porn ER
rH Be
ss
Denna Yd
Friday Morning, October 24, 1890.
Friendly Expressions of the Press.
The editor of the WaTcHMAN has
reason to be pleased with and proud of
the many friendly allusions to his nomi-
nation for the State Senate that have ap-
peared in contemporary journals, and it
affords him great pleasure and satisfac-
tion to publish some of them, as follows:
“PHE POOR MAN HAS NO BETTER
FRIEND.”
Lock Haven Daily Democrat.
Our up the river contemporary, the
Renovo Record, comes out strong for P.
Gray Meek, the Democratic nominee
for State Senator. Mr. Meek is the
right man for poor men to support. He
is & working man himself, being person-
ally a good job printer, and in his ear-
lier days was a farmer and the son of one
of the best farmers in the Halfmoon val-
ley. When Mr. Meek was in the As-
sembly, to which body the Centre
courty people sent him for four years,
he was the author of certain legislation
specially intended to benefit the poor
men of his county and which /Zas
benefited them vastly since that time,
Thefpoor man who votes against Mr.
Meek will make a great mistake, asthe
labores has no better friend, and be will
be of great service to them in the Senate
for the next four years. Itis time the
workingmen began to think for them-
selves and remember the friends who
have by word and deed labored to ele-
vate them and to ameliorate and im-
prove their condition. The Democratic
Watchman, edited by your candidate for
Senator for thirty years past, from the
time that he was a mere boy until the
present, has always advocated and de-
fended the claims of labor, and nobly
and courageously fought the battles of
the poor man against monopoly and op-
pression, and when the opportunity of-
fered, as a legislator its editor, now our
Senatorial candidate, gave his views
practical effect by having them embod-
ied into laws for the benefit of his con-
stituents,
The Republican nominee, Mr. Malone,
is personally a respectable gentleman,
but he has never had any political or
legislative experience, and should he be
sent to the Senate would be as clay in
the hands of the potter to be moulded
just as the Republican sharpers and
twisters in that body might desire ; not
that we would wish to assert that he
would willingly do anything that was |’
wrong, but his newness and ineXxpe-
rience, his ignorance of parliamentary
ways, would make him the victim of de-
signing people.
It is asserted that Mr. Malone will
work the Knights of Labor vote, but we
can tell that organization, if it knows
when it is well off, it will poll its vote
for the Democratic nominee. He is the
real true friend of labor, and now is the
workingmen’s chance to secure an able
and izfluential friend in the Senate.
Vote for P. Gray Meek:
WHY LABORING MEN, FARMERS AND
POOR MEN SHOULD VOTE FOR HIM.
Renovo Record.
The Record places the name of Hon.
P: Gray Meek. the Democratic nominee
for State Senator of this district, at its
mast-head, and kindly requests tbe
Democrats of this county to give him
their hearty support for that position at
the November election.
Putting local pride aside, no mun in
the district more fully meets all the re-
fi of a State Senator than Mr.
eek. He served the people of Centre
"county in the State Legislature for four
terms, from 1868 to 1872, and made an
excellent record. During his term of of-
fice he had a bil! passed to protect the
Iumbermen of Centre county from being
robbed by the irresponsible sharks who
come into our lumber regions every
year and rob the workmen of their hard
earnings. He also had a law passed re-
quiring railroad companies to fence
their roadways in Centre county, which
put into the pockets of the poor people.
many a dollar for the loss of their cattle
in that county.
In point of ability he will size up
with the ablest men in the Senate. He
isa man who will look well after all the
great interests of our people.
His long devotion to Democratic
principles entitles him to the support of
every Democrat in the district. Vote
then for P. Gray Meek for State Sen-
ator.
“HAS NATURAL CAPACITY FOR EFFICI-
ENT SERVICE.”
Philadelphia Record.
