CHAPTER XXXVI

The Harmon Regime (continued)—The Year 1912-The Fourth Constitutional Convention of the State of Ohio-The Democratic State Convention-Nomination of James M. Cox for GovernorGovernor Harmon a Candidate for the Presidency-The Republican State Convention of 1912-The Campaign of 1912— Vote on Constitutional Amendments-James M. Cox Elected Governor of Ohio and Woodrow Wilson President of the United States.

The most remarkable event of the year 1912, or of the Twentieth Century up to date, or perhaps in the whole history of Ohio, was the revolution of September 3rd. It was a revolution without rebellion or war, but no insurrection of any people in the world, no revolution accomplished by force or by suasion, has ever attained so much since the English barons forced King John to sign Magna Charta. By their vote on the Constitutional Amendments the people of Ohio took all legislation into their own hands.

The fourth Constitutional Convention in Ohio was called by an act of the General Assembly in 1910 which passed the Green Bill submitting to the people the question of holding the convention. The people voted upon that proposition in November, 1910, and decided in its favor by a vote of 693,263 for the proposed convention, and only 67,718 against it. The delegates were elected in November, 1911, each county being entitled to the same representation as it had in the Legislature. One hundred and nineteen delegates were elected and the salary of the delegates was fixed at one thousand dollars a year. The convention met at Columbus, January 9, 1912. Herbert S. Bigelow was chosen President of the convention and C. B. Galbreath secretary.

The progressive spirit which led to the call of the Constitutional Convention of 1912 and which dictated the radical changes made by

that convention in the Constitution of 1851 also led to a political upheaval in the nation. Ohio may be said to have been the stage upon which was played the first act of the political drama about to be presented to the people of the United States. When the Constitutional Convention was in session it invited several eminent men to deliver addresses before it. Among those men was ex-President Roosevelt who, in his address to the convention, advocated progressive ideas with safety brakes. While in Ohio at that time he gave the first clear intimation of his intention to be a candidate for the Republican nomination for the Presidency. That intention being frustrated at the National Republican Convention, he formed the Progressive Party, which nominated him for the Presidency.

The Democratic State Convention met at Toledo, June 3, 1912, with Col. George S. Long of Miami County temporary chairman, George B. Christian, Jr., of Marion, temporary secretary and James A. Devine of Cleveland, sergeant-at-arms. The temporary organization was made permanent by a unanimous vote.

The convention was called to order by E. W. Hanley, chairman of the State Central Committee, who made a speech pleading for harmony among the Democrats of Ohio. He was followed by Brand Whitlock, mayor of Toledo, who welcomed the delegates to his city and entertained them with a eulogy of the achievements of the Democratic Party. Temporary Chairman Long delivered the keynote speech which aroused much enthusiasm for Governor Harmon.

The two absorbing questions at the convention were the nomination of the right man for Governor and the unit rule. Several names were freely talked of for the Governorship, but there was an overwhelming sentiment in favor of Congressman James M. Cox. Congressman William G. Sharp of Elyria, had been considered a candidate and was much talked of at the convention, although he had definitely withdrawn from the contest. Oliver H. Hughes of Highland County, also had a following and James A. Rice of Canton, who had made a strong bid for the nomination at other conventions, was a champion of Hiram W. Peck of Cincinnati.

The unit rule caused some annoyance, not only at the convention, but among prominent Democrats of the state. United States Senator

Atlee Pomerene was at first the choice of the Harmon forces for chairman of the convention, but he came with instructions from the Stark County Convention to vote against the unit rule if it should be presented at the State Convention. The dilemma in which Senator Pomerene consequently found himself led the committee on permanent organization to change its intention of making him the permanent chairman.

E. H. Moore, who led the Harmon forces with great ability, was strongly in favor of the unit rule. Harvey C. Garber and William W. Durbin, backed up by Samuel J. Vining and Congressman Sharp, led the fight against unit rule. Throughout Harmon's entire regime Durbin and Garber had been his foes and now, that he would be the candidate for the Democratic nomination for President at the approaching National Convention, they wished to defeat the unit rule so that he would not receive the support of a united delegation from Ohio in the National Convention. This they succeeded in accomplishing and Governor Harmon never received the full vote of Ohio at the Baltimore convention, notwithstanding the many ballots taken.

The thorough clearing out and cleaning up that had been carried on under Governor Harmon's administration gave the convention an excellent basis for its platform, and it was progressive in every way, appealing to advanced thinkers. It was to be especially recommended for its approval of the plan to supplant the present prison system with one more in accord with modern thought, making the regeneration of the prisoners the principal aim of the state.

James M. Cox of Dayton was nominated for Governor and Hugh L. Nichols of Clermont County for Lieutenant-Governor. nations for other state officers were as follows:

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For Secretary of State, Charles H. Graves of Ottawa; Treasurer of State, John P. Brennan of Champaign; Auditor of State, A. V. Donahey of Tuscarawas; Attorney-General, Timothy S. Hogan of Jackson; Members Board of Public Works, William Samse of Henry and Tobias Schott of Stark; Dairy and Food Commissioner, Sylvanus E. Strode of Crawford; State School Commissioner, Frank W. Miller of Montgomery; Judges of Supreme Court (long term), Oscar W. Newman of Scioto and William E. Scofield of Marion; Judge of the

Supreme Court (short term), J. Foster Wilkin of Tuscarawas; Clerk of Supreme Court, Frank E. McKean of Cuyahoga; Congressman-atlarge, Robert M. Crosser of Cuyahoga; for Presidential Electors-atlarge, Sherman McBride of Allen, John McSweeney of Wayne and E. B. Schneider of Muskingum.

The Republican State Convention met at Columbus, Ohio, June. 3, but owing to the differences and disputes between the Roosevelt and Taft adherents it seemed inadvisable to go ahead and complete the ticket, and the convention adjourned until July 2nd. On that date it re-convened in Convention Hall, Columbus. There were not more than one-fifth of the accredited delegates in their seats when the convention was called to order. As in the fruitless session of the convention Senator Burton led the Taft forces, while Walter F. Brown seemed to be the leader of the Roosevelt adherents, although he was chairman of the State Central Committee for the regular Republican Party. He finally went over to the Progressive Party.

The convention nominated Judge E. B. Dillon of Columbus, for Governor, who subsequently withdrew because he could not have the support of the undivided Republican Party of the state. After a delay of several weeks Gen. Robert B. Brown of Zanesville, was nominated for Governor upon the Republican ticket. The complete ticket was as follows:

For Lieutenant-Governor, Beecher W. Waltmire; Secretary of State, Thomas L. Lewis; Auditor of State, Edward M. Fullington; Treasurer of State, Rudy W. Archer; Attorney-General, Freeman T. Eagleson; Commissioner of Common Schools, John W. Zeller; Members of Board of Public Works, William H. Meinhardt and Charles H. Geidel; Clerk of Supreme Court, Thomas J. Edwards; State Dairy and Food Commissioner, T. D. Calvert; Congressman-at-large, Lawrence K. Langdon.

The Progressive Party in Ohio held its state convention in Memorial Hall, Columbus, September 4, 1912. A characteristic of the convention was that it was composed almost entirely of young men. The following ticket was nominated:

For Governor, Arthur L. Garford of Lorain; Lieutenant-Governor, L. J. Tabor of Belmont; Secretary of State, John L. Sullivan of