Democratic watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940, September 25, 1891, Image 4
Terms 2.00 A Year,in Advance oY Bellefonte, Pa., Sep't. 25, 1891. P. GRAY MEEK, - - - EpirTor em— ES Democratic County Committee, 1891 Ne Waiereeermnnnnnns .. W. 8. Galbraith Bt i ... Joseph Wise ” ARE 5 9g Ponkp Centre Hall Borough.. . John T. Lee Howard Borough..... . H. A. Moore Fileshiite rons. A. M. Butler Mitheim Borough. ... A.C. Musser Philipsburg, ny ames A. Lukens ..... Frank Hess ..oes Bo M.Griest . Eugene Meeker .. Harvey Benner ..... Philip Confer ... T. F. Adams .. J. N. Krumrine . N.J. McCloskey Daniel Dreibelbis Geo. W. Keichline . Chas. W. Fisher James P. Grove .... Geo. B. Shaffer weesee Bilis Lytle .. 3. W. Keller W.T. Leathers Henry Hale itner Bpring,8.P....... P oe N: P. “WL Biron E.E. Ardery Taylor. W. T. Hoover Union . Chas. H. Rush Walker .. D. A. Dietrick Worth. .. 0.D.Eberts L.A SCHAEFFER, Chairman. Democratic State Ticket. FOR AUDITOR GENERAL, ROBERT E. WRIGHT, of Lehigh county. FOR STATE TREASURER, A. L. TILDEN, of Erie county. DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. Chas. R. Buckalew. | Chauncey F. Black. Geo. A. Jenks. : Geo. M. Dallas. Bam’l. G. Thompson. David W. Sellers. Henry N. Scott. Robt. E. Monaghan. Win. %. McLean. F. M. Vandling. Jno. Latta. Rodger Sherman. William Weihe. i Thos. Lazare. 8amuel Griffith. i Grant Weidman. Geo. W. Zeigler. i R. Morgan Root. RS DEMOCRATIC COUNTY TICKET. For DELEGATE TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. ELLIS L. ORVIS. Subject to action of district conference. Jury Commissioner. —GEORGE BOWER. A Sufficient Example. The disclosures made by Auditor General McCamant in his testimony before the legislative investigating com- mittee last week would be amusingly ludicrous if they did not display such a miserable performance of the trust committed to him. The result of his examination amounted to an acknowl edgment of incompetency, if not an admission of guilt. When BarpsLEy, whom the Audi- tor General knew to be a scamp, became angry when urged to pay over long standing arrearages of State money, Mr. McCamant admits that he let the delinquent have his own way. But at the same time he says he was receiving certain personal courtesies from the officer whom he unlawfully allowed to withhold State funds that were overdue. The Auditor General has a neck that could not be suited with ties in Harrisburg and Mr. Barpsiey kindly got them of the right size in Philadelphia and sent them to his friend in the Auditor Gen- eral’s office. There was similar kind- ness in the matter of “handkerchiefs,” “nice fruit,” “onyx clocks,” and other little courtesies. And synchronously with the reception of these favors Mr. McCamant was arranging with the de- linquent city treasurer for the adver tising of the Mercantile Appraisers’ lists with an eye to the payment of ‘#arge political debts,” as he admits in his examination, in the payment of which the State was fleeced to the amount of thousands of dollars. There could not be a more scandal- ous exhibit of official dereliction than is made by Mr. McCamant’s admis pions, It isthe next thing toa confes- pion of guilt. This case furnishes a striking illustration of the corrupt influences which Republican State offi- eials,of good repute before their election, find themselves unable ta withstand. Their integrity is forced to yield to the demand for the payment of “large po- litical debts.” It wouldn't be right to subject General Greece's reputation to such a pressure. It would ber shame to wreck it in that way. McCaMANT's case furnishes an example sufficiently frightful. a covetous eye on the Hawaiian, com _ monly known as the Sandwich Islands, They would make a most advantageous station for the British naval force in the Pacific ocean, and as John Bull looks sharply after such advantages, it can not be doubted that he would like to have the islands in question’ Undoubtedly the United States would object, and this objection may be the only thing that will prevent England from seizing such a prize. ——Subscribe for the WATCHMAN, «... C. A. Faulkner "Isaac M.Orndorf Knights of Labor Who Won't Be De- ceived. It will be remembered that a com- mittee of the Knights of Labor was sent to Harrisburg to attend to labor interests during the session of the Leg- islature. The duty assigned them was, in its relation to legislation, intended for the benefit of working people. Ic is generally known to what extent the labor interest was served by the Legis- lature. The mostimportant measures asked for were refused, while the few that were granted are of doubtful effi- cacy. The majority of the Labor commit- tee sent to Harrisburg, headed by Capt. M. H. BUTLER, was influenced to make