Mr. P. Gray Meek has received the
Democratic nomination for Senator in
the Clearfield, Centre and Clinton dis-.
trict. All three counties are Democratic,
and Mr. Meek’s election is therefore as-
sured. His experience as a member of
the Legislature, and his long acquaint-
ance with the politics and the politicians
of the State, will add to his natural ca-
pachy for efficient service at Harrisburg.
r. Meek is the editor of that sterling
Democratic newspaper, the Bellefonte
‘Warcnmay. He will please accept our
fraternal greeting.
“ENTITLED TO THE NOMINATION,"
Mifflinburg Times.
Hon. P. Gray Meek, editor and pub-
lisher of the Democratic WATCHMAN,
Bellefonte, Pa., has been nominated b
the Centre, Clinton and Clearfield Con-
gress for State Senator. Mr. Meek has
stood by the party for many years and
was entitled to the nomination by rea-
son of his fitress; his sound Democracy,
and from the fact that Centre county
was entitled to the noruination.
THE FRIEND OF THE MINER AND THE
WORKINGM AN.
Wage Earners’ Journal
The nomination of P. Gray Meek.
was almost a foregone conclusion from
the very moment the workmen of Clear-
field and Centre Counties demanded it—
it was either that or the election of a
Republican. That the contest was so
prolonged was the fault of those who in-
duced Mr, Savage to become a candi-
date and then in the critical moment
failed to stand by him. Mr. Savage has
made friends of those who were unfriend-
ly to him at the beginning. Mr. Meek
for years past has in all times of trou-
ble shown himself to be a firm friend
of the miners, and the miners felt
that the time had come when they could
in a measure return the debt ot grati-
tude they felt themselves under to him.
No workingman will make a mistake
in casting his ballot for P. Gray Meek,
or, if hedoes, Mr. Meek will have to
show himself to be a very different man
in the future from what he has been in
the past.
‘THE DISTRICT WILL BE WELL REPRE-
SENTED.”
Columbia Independent.
P. Gray Meek, editor of the Belle-
fonte WATCHMAN, has been honored
with the nomiration as the democratic
candidate for Senator in his district.
We congratulate our friend on his suc-
cess, and know that when he takes his
seat as Senator his district will be well
represented.
“DESERVES EVERY DEMOCRATIC VOTE.”
Clearfield Republican.
The long delayed verdict in the Sena-
torial contest, has at last been rendered.
P. Gray Meek, of Centre, well known
to many of our readers, is our nominee.
Mr. Meek served in the Assembly in
1868-9 and in 1871-2 and served as Clerk
of that body in 1883. Besides being a
number one Democrat, he will bring
rare personal experience to his task, and
we predict he will be one of the best
workers in the State Senate. Mr. Meek
deserves every Democratic vote in the
district.
“WILL WORK FOR THE REAL INTERESTS
OF THE PEOPLE."
Altoona Times.
P. Gray Meek, the veteran editor of
the Democratic WaTcaMAN of Belle-
fonte, was nominated as the Democratic
candidate for Senator in the Thirty-
fourth district on Tuesday night. The
district is strongly Democratic and the
popularity of Mr. Meek is so pronounc-
ed that he will undoubtedly receive a
more than normal majority. He will
make an able representative at the State
capital ard can be relied upon to work
for the real interests of the people of the
district he represents particularly, and
the whole State in general.
DEMANDS HIS ELECTION.
Clinton Democrat.
Mr. Meek is a gentleman just in the
full vigor and prime of life and isa com-
petent and able man. His paper has
long been recognized as one of the lead-
ing Democratic journals of the State,
and it has always given faithful sup-
port to Democratic men and measures.
Mr. Meek represented his county
four years in the House of Representa-
tives at Harrisburg, and his experience
as a Representative and afterwards as
Chief Clerk of the House will have a
tendency to make his Senatorial services
highly valuable to his constituency and
the State generally. We have full con-
fidence that be will take care of the 1n-
terests of this district in the best manner.
