Se
¥
Solan cosiicinsinains
Demorrai Watcpan.
GRAY MEEK.
BY P.
Ink Slings.
—The ice man is not the plutocrat
He was in days of old
‘When our ordinary habitat
Was not so bloomin’ cold.
QuAY'’s foot ought soon be well enough
to give cousin PENNYPACKER a good swift
kick on his brains.
—Aunt CLEMINTINA would look well in
black, but she will hardly put it on be-
cause of LOCKE'S political death at DuBois.
—The shirt-waist man hasn’t been much
in evidence this season. Mother nature
has given him a frost that has proven a very
decided backset.
—JAMES B. STROHM needs a little ballot
remedy for that office itch he has been suf-
fering with for so many years. He will
get it in November, too.
— Brother JNo. C. MILLER will soon grow
tired calling ‘Halt!’ to the Bellefonte
council if that heedless body of high-priced
water makers don’t soon stop to pay some
atten tion to his red flag.
—Germany is very generous in suggest-
ing that we annex Venezuela. Perhaps
Germany has a claim against that worthless
Republic that she would like to have made
good by Uncle SAM’S endorsement.
—A Chicago woman wants $50,000 dam-
ages from a man who recently tried to kiss
her. She does not state in the bill what is
the basis of her claim, but it is to be infer-
red that it is because the man only tried.
—Centre county must (send two Demo-
cratic Legislators to Harrisburg next Janu-
ary. She tried the experiment of sending
Republicans two years ago and has had
many a reason to blush for one of them
since.
—While EARL TUTEN is a very nice boy
we couldn’t think of encouraging him into
thinking there is any chance of his defeat-
ing such a gentlemanly and obliging official
as A. G. ARCHEY has made during his past
three years as register of Centre county.
—An old cow was turned out in a
yard down in Beech Creek a few days ago
and immediately began to regale himself
on a neighbor’s wash that was on the fence
drying. She ate up seven black stockings
and a suit of ladies underwear and now it
is said she is giving milk through the hose.
—Some one tried to blow up former Gov-
ernor ROBERT E. PATTISON, by sending him
an infernal machine through the mail on
last Thursday. Who it could have been or
what the motive ‘is’ a mystery. PENNY-
PACKER will get his blowing up early in
November and it won’t be an infernal ma-
chine that will do it, either.
—The business men had their picnic at
Hecla park yesterday. but the farmers of
Centre county will have theirs when they
try to raise money enough to pay the price
that the mew harvester trust will put on
the machinery that they must have next
season. Their only relief is to vote with a
party that will make an end of legislation
that makes such trusts possible.
—Again the HAsTING’S barrel, DRESSER'S
barrel and PATTON'S barrel are all tapped
for the campaign this fall the corruption
th at prevailed in the county the day the
former statesman paraded through the
court house with his digits full of green-
backs will appear white as snow in com-
parison with the filth and slime that the
voters will be invited to 'carouse in his
fall.
--The Democrats of Centre county are
going to conduct a clean campaign this fall.
In the first place they have no money to
put into it, and in the second it is not Demo-
cratic ‘policy to win elections with money.
We have always won op the merits of our
candidates and we have enough faith in the
manhood of the voters of Centre county to
believe that we will win that way in the
fall.
—1In the rate war between western rail-
roade last Saturday, the fare from Chicago,
I11., to, Houston, Texas, dropped to thirty
cents, with a box of cigars thrown in.
Probably the ‘‘box of cigars thrown in’?
was the loop-hole through which the trans-
portation companies were to crawl out of a
bad bargain. They might bave arranged
for a rake-off from the undertakers who
handled the victims of the cigars.
—In the Demooratis nominees for Con-
gress and Senate in this district are pre-
sented two men who have other recom-
mendations for the offices they seek than
the wealth they can command. About the
only thing the public hears, when either
DRESSER or PATTON, the Republican as-
pirants, are being discussed is: ‘‘Oh,
they’ve gov piles of money.” But the
people of this district want something more
than money to represent them at Washing-
ton and Harrisburg and for that reason
they will refuse to be bought to vote
against HIBNER and HEINLE. :
—The gang was evidently more afraid
of THOMPSON than the language their boss
applied to him in a recent county conven-
tion would indicate when they feared to
re-nomipate Hon. WILLIAM ALLISON, of
Spring Mills, for the Legislature because
of the danger of THOMPSON'S people knifing
him. Thus we bave a tacit admission that
the man HASTINGS branded as ‘‘a liar and
a'thief’”’ has enough strength in the county
to down a candidate when he pleases. It
is either an evidence of lack of knowledge
on HASTINGS’ part, as to what constitutes
a ‘‘liar and athief,”’ or a pretty commentary
on the manhood of the voters of Centre
county.
VOL. 47
¢“0Oleo” Brown for Governor.