a report of their mission which in its most essential features conflicted with facts. It misrepresented the responsi- bility for the failure of labor legislation and attempted to shield the party that declined to legislate for the benefit of the working class, putting the blame where 1t did not belong, The report had every appearance of being pur- chased. Last Saturday, at the Knights of Labor convention in Philadelphia, this report was considered and rejected as being unworthy of aeceptande on ac count of its misrepresentations. The convention, being sufficiently acquaint- ed with what had taken place at Har- risburg, knew that BoTLER's report was a lying statement. It was well aware that the Republicans in the Legislature had a kindlier feeling for the interest of corporations and mon- opolies than for the welfare of the working class, and that they alone were responsible for the failure of much needed and long asked for labor bills. The convention therefore threw aside BurLer’s majority report and accepted that of the minority, which contained what it knew to be facts. This convention did several other good and proper things. It declined to endorse PowDERLY as a delegate to the constitutional convention, it being apparent that he had been smuggled on the Republican State ticket for that office with no other object than to get the labor vote for the Republican Au- ditor General and State Treasurer. It also refused to authorize the employ- ment of speakers by the Knights of Labor, ostensibly in favor of a consti tutional convention, but for the real ob- ject of helping to elect the Republican State ticket. At the same time it passed a resolution favoring a constitu- tional convention, but it didn’t appear to fancy a constitutional convention that would be under Republican con- trol. The action of the convention showed its determination to sit down very hard on Mr. PowperLY's design to lead the Kuights into the camp of a party that never failed to betray labor when the money interest, the corpora: tions and the monopolists were to be served. ——There is an irate woman after Major MoKinLey. Her name is Herexy M. Gouger, of Indiana, and what excites her anger is the “robber tariff.” She is on the stump in Ohio making speeches, and in one she let off in fine style at Findley, the other day, to an audience of 2000 people, she attacked the McKinley bill, which she characterized as ‘a robber tax upon the people.” Mrs. GouGer has evi- dently been doing some shopping late- ly, and, like other woinen who have shopped since the Major got in his lit- tle bill, she has discovered, in the in- creased prices, that the tariff is a tax. Is she not correct in calling it “a rob- ber tax upou the people 2” Porter's Dilemma. Porter's work of manufacturing a census of the United States has been expensive. He 1s far from the comple- tion of his job of fixing the figures for a party purpose, yet finds that the ap propriation of $7,000,000 set apart for expenses has been exhausted. The thing being in this situation census agents have been ordered to suspend their work notwithstanding its incom. pleteness, and a large number of clerks have been dismissed. The census of the country’s manufacturing and in- dustrial interests has been left just about half finished, and in quarters which had a right to look for better management great indignation is ex- pressed that the big appropriation has been frittered away on subjects that in ny way increase the value of the cen. sus, while others of the highest impor. taace are left in an unfinished condi- tion, with the money all gone. Porter is certainly in a dilemma, for the money needed to complete the consus must come from a Democratic congress which will not be ready to graut 1t until they have inquired into the manner in which the Superinten- dant has done his work. That his work will not stand close investigation | makes the situation awkward for TER. The Return ot Captured Flags. The New York Zribune suggests that the United States government should return to Mexico the flage which were captured from her by our troops during the war of 1846-48, and that the next congress should take steps to that end. This suggestion is so well thought of by the Philadelphia Press that it endorses it enthusiastical- ly, saying : “No step could be happier and none more likely to add to the peace of the two nations than for the United States to return the Mexican flags and guns it has.” The papers that urge this thing to be done as an act that would soothe the unfriendly feeling that may linger in in the Mexican breast as a relic of the war we had with them, are both Re- publican. They want to make friendly amends to the Mexican greasers, yet, a few years ago, when it was suggested