He will undoubtedly be elected and
beat his competitor, A. J. Malone, who
was nominated by the Republicans at
Tyrone yesterday, out of sight. His
election is demanded by the necessity of
making the next Senate Democratic in
order that Governor Pattison may re-
ceive the proper support, as explained
in the article elsewhere entitled Govern-
or and Legislature. Let our Senatorial
candidate therefore have Clinton coun-
ty’s full majority.
THE MINERS RECOGNIZE IN THE DEMO-
CRATIC SENATORIAL NOMINEE A
STAUNCH FRIEND.
From the Houtzdale correspondent of the Gai-
itzin Vindicator. :
HotrzpALE, Pa., Oct. 15, 1890.
Editor Vindicator:
A mass meeting of miners and labor-
ers was held in K. of L. hall on Mon-
day evening; the hall is a very large
one and was so crowded that many men
had tostand in the ante roows, and
many went away for want of room in
the hall. After transacting some im-
portant matlers concerning the griev-
ances of miners, they took up the politi-
cal question and discussed it pro and
con. And as they found that P. Gray
Meek, of Bellefonte, Pa., while in the
Legislature of Pennsylvania got many
important bills passed in favor of the
workingmen, and voted at all times in
favor of the poor man, a resolution was
adopted appointing James White, J. V.
Henderson and Alex, Monteith to go
before the conferees of the Democratic
party of Clearfield, Centre and Clinton
counties, and present the name of Hon.
P. Gray Meck, of Bellefonte, Pa., for
Senate, and if nominated, will do all in
our power to elect him. John Abber-
nathy was chairman and Henry Rock
secretary of the meeting. The 1esolu-
tion of the meeting was unanimously
adopted. White, Henderson and Mon-
tieth went to Clearfield on Tuesday
morning and went to the conferees, and
delivered their message. After consult-
ing with the Democratic leaders up to
10 p. m. , the conference went into ses-
sion, and at 11:30 announced that Hon.
P. Gray Meek was nominated, Mat
Savage's delegates voting for Meek.
The people, and especially the miners
and laborers, should never forget Mr.
Savage's kindness towards them for re-
leasing his delegates, and saying he was
at all times in favor of the workingmen,
and advised his delegates to vote for
‘Hon. P. Gray Meek. ’
Notwithstanding that the Senatorial
conferees have been three weeks trying
to nominate a candidate, the voice of the
miners was heard and Hon. P. Gray
Meek received the nomination. Things
have certainly changed in this district
where some years ago there was no use
for a miner in Clearfield, except to go
to jail, or to be tried and sent to the
penitentiary. But reform is traveling
fast, and the sentiment of the people is
against bossism and ringdom. The
working people everywhere should do
likewise, and their power will be felt in
enacting goed laws and in purifying
politics. Yours,
HourzpALE.
NECESSITY
{AN HONOR WELL BESTOWED AND WELL
DESERVED.”
Harrisburg Patriot.
The nomination of Hon. P. Gray
Meek, of Centre County, for Senator
from the district composed of the coun-
ties of Clearfield, Centre and Clinton
will secure to the people of that district
an ableand faithful Democratic repre-
sentative in the State Senate. As edi-
tor of the Bellefonte WaArcEMaN Mr.
Meek has done yeoman service in the
promotion of the Demucratic cause, and
his nomination is an honor not only well
bestowed but well deserved.
“CANNOT BE CONTROLLED BY BOODLE
OR PARTY RINGS.”
Port Allegheny (McKean Co.,) Reporter.
The contest for the nomination of sen-
ator in the Clinton-Clearfield-Centre
district has ended, after a hard fought
battle, in which P. Gray Meek, editor
and proprietor of the Bellefonte Demo-
cratic WATCHMAN, received the major-
ity of votes cast Mr. Meek is an ar-
dent Jackson Democrat, and has always
been a hard worker for the party. He
was a Clerk of the House in 1883, but
since has not held any public office.
