Ohioans vote on statue for U.S. Capitol

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Ohio residents have their chance to say who should represent the state in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall.

The state wants to replace a statue of William Allen, a 19th century governor who portrayed blacks as savages.

A group of lawmakers and others has narrowed the field to 10 famous deceased Ohioans.

Among the finalists are inventor Thomas Edison, Olympian Jesse Owens and author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Others on the list are aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright, President Ulysses S. Grant, astronaut Judith Resnik, women's suffrage advocate Harriet Taylor Upton, and former congressmen James Ashley and William McCulloch.

Ohioans may vote beginning Saturday and through June 12 at the Statehouse and 35 other sites. Ballots also can be downloaded at www.legacyforohio.org .

On the Net:

Ohio Statuary Initiative: http://www.legacyforohio.org

Ohio Historical Society: http://www.ohiohistory.org

National Statuary Hall Collection: http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/nsh