during CLEVELAND'S administration that it would be a friendly act to return to the Southern people—our own fellow citizens—the flags that had been cap- tured from them in an unfortunate civ- il contest, there wasn’t a Republican paper that didu’t set up a howl against the proposition. As they re- presented it, it was the next thing to treason to do an act that might soothe the bitterness that war had caused be - tween brothers, but the return of flags captured from a foreign enemy is in their opinion praiseworthy in its ob ject and tendency, 1n that it would hea® the wounds caused by a conflict that took place some forty years ago. At the time the clamor was raised about the return of the “rebel flags” every discerning person was able to see that it was intended for nothing eise than to produce a ‘bloody-shirt” effect. ——The religious sentiment of the city of Reading, this State, has been shocked, and its educational circles ex- cited, by the action of the school-board to exclude the reading of the Bible from the common schools, to be sub- stituted by the reading of Shakespeare. The majority of the Supplies Commit. tee re ported in favor of this change, but whether it will be effected is doubt" tul in view of the opposition of public sentiment to what seems to be an irre- ligious innovation. SHAKESPEARE'S plays are good in their place, but they are not of a character to take the place of the Bible. He Should Stick to His Tariff. Major McKINLEY is certainly in a bad way in his campaign operations. He finds his high tariff unpopular, and consequently shirks it and resorts to the silver question as his best hold, posing as the friend of honest money. But he is unfortunate in the position he now takes as the opponent of free sil- ver. Governor CamMpBELL takes him in hand and shows him up as having sup ported by his votes in congress a num- bar of propositions fora more liberal use of silver in our monetary system, and particularly that he voted for the 75- cent Bland Dollar. If there ever was any dishonesty in the employment of silver as a circulating medium it cer- tainly was to be found in the forcing of a T5-cent doilar to represent the value of 100 cents and Major McKINLEY vot- ed for that kind of a dollar. Now he appears as the opponent of free silver and the friend of honest money. The Major, shoved off his tariff base, ex- periences an embarrassment in finding something to stand on. He finds rath- er inconsistent and insecure footing on the silver question. He should stick to his tariff and take the chance it may afford him. A Dangerous Idea. The idea of nationalizing the militia of the States and placing the whole un- der the Secretary of War, is a bad one and should be dropped at once. It wonld have the effect of converting a citizen soldiery into what would be toc dangerously like a standing army. The militia should be strictly a state organization ; it should be under state management and control ; it should re- ceive its inspiration from the senti- ment of state sovereignty ; it should be pervaded by state pride. Its connec- tion with the general goverament should be only incidental, when called into service for the national defense. It is not out of place for the militia to be encouraged by the general gov. ernment in improving iis discipline and promoting its efficiency, but there would be an element of danger in con- solidating the state soldiers into a na- tional force. Let them remain a citizen soldiery, belonging to and controlled by the respective states, and Ameri. can liberty will never suffer at their hands. ——Late accounts from Massachu- setts Bay bring the gratifying intelli- gence that this summer will not pass over without that picturesque and in. Por- | teresting reptile, the sea-serpent, mak- ing its appearance on our coast. An Explanation Forthcoming. We are requested to announce that | Mr. James ScHOFIELD is preparing a statement concerning the affairs of the Overseer’s office, which will effectually | close the mouths of the braggarts who | have nothing better to do than impute | dishonesty to his public career. The ! the citizens of Bellefonte will have an est. The deception practiced by the Ga- zotte in publishing a statement of Mr. ScHOFIELD'S account made out by Re’ publican opponents and rivals, did very well when it knew he was too far away to contradict, but now since his return the true state of affairs will be given and every eatry up to July 17th, 1891, verified. The Democratic primary elec- tions in Philadelphia last week were attended with unusual harmony, a cir- cumstance that portends success. There was never a time when there was such good reason for harmony and union among the Democrats of the city, and such cause for the disintegrating