The democrats of Centre county are
highly elated over the nomination of
Mr. Meek, for it 1s equivalent to an
election, and they are sure of being re-
presented by an honorable and trust-
worthy democrat, and one who cannot
be controlled by ¢boodle” or “party
rings.” Mr. Meek will undoubtedly poll
more than his party vote, as he is highly
esteemed by all who know him.
The full text of the bills referred to
by the Lock Haven Daily Democrat
and Renovo Record as being of special
interest and importance to farmers and
workingmen, is hereto appended :
An Act to secure to laborers a lien for their
labor in the county of Centre.
Beit enacted, &c., That all wages that may be
due from any person, or persons, to any work-
man or laborer for work and labor done in,up-
on and about the cutting, pealing, skidding
“and hauling of sawlogs, squared timber and
other lumber, in the county of Centre, shall be
a lien, for a period not exceeding six months,
upon all such saw-logs, squared timber and
other lumber, and shall be paid before said
lumber shall be removed by the owner, or
contractor under such owner; and said debts
shall be first preferred and paid out of the
proceeds of a judicial or assignee’s sale of such
lumber,
[Section 3 and 4 prescribes the process by
which the lien may be collected. ]
An Act to secure farmers and others against
losses of horses, cattle, sheep and swine by
railroads in the county of Centre.
Be it enacted, &e., That it shall be the duty
of each company owning oroperaving a railroad
in the county of Centre, to erect, where not
already erected, and to keep and maintain on
each side of the track or tracks of said road,
at all places in said connty, except where said
road or roads passes or pass through a village,
borough or city, or a public road crosses the
same, a suitable fence, five feet high, ard to
build, erect and maintain such suitable cattle-
guard or guards, at all crossings on said rail-
road, as will prevent horses, cattle, sheep and
swine from going upon said tracks; and in
case any company owning or operating
said road or roads, shall refuse or neglect
to perform the duties herein imposed, the com
pany or companies so offending shallibe answer-
able to the owner or owners of any horses, cat-
tle, sheep, or swine to the full value of the pro-
perty injured upon said roads} in consequence
of such neglect. Said company or companies
shall be furher liable to the panalty of fifty dol-
lars for each place along said road or roads in
said county, where the fence or fences requir-
ed by this act to be built, erected, kept and
maintained, are destroyed or broken down and
permitted so to remain fora period of ten days;
the penalty herein imposed to be recovered
one-half to the use of the informer and the
other half for the use of the public schools of
said county of Centre.
TRAMP OR GENTLEMAN ?
Undoubtedly he was a tramp.
The solitary marshal, whose business
it was to represent the majesty of the
law in the little village of Blue Rock,
spotted the stranger as soon as he en-
tered the place. :
The visitor was shabbily dressed.
His coat was ragged and his trousers
were patched. His hat was without a
brim and his shoes let his feet touch
the ground. :
“T'll shadow him,” said the marshal
to himself.
The tramp slouched along down the
shady side of the street until he reach-
ed the depot. Here he paused and
took a seat on the platform. ‘
“Hello, there!” said the marshal as
he came up. ‘You must move on.”
The man thus rudely spoken to turn-
ed a weary face toward the officer.
It was not a very clean face, and it
bore traces of care. But it was not a
bad face nor a very old face. On the
Sone, it was rather frank and youth-
ul.
All this the marshal took in, but he
had his orders and he had to carry
them out. ' Blue Rock had : passed an
ordinance subjecting all tramps to thir-
ty days’ imprisonment at hard labor.
“What are you doing here?” asked
the officer roughly. 0H
“I am looking for work,” was the
reply. (i
“Who are you, and where are you
from?"
“I am a gentleman,” said the tramp,
wearily.
“A gentleman?’ shouted the mar-
shal. “You look like one. What is
your name and where are you from?”
The wayfarer put his hand to his
head and a puzzie look came over his
face.
“I would give anything to be able
to answer your questions,” he said,
“but I can’t answer, for I do not know.”
At this astounding reply the marshal
raised his baton.
“None of your chaff,’ he growled.
