Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1912 — GOVERNOR HARMON’S VIEWS. [ARTICLE]

GOVERNOR HARMON’S VIEWS.

A York paper said a few days ago that it was time for Governor Hairnjori to take the people into his confidence, and to tell them what he believed. For though the people know soriiething about him, they did hot know all. they were entitled to know. The Ohio Governor yesterday unbosomed himself in the frankest way. On the fundamental questions discussed we believe .him to be er e tirely sound. To begin with he declared himself in favor of “a true Constitution, laying down concisely the fundamental law and leaving lighter matters to legislation. ” In other words, he would distinguish between a Constitution and a statute, and—unlike Theodore Roosevelt—would not make the Constitution easy of amendment. “One essential of a Constitution,” he said, “is stability through precautions against hasty and ill considered changes.” That certainly is the true American theory. . On the initiative, ireferendum recall-, Governor Harmon spoke quite as soundly and clearly. He is opposed to them all, and in our opinion he is right, “I am not,’ he said, “convinced that the initiative and referendum, applied generally to subjects of legislation, would be' an improvement on our system of government by representatives, which, while- it has shortcomings like all human institutions, I do not believe has proved a failure.” The Governor said:

It is "a safe rule to judge others by oneself,, and I gravely question ( whether, as a private citizen interested in business and personal affairs, I should be able, however i willing, to devote to a proposed I measure, unless it were a very simple one, involying no details, the study of its own provisions and of their effect on other laws or subjects, which is required to qualify one to. take part in the important work of legislating for a great commonwealth. My action would Sack the sanction of an oath to perform my duty to the best of my ability. I am certain I would not and could not give it the care and attention 1 now give to my part in the making of our laws. And I do not see how merely multiplying the number of private citizens in the like situation, without opportunity for conference or discussion with each other,' could better the result. The Governor is wise in suggesting that before other states adopt , these new devices, except in the most limited way, they wait and see how they work where they have been adopted. That, it

.strikes us, is good statesmanship.' Governor Harftion’s plea for an independent judiciary is construed, no doubt 'rigfatly, ae an argument against the recall of judges. Other Questions discussed were mostly of local importance, such as the temperance question as it presents it-! ■ sei® in Ohio, and the management’ of the state’s finances. On these Governor Harmon, spoke with the Uftmcrt frankness. In . these days the people feel that they have a right to know just ivhat is in the mind of a man who is a candidate for office. And that right can not be disputed. One can not cast an intelligent vote without knowing t exactly what sort of man one is ■ voting fcir. The Ohio Governor is.' therefore, to be commended both for the dorfectness of his views—in the main-—and for his courage in giving them to the public.—lndianapolis News.