ten :
(No. 3-Continued on Page Two) ,