“Now, I'll give you one chance. You
must march out of town or I'll run
you in.”
The stranger evidently understood
the full meaning of the threat. He
leaped from his seat with a frightened
look, and without a word walked off
down the railroad track.
“He's been arrested before,” said the
officer thoughtfully. “No doubt he
has been in a dozen jails. Well, so he
leaves here it is all right.”
Two hours later the guardian of the
peace found his tramp occupying his
former seat on the depot platform.
“Now, yon must come with me,”
gaid the marshal, angrily.
He seized the lounger by one arm
and jerked him up.
The prisoner made no resistance.
He looked reproachtully at his captor,
and started off with him without a
word.
At Blue Rock justice was always
swift, although perhaps it was a little
crnde.
In less than an hour the tramp was
convicted and locked up in the stock-
ade, where he was set to work break-
ing rock.
The prisoner's obstinacy in asserting
that he bad forgotten his name and
former place of abode made the petty
village officials very mad, and the poor
fellow was put to work at harder tasks
than usual.
As the weeks rolled on it was notic-
ed that the prisoner displayed no re-
sentment or impatience. He went
about his work cheerfully and without
a complaint.
When the prisoner's term was out
the first man he met after his release
was the marshal.
“Get out of the town right away,”
was the officer's advice.
“But I want to stay here,” said the
tramp.
place.”
“You are a blank fool to want to
stay in this town,” replied the other,
“and it will be my duty to arrest you
again if you don’t leave. So march!”
The unfortunate wretch
further appeal. He limped off slowly
and was soon out of sight.
Later in the day the marshal passed
by the depot and saw a spectacle that
made him open his eyes.
The tramp was on the platform, and
the superintendent was talking to him.
“Come here,” said the superinten-
dent to the marshal, “and take this
vagahond off!”
There was nothing to do but to
make the arrest. A speedy conviction
followed, and the luckless victim was
again sent to the stockade for thirty
days.
At last the month came to an end
and the prisoner was turned out. This
time the marshal marched him beyond
the town limits and left him.
“He has got to much sense to come
back,” reported the marshal to the
mayor.
“We may have been too bard on
him," responded the mayor.
times think be is wrong in the head,”
“Well, it is too late to talk about it,”
said the other, and the conversation
ended.
The tramp did not turn up again
that day nor the next.
The worthy marshal began to be
worried and the mayor was a little un-
easy. Blue Rock was such a small
place that a sensation was always wel-
come, and the uaknown prisoner had
been the talk of the town for sixty
days.
“He's hiding ia the woods, and will
slipin here some night and burn the
town,” said one.
This idea found great favor, and that
night the villagers fonnd it difficult to
sleep.
On the following day there was a
railway excursion to a point of interest
forty miles away, and everybody of
any consequence in the town went
along. The mayor and council, the
superintendent of the depot and even
the marshal joined the party.
The return trip was made after dark,
and the train sped along at a fearful
rate of speed. The excursionists were
all in a jolly humor and were at the
height of their festivities when the
frightful shrieking of the locomotive
whistle startled everybody. The train
came toa full stop, and among those
who rushed out were the mayor and
marshal of Blue Rock.
At the head of the train they found
the engineer and conductor talking
with a man who held one hand to his
side, from which the blood was stream-
ing.
“Great God! Itisour tramp!” ex-
claimed the marshal.
“You are right,” said the mayor.
“My poor fellow, what is the matter?”
The tramp fell in a fainting fit before
he could answer the question.
“You see,” said the engineer, ‘this
man was tramping through the woods
when he came to the track aad found
two train wreckers tampering with rails.
Well, this tramp, or whatever he is,
jumped on the two scoundrels like a
tiger. He disabled one of them, but
the other stabbed him in the side and
ran away. So he built a fire on the
‘track, and as soon as I saw it I stop-
ped the train.
Just then several passengers came
up with the wounded wrecker, who had
been seriously injured by the tramp.
The villain evidently thought that he
was mortally wounded, for he made a
full confession.