effect of dissatisfaction and want of confidence among the Republicans. It can hardly be possible that party allegiance and the influence of parti- san prejudice can blind the reputable Republicans of Philadelphia to the hopeless debauchery of the city gov- ernment under their party, and render them indifferent to its continuance which would be ensured by the election of officers bound to be governed by a systematically corrupt gang of machine politicians. If, in the face of devel opments recently made, Philadelpbia will give her usual Republican majori- ty, she will be pointed to as a com- munity irremediably de moralized. Hereafter Every Voter in Centre County Must Look Out for Himself. We have been handed the following agreement entered into by the chairmen of the respective county commit- tees of this county, with the request to publish. We give it place with pleasure and call the attention of voters of both parties to its conditions. Those who have friends away from home, or know of persons who have not paid their taxes, should call their attention to this new departure, in order that there may be no disappointment about it when voting time comes. The fol- lowing is the statement and agree- ment : It has been the custom of the Couu- ty Committees of Centre county for sev- eral years past to examine the lists of tax-payers each year and to pay the poll tax of all voters who have neglect- ed to pay their own tax. The amount of this tax is so small to the individual that no voter could possibly complain of paying it himself, and yet the total amount is a very considerable expense to the county organizations. It has al- 80 been the custom of the Committees to spend a large amount of money each year in procuring railroad tickets to send to absent voters so that they could come home to vote on Election Day. This has perhaps been the greatest ex- pense in the conduct of the campaigns of the last few years. A fair proportion of the money so speat each year has been simply wasted and has produced no results in swelling the vote of the two parties, for the reason that a con- siderable number of the tickets so sent have not been used by the yoters, or have never reached them. The money to pay their expenses has been raised by subscription each year and the subscribers to the fund are gen- erally the same people in each and ev- ery year. The money is made up among a tew who take an interest in the politics of the County or State, as the case may be. Ifall persons inter- ested in politics would make even a small subscription to the County fund, the money could be easily raised, but coming as it does upon thesame people each year, itisa burden to them, and such a burden as they should not be asked to bear. Every voter should have sufficient pa- triotism and care for the weltare of his country to come home to vote and to pay whatever expense there may be in reaching the polls; but, even if absent voters have not sufficient interest to do this, the chances are that the number of Republican and Democratic votes not polled would be equally divided amongst these absentees. This question has been under discus- sion for some time and the chairmen of the respective committees have entered nto an agreement, the terms ot which are given below. All party workers and all members of the county com- wittees are earnestly requested to abide by the terms of this agreement and to consider it as binding on them as if they had signed the same along with the Chairmen of the Committees. As an agreement of this kind can only be a question of honor, it must appeal 10 the conscience of all the party work- ers in the county t(o see that it is car- ried into effect and that it is violated in wo particular by their assistance or connivance, The agreement is as fol- lows : It is agreed by and between L. A. Shaffer, Chairman of the Democratic County Committee of the county of Centre, and John M. Dale, chairman of the Republican County Committee of the county of Centre, as follows, to | wit : First. The respective County Com- / NR I re WP ET CIR miilces agree ww poll tax shall be paid by them dus iz the present year to enable deling sunt tax-payers to vote on the day of tiie rext election on the third day of November, 1891. SecoND. Its also agreed that the county Commiutees shall pay for no railroad tickets to enable absent voters of either party to go to their respective homes for the purpose of voting on el- accounts of the office will be given in | €ction day; but, in case such absent : : |W f ishi i full with both sides entered, and then | voters furnishingto the County Commiy) tees sufficient money to purchase a I ticket for themselves at the reduced opportunity of deciding for themselves | which officer's books are