The Pittsburg ‘‘Post,’”’ always conserva-
tive and usually accurate, comes forward
with a well supported story to the effect
that there is an understanding among the
leaders of the QUAY machine that in the
improbable event of Judge PENNYPACK-
ER’S election to the office of Governor he is
to resign almost immediately to accept an
assignment in the judicial service and the
Republican candidate for Lieutenant Gov-
ernor, OLEO BROWN, is to take his place
under the constitutional provision. There
is the color of probability in this proposi-
tion, even if our esteemed contemporary
were not supported by substantial evidence,
which it is. Judge PENNYPACKER has no
executive ability or inclinations. He is
essentially judicial in temperament and
practice. But his curious infatuation for
QUAY makes him a willing instrument in
the hands of that conspirator and the chanc-
es are that the bargain has been made.
Under these circumstances the farmers of
Center county who are Republicans and
disposed to support the ticket of their par-
ty are inviting themselves to a curious feast.
‘‘OLEO’’ BROWN was. the champion of
hogus butter during his term in the Sen-
ate. No man on the floor went to the length
that he reached in opposition to the in-
terests of the farmers. Discussing the road
bill during the session of 1897 he even de-
clared that the farmersdidn’t know enough
to tell a good road from a bad one. In
speaking on the OLEo hill during the ses-
sion of 1901 he said, in substance, that the
product of the OLEO factories had and ought
to have the same rights and privileges in
the markets as the products of the creamer-
ies and dairy farms.
With *OLEO’’ BROWN in the office of Gov-
ernor the corporations would be paramount.
Individual enterprise has no consideration
in bis mind, because it doesn’t represent
capital enough. He is for magnificent opera-
tions. He was the partaer of ‘DICK’ QUAY
inthe New Castle railroad transaction : for
whichthe $100,000 were borrowed from the
People’s bank of Philadelphiaon account of
which ' the: cashier, Mr. HOPKINS, subse-
quently committed suicide. He shared with
QUAY in the profits of that deal that drove
BENJAMIN J. HAYWOOD to hisgrave. But
his leading characteristic is antipathy to the
interests of the farmers. In other words
he is a corporation man, pure and simple,and
as such is necessarily in antagonism to the
only element which stands between the
corporations and complete control of the
State.
— Young man don’t fool yourself with
the idea that von can vote this fall without
being registered if you had your first vote
last fall. Be registered and feel like a man
on election day.
Bryan's Suggestion to Roosevelt.
The eastern papers poke a good deal of
fun at Mr. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
but he makes a suggestion to President
ROOSEVELT which will tax the mental re-
sources not only of that gentleman but of.
all his journalistic apologists. = It is known:
that the President contemplates a very ex-'
tensive tour of the country in the near fu-
ture, the ostensible purpose of which is to
make a few political speeches in interest of
his party’s candidates for Congress. The
real purpose is to promote his own politic-
al interests, hut the suggestion of Mr.
BRYAN is entirely relevant, nevertheless.
‘The Nebraska editor,for that is the title
which Mr. BRYAN prefers to he called,
asks the President to answer this question:
“Why not apply the Declaration of Inde-"
pendence to the Philippines?’ Ever since
the founding of our government the boast
of all our patriotic citizens has been that
that immortal document was the charter
of our liberties. We have confidently as-
serted that no government is just which
departs from ‘the lines laid down in that
instrument. . All governments derive their
just powers from the consent of the govern-
ed, all men are created equal and are en-
dowed with the inalienable right of life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness have
been the doctrines of our lives. But we
are not employing them in the Philippines,
and why?
If President ROOSEVELT would auswer
that question honestly his answer would
not promote the interests of himself or his
party, politically speaking. He would Le
compelled to say that other leaders of his
party bad taken the government of the
United States out of the safe course in which
it had been steered for more than a hun-
dred years and turned it in the direction
of imperialism and wilitarism and that
though he is aware of the grave danger of
the departure he hasn’t the courage or the
patriotism to turn back and save his coun-
try. In fact he would he compelled to say
that the principles of the Declaration of
Independence have heen hopelessly lost.
——Just bear in mind that Sept. 2nd
closes the registry. If your name is not
upon it it may also close your prospect of
voting.
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
No Chance for Great Frauds.
The esteemed Ledger and Times of Phila-
delphia expresses the fear that the usunal
ballot frauds in that ring ridden city will
determine the election for Governor this
vear, as they have all other state elections
for the last half dozen years. There ought
to be no ground for such a fear this year.
The Democratic organization in the city
has been reorganized on a basis that prom-
ises substantial reform and the leaders are
under promise to be faithful. Besides
there is an auxiliary committee composed
of prominent Democrats the members of
which are under promise to manage the
poll on election day and prevent frauds if
possible.
There is no doubt that the QUAY ma-
chine will be more desperate this year than
ever before. It is fightingin the last ditch
and with the determination of one striving
for his life. If the machine is defeated
this year it will never recover. A con-
siderable proportion of its membership will
probably spend their remaining days in
prison and the period of loot will be at an
end. But the desperation of the other side
ought to inspire the Democrats to greater
energy and vigilance. The prize of victory
ought to be the more attractive because it
means so much to Pennsylvania, present
and fature. On our side it is a struggle
for the birthright of our children.