“I think,” said the Blue Rock mayor.
“that we owe a debt of gratitude to our
preserver. Many men in this fix
would not have turned over a hand to
save us.”
The tramp opened his eyes and smil-
ed faintly.
“Did you know we were on the
train 2” asked the marshal.
“Qh, yes; I saw you when you went
up the road this morning, and I. hung
about here because I saw those two
chaps acting suspiciously on the track.”
“Come, now, who are you and where
is your home ?"’ asked the marshal.
“I am a gentleman. I have forgot
ten my name and all about things that
happened years ago. I can tell you
nothing more.”
“By George !" said the mayor, “I be-
lieve he tells the truth.”
“We must take him to Blue Rock
and care for him,” said one of the par-
ty. “He shall have the freedom of the
town and the best there is in it.”
“Thank you,” said the tramp, with
a smile. “I am satisfied now.”
A spasm of pain contracted his feat-
ures.
A gasp, a fluttering of the breath
and the unknown was dead!
Tramp or gentleman? Who was he
and what lay back of his misfortunes ?
These were the questions the Blue
Rock excursionists asked each other on
their way home.— Atlanta Constitution.
“I want work, and I like the!
made no |
“I some- |
Worthy Master Rhone on Delamater
and the Granger Tax Bill.
PorLiTICAL MISREPRESENTATION AN-
SWERS FACTS STATED AS THE RE-
CORDS SHOW THEM.
OFFICE OF MASTER.
Centre Hall, Oct. 16, 1890.
Numerous circulars are being dis
tributed by political managers, endeav-
oring to explain away and apologize for
the vote of certain Senators against the
Farmers’ Grange Tax bill, No. 10,
which was defeated in the last session of
the State Senate. These managers also,
at the same time, endeavor to read me a
lecture that I was overstepping the
bounds of propriety as Master of the
| State Grange, by dragging partisan poli-
ties into the Order.
Were this only a question of party
supremacy, as to which political party
should carry the election,” it would
scarcely be deserving of a passing
thought, but graver responsibilities are
‘involved.
For ten years the farmers, through
their Grange organization in Pennsyl-
vania, have been investigating the
causes of oppressive taxation on farm
lands, and have discovered the grossest
kind of inequalities in the provision of
the law and the methods of assessing
and collecting taxes. :
They have shown by facts taken from
official reports of the Secretary of the
Internal Affairs that the aggregate val-
| ue of real estate, as returned by official
| reports, amounts to $1,800,438,846, and
| pays an average tax of 18.8 mills,
| or over $33,000,000, while they show
| fora the same report and that of the
Auditor General, that corporate proper-
ty is valued at $1,800,000,000, to which
{must be added personal property
amounting to not less than $200,000,000,
|
making the grand total estimated value
| of corporate and personal property $2,-
1 000,000,000 that really pays only an
| average tax of 2 mills, Then there are
| collected for State purposes from mer-
| chantile parsuits, collateral inheritance,
| fees, escheats, licenses, etc., $3,479,000,
| making in round numbers $7,000,000
: collected from over $2,000,000,000 per-
sonal and corporate property as compar-
t ed with $33,000,000 coliected from $1,-
1 800,000,000 real estate.
This 1s the real situation of the real
| estate owners and renters (as they must
| pay the tax on real estate), as compared
. with holders of corporate and personal
| property. The Comuiittee of the State
Grange commenced their investigations
at the time when Robert E. Pattison
was Governor of Pennsylvania; he did
{all in his power to assist the State
Grange Legislative Committee in their
investigation by issuing a request upon
| the Auditor General for detailed state-
| ments of facts and revenues collected by
| the State from the different industries;
| he also issued a request upon the Secre-
| tary of the Commonwealth, tor infor-
mation as to the amount of increase of
| corporate property since last report of
Auditor General ; in this way the Com-
| mittee were enabled to determine pretty
i definitely as to the value of corporate
taxes paid ; this is an acknowledgement
due to ex-Governor Pattison irrespec-
tive of any partisan consideration and
shonld entitle him to the appreciation
and support cf every farmer and real es-
tate owner in the State.