the straight- ? ! ? > lin that event the tickets will be pur- rate granted by the Railroad Company to the respective committees, then and chased and sent to the voters by the | CountyiCommittees, [i is also farther understood and asreed that this agreement is to bind not only the Chairmen of the respec- tive County Committees but also all members of their Committe; and all voters of both parties are also earnestly requested to abide by its terms. Wi ness our hands, this twenty- fourth day of September, 1891. L. A. SHAFFER, Chairman Dem. Co. Com. Jno. M. DaLg, Chairman Rep. Co. Com. Turn On the Light. Up to the time of hearing before Judges Fell and Gorden on the charges against Auditor General McCamant, the recent exposures of corrupt practice in office related only to officials in Phila- delphia. Late Treasurer Bardsley and the Mercantile Appraisers only, were proceeded against criminally. In those exposures the people outside of Phila- deiphia therefore have not taken the in- tense interest that must be excited by the charges now made affecting the of- fice of the Auditor General of the State. At the recent hearing before the two judges it was developed that District Attorney Graham is in possession of most damaging proof of official unfaith- fulness. The evidence consists of book entries and checks made ‘by Bardsley, and letters written by Auditor General McCamant and Mr. Livsey to Bardsley. Bardsley in the criminal proceeding re- fused to answer any questions relating to these checks and entries, declaring that his “self-respect ghd regard for his fami- ly” forbid his making any further dis- closures. Auditor General McCamant, the only other witness to the facts, can not be called as a witness against him- self, and hence, as a legal prosecution, the proceeding falls for the time being. Now, however, let the people of Penn- sylvania have the facts. Let the sus- spected State officials be arraigned be- fare the bar of public opinion... What are the account and entries in Bardsley’s hand writing which he refuses even to look at in court? What do the mutilt- ed check stubs show ? Let the public see the McCamant and Livsey letters— all of them. ‘While the law permits the Auditor General to be silent in a legal proceed- ing, the people, whose servant he is, have a right to demand that he shall speak. Did Mr. McCamant receive $7154.42 trom Mr. Bardsley, as shown in his accounts? If so, where did the money come from, and what was it paid for? What say you, Mr. Auditor Gen- eral? ‘What were the “favors you re- ceived” from Mr. Bardsley for which you thank him in your letters, correspond- ing in date with the mysterious Bards- ley eheck stubs ? Did District Attorney Graham present {0 Judges Fell and Gor- don all of the McCamant letters he had befere him ? The people of the state are entitled to know all that can be known on the question of the integrity of the state of- ficials. Ifit be true that the corruption that bas overwhelmed the public service in Philadelphia extends to state officials, the people have aright to know that fact, and to know it now. Let there be ueither concealment or delay in this matter. Speak out, gentlemen ! ADDITIONAL LOCALS. ——The Lock Haven Public Schools will open a saving banks this, Friday, morning, ——One hundred and fifty-seven criminal cases were down for trial at the Clearfield September term of Court. —— Gen. Hastings will deliver his lecture on “Reminiscences of the Johns- town Flood” in the Philipsburg Opera House to-night. ——H. Tilburg, of Bellefonte avenue, Lock Haven, picked red raspberries vesterday in his garden, which were fully ripened and developed, being the second crop on the vines this year. Accept OUR THANKS.—On Wednes- day morning Mr. Hezekiah Hoy pre- sented us with a bushel of the nicest mellow apples that any one could wish to see, and ever since tho printers in the WATCHMAN have been feasting on the luscious fruit. Like the Indians, we have had to lousen our string several times in order to hold as many as we wanted to eat. Thanks, Mr. Hoy, your present was very acceptable, indeed. House AND BarN BurNED.—On Tuesday about noon, the farm house, two and one half miles above Union- ville, occupied by Mr. Thomas Irvin aad family, was discovered to be on fire and before anything could be done the flames spread to the barn adjoining, consuming both in a very few moments. Mr. Irvin and his workmen were out in the field when the fire broke out,con- sequently but little of the contents of either house or barn was saved. The loss is rather an unfortunate one, com- ing just when the crops had been all garnered and everything made ready for winter, but we are pleased to learn that the property was fully insured. A defective flue was the cause of the conflagration. MARRIAGE LICENSES.