It was to remedy this gross inequality
and injustice that the Farmers’ Grange
Tax bill No. 10 proposed to correctin
the session of the Legislature of 1889.
It was not intended to rob the owners
of persona! and corporate property, but
to distribute the burdens equitably be-
tween all the industries of the State,
and would have relieved local taxation
to the extent of $6,000,000. This is the
bill that Senator Delamater assured the
State Grange Committee should be re-
ported favorably from the Senate Fi-
nance Committee, which he acknowl-
edged in his: Williams’ Grove speech,
that he is now distributing to the farm-
ers of the State which is nothing but
an after thought and apology for voting
against the bill, when he happens to
want the farmers’ vote to elect him Gov-
ernor. How can Senator Delamater, or
any politician, accuse me of unfairness
when 1 was simply carrying out the
resolutions of the State Grange, which
was unanimously passed at the Decem-
ber session of 1889, requesting that the
vote of the State Senate on the Grange
Tax bill be published for the informa-
tion of the members of the Order(in its
publication I did not screen any one
that voted against the bill).
The excuse that it was owing to cour-
tesy to the Chairman of the Senate Fi-
nance committee that he voted against
placing the bill on the Calehder is too
transparent, as everyone knew in the
Senate that the biil had been pending
for a month in the Finance Committee,
and that it was fully argued on both
sides,and that no valid constitutional ob-
jections were raised against the bill.
The Grange Legislative Committee
waited until the very last day that they
could make the motion to discharge the
committee and place the bill on the Cal-
J encar with any possibility of passing it;
perhaps the Senator will remember
coming over to Senator Brown’s seat
and apologizing ; when he was answer-
ed ‘‘that’it was unnecessary as the re-
cord would speak for itself.”
I bave no interest in this contest from
a partisan standpoint, but I have the
right as a farmer, a duty I owe to the
State Grange, to make known the actual
facts in the case. Iam not even claimed
as a partisan, but the State Grange has
for ten years formulated definite and
well-defined principles on State and lo-
cal taxation, which ‘were incorporated in
a bill, which I was instructed, as Mas-
ter of the State Grange, to bring before
the State Legislature, and to use the en-
tire influence of the Order in the State to
secure its enactment into law. I have
carried out the instructions of the State
Grange, with the undivided support of
the entire organization, and came with-
in one vote of placing it on the statute
books of the State as thelaw of the land.
The responsibility of the failure lies
with Mr. Delamater and other Senators
who voted against the measure.
If faru ers will re-elect these men,
they will just as surely defeat their leg-
islation’in the future as'in the past. What
claims have they upon the farmer when
they are opposed to the principles the
armer advoeates ? If they were honest
men they would not ask for the support
of those of whoseinterest they opposed
while in public positions.
and personal preperty and amount of |
The importance of the impend ng po-
litical State contest cannot be overesti-
mated. Farmers do not depend upon
what the present State Revenue Com-
mission may prepar , Even should they
succeed in reporting a just and equitzble
bill, that will not make it a law; it will
require the force of number to give it a
constitutional majority 1n the House and
Senate and the signature of a Governor
to make it a law. {
What farmers must do is to lay aside
partisan bigotry and vote for favorable
men. See that every favorable voter is
out to the polls. If farmers are to se-
cure redress from a burdensome and 1n-
iquitous tax system they must vote for
their interests as other classes do. They
cannot do it by electing men who are
opposed to their interests. Farmers
should not allow themselves to be
alarmed as to the tariff issue. Settle that
on your Congressional ticket; it bas no-
thing to do with our State tax issue.
I Lave no personal feelings against
these men, but their votes have been on
the wrong side for farmers, and it is my
duty to present the facts as they exist
irrespective of party considerations.
Respectfully,
LEONARD RHONE.
Barclay Turns on Raum.
He Denies That the Duties of His Office
as Pension Agent Are Neglected.
GETTYSBURG, PA., Oct. 23.—The pop-
ularity ot Captain William H. Barclay,
the Democratic candidate for secretary
of internal affairs, as developed by his
presence in the tour through the State,
has been a thorn in the side of the Re-
publican managers, who have striven
to obtain something that might be
moulded into a charge affecting the
captain's record as a public official. At
last, after four weeks” work, they have
induced the Federal administration to
take the initiative step, and in conse-
quence a report has been putin circu-
lation that the captain would beremov-
ed from the office of pension agent at
Pittsburgh because of his absence from
the office without leave. To-day Cap-
tain Barclay addressed the following
letter to Green B. Raum, commissioner
of pensions at Washidgton, which ex-
plains itself.
Sir—I beg to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your telegram of the 20th or
21st inst, in which you say: “I am
directed by the secretary of the interior
to order you to assume immediate
charge of your agevcy, and transact
such business as may require your per-
sonal attention, and which may be.
layed by your absence. It is expe¢ted
that this order will be promptly obeyed,
and that you will not again leave |
agency without permission (roi
burean. Wire me by te
your return to aux i
answer, viz., that I ha+€ been nominat-
ed for the office of secretary of internal
affairs of the State in which I reside.
That distinction was conferred upon me
unsought. On the 4th ot November
next the people of the State will pass
upon my fitness for tl e pesition and
the desirability of my being placed in
charge of it. In the meantime it is
necessary for me to be absent tempo-
rarily from the office at Pittsburgh
which is in my charge as pension agent.
Allow me to assure you, however, that
no business requiring my personal at-
tention has been delayed during my ab-
sence nor will the public business suf-
fer or be neglected. The faithful dis-
charge of my duties of the office of pen-
sion agent by me is amply secured to
the United States by the bond which I
have given. It seems to me you have
as much reason to assume that public
business suffers through your own ab-
sence, or that public interests were im-
perilled by the absence of the President
of the United States in his late visit to
Pennsylvania and the Western country
as you have to infer that the business
of my office has suffered when I am
within daily communication with it.
The directions of the secretary of the
interior conveyed to you indicate that
you have forgotten a fact of which I
personally apprised you, to wit, that in
the early part of September I tendered
my resignation to the President of the
United States in writing, and handed it
to one of the United States senators
from this State for delivery. I presume
it will be if it has not already been pre-
sented to the President, and I have
hitherto been awaiting its acceptance.
1 have the honor to remain yours re-
spectfually, W. H. Barcray,
United States Pension Agent.
An attempt has also been made to
create the impresson that Captain
Barclay has not filed a bond at Wash-
ington for the faithful performance of
duties. The fact is that he has had on
file in the pension bureau, ever since
his appointment, a bond for $300,000.
Last June congress passed on act direct-
ing agents to file -an extra bond of
$100,000 by reason of the change in
the law permitting agents to designate
a clerk to sign all official checks in
their name. Captain Barclay took the
ground that his bond was ample and
sufficient to cover all his lability to
the government. He informed Com-
missioner Raum that he would not
give the extra bond, and of his willing-
nese to retire from the office sooner than
do so. He maintained then, as he
does now, that he was actuated by a
principle in refusing to give the extra
bond, and sooner than sacrifice his
principle he tendered his resignation
and has been awaiting its acceptance.
The United States senator to whom
Mr. Barclay entransted his resignation
for delivery to the President is M. S.
Quay, who has been withholding it to
serve his own purposes.
——All authorities agree that the
milk of a healthy mother is the
best food for an infant. Next to this is
Mellin’s Food. It contains all the ele-
ments for perfect nutrition and corres-
ponds physiologically with mother’s
milk.
—Silver is dropping agiin, and the
G. O. P., which so plumed itself on its
rise, may find it difficult now to explain
how it is that, being cheaper, itisn’t
nastier.
«Tine AE QC,