— Charles M. Bardner and Lucy T. Martin, both of Howard ; Elmer Linbert, of Aarons- burg, and Kate Rochey of Filmore ; W. K. Cunningham, of Ohio, and Lot- tie R. Loneberger, of Pleasant Gap; H. E. Sheckengast, of Potter township, and Mattie M. Weaver, of Gregg; John Madigan, of Philipsburg, aud Sallie A. Hart, of Clearfield Co; Harry Austin and Mollie Smith, both of Mijes- burg, Alfred G. Hagyard and Annie G. Wright, both of Philipsburg ; Harry E. Jenkins and Jennie S. Lukenbach, both of Bellefonte. TaE Opp FELLOWS’ Big Da¥.--On the 14th of October next, the I. O. O. F. of this place will formally dedicate its hall to the use of the order. For two years meetings have been held in the rooms, but a formal dedication has nev- er been made. It will be the occasion for two big meetings, one in the hall and the other in the Opera House. The latter will be addressed by Mayor W. F. Reeder, D. F. Fortney and Past Grand Sire, J. B. Nicholson, of Philadelphia. A grand street parade of the visiting camps, with bands, etc., will be one of the features of the day. Let every one decorate and extend a hearty welcome to the visiting Odd Fellows, so that they shall be properly impressed with our town and feel like returning often. CoNsTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE.—The Lock Haven Democrat of Wednesday gives the following account of the con- ference which went there to select dele- gates to the Constitional convention ; “The Democratic conference to name two senatorial delegates to the State Constitutional Convention, met herd to- day, Clinton, Clearfield and Centre counties being represented. The follow- ing are the names of the candidates and the conferrees from the several counties : Clinton—William H. Clough, repre- sented by S. W. Caldwell, this city ; John U, Shaffer, Renovo, and B. F. Geary, this city. Clearfield— William Bigler, represen- ted by A. Reed, of Clearfield; W. C. Pentz, of Du Bois, and Charles Dickin- gon, of Osceola Mills. Centre—Ellis L. Orvis, represented by J. H. Holt, Snow Shoe; W. J. Singer, Bellefonte, and John A. Wood- ward, Howard. . The conference met in the Judge's chamber at2 o’clock and on motion, which was seconded, Hon. John A, ‘Woodward was elected President ot the body, and Hon. John U. Shaffer, Sec- retary. The three candidates, Messrs. Clough, Bigler and Orvis were then placed in nomination by their respective couferrees, after which the conference adjourned for twenty minutes. Conference re-assembled at the expira- tion of the recess and proceeded to bal- lot, each conferree voting for persons, as follow: Bigler 9. Orvis 5, and Clough 4. Messrs. William Bigler, of Clearfield, and Ellis L. Orvis, of Centre, having received the necessary number of votes, were declared elected delegates to Censtitutional Convention and their selection was made unanimous. Conference then adjourned sine die. CHARLEY Rogers KILLED.—On Sunday morning last a wreck occurred at Greensburg which resulted in the the death of Charles Rogers, eldest son of Mr. Geo. Rogers, the engineer and inventor of this place. Charley will be remembered as assistant engineer at the Nail Works several years ago and was a young man respected by every one who knew him. He met his death as follows: Shortly after the death of his first wife who was a Miss Roan, of Coleville, he went to Altoona and seoured a position as fire- man on the Western division of the Pennsylvania railroad, running regular- ly until the accident occurred. There was a wreck near Greensburg and A. C. Wadsworth, the engineer, did not see it until it was too late to stop: His en- gine plunged right into the debris and before he had time to realize what was the matter he jwas hurled over into a field. When he got up he at first start- ed to run away, but thinking of his fire- man he returned to find Charley pin- {foned underjthe monster engine. Halp was quickly called and it took fifty men working like tigers for four hours before the poor boy could be gotten out. Persons who were there say they never saw such bravery exhibited by any one, Not once did jan expression of pain es- cape his lips and the only words he uttered were of encouragement to the men who were working to liberate him, but when he was lifted out so great had been the strain that he tainted away. A superficial examination showed that his left arm was crushed from the shoulder down and it was amputated afterwards at the West Penn Hospital where he was taken from the wreck. The strain was too much for him, how- ever, and he] died yesterday, Thursday morning, at three o’clock. His father was with him when he breathed his last. A wife and one child are left to mourn the loss of a fond and loved husband and father.