We have entire confidence alike in the
integrity and the energy of the Democratic
organization of Philadelphia. If that con-
fidence is justified the usual frauds in the
city will be impossible. No doubt there
will be some irregularities and a small ratio
of deliberate frauds. But with an honest
minority representation in every election
baord there can’t be frauds enough to im-
peril the election of the Democratic ticket
if the Democrats throughout the State are
equal to the fulfillment of their duties, as
we hope and believe they are. Let the
Democrats of Centre county set the example
of energy and fidelity.
——The people of Centre county will be
sincere in their hope that the collapse
which threatens to take Mr. CHARLES M.
SCHWAB out of the active business life he
has led since a young man will not prove
auy more serious than a temporary break
ing down under most exhausting work.
Mr. SOUHWAB'S recent visit to The Pennsyl-
vania State College and the munificent
gift which he and Mrs. SCHWAB made to
that institution naturally enlisted the in-
terest of every resident of the county in his
welfare. While the College is by no means
a county institution our people are so
true to it that they regard its friends as
their friends and for that reason many
BELLEFONTE, PA., AUGUST 22, 1902.
Candid Senator Penrose.
Senator Bois PENROSE makes no conceal-
ment of his contempt for party regularity
when it stands in the way of personal suc-
cess. In an interview published in the
Pittsburg papers of Thursday he discussed
the question of Judge PENNYPACKER’S ac-
ceptance of the nomination of the Citizen’s
party of Allegheny county with great frank-
ness. The Judge accepted verbally because
it would be bad policy to go on record in
writing under the circumstances, he said.
That was an honest confession but it . must
be said that PENROSE is always outspoken,
though not invariably discreet. He says
what he thinks, however, and if it doesn’
look well in print the next day he simply
denies it.
~ Senator PENROSE wasn’t talking to a
sympathetic clientele in the interview, in
question, but for the time being that
didn’t matter. He was reminded that dur-
ing the next session of the Legislature he
might be obliged to appeal to the Alle-
gheny county regnlars to get the votes nec-
essary to his election, but that ‘never phas-
ed him. ‘“Idon’t care what you do out
there this time,”’ he said. ‘‘We are going
to elect PENNYPACKER and when that is
done PENROSE can be re-elected without
belp from Allegheny county. He won't
have to go there for votes.’’ That is charm-
ingly bold and open and just like PEN-
ROSE when in a mellow mood. It looks
very much as if the Republicans are mak-
ing a ‘‘wet goods campaign.”
It may be that Senator PENROSE is de-
pending on the bigotry of Senator FLINN in
thus flying in the face of the regular Republi-
cans of Allegheny county. Ifthey should
turn against PENNYPACKER, as they threa-
ten to do, he wouldn’t be elected,and in thas
event the defeat of PENROSE would be as
certain as fate. But everybody knows
FLINN and QUAY is satisfied that in the
crucial moment he will turn in all right
for the ticket and maybe he will. But there
are others,and it is not so certain that they
will swallow the indignity that bas been
pub upon them. QUAY’S combination with
the BiGELows and the OLIVERS means
their political crucifixion ‘and probably
they won’t stand the suffering.
I _s—=You intend helping to mash the ma-
chine. Every good citizen is working the
same way. Be ready to get in your work
good. The way to be ready is to be reg-
istered. If you know you are an that list,
pay some attention to your Democratic
neighbor. See that his name is on along
with your own.
Party Policies Contrasted.
The Democrats of Schuylkill county have
earnest prayers willbe said for the pres—y:followed the excellent example set by those
ervation of the young business king who
was first to break the occludent sentiment
that restrained the hand of private bene-
faction to The Pennsylvania. State College.
Wages and the Trusts.
Whatever President ROOSEVELT may do
or say Senator HANNA has hoth the candor
and courage of his convictions. Speaking
of trusts the chairman of the Republican
national committee frankly declares ‘‘that
the combination of capital has brought to
our industrial institutions greater econom-
ical results; it has brought an increase of
trade and higher wages to the laborer.”
This falsification of the facts would bea
good defense of trusts if the public were
less intelligent. But unfortunately for
Senator HANNA the records do not justify
the assertion’ and the ‘people are familiar
with the records.
One of the favorite methods which trusts
employ to crush out competition is to pay’
high wages and sell ‘at low prices while
the competition lasts. Both processes are
fatal to the weaker in the contest. If
prices of trust produnots were regulated by
the cost of production, the high wages
would be an advantage to the public. But
high wages and low prices brought together
quickly exhausts an. enterprise of limited
capital: For that reason the trust man-
agers adopt the policy until the competi-
tion is driven out of existence and then
wages are deoreased and prices increased
simultaneously.
* If Senator HANNA is not aware of this
fact the sooner he informs himself the bet-
ter. And he doesn’t bave to go far to get
the information. The history of the steel
trust will give him a thorough’ acquaint-
ance with the subject and its organization
is not so remote an affair as to be heyond
the reach of the ordinary memory. Until
the last feeble effort at competition had
been exhausted wages were high and prices
low. But when the struggle was given up
by the competitors the conditions were re-
versed and when the men struck they were
given so vigorous a fight that in less than
six months they were compelled to yield.
——The most important work you can
do now to assist in electing the Democrat-
ic ticket this fall is to see that both your-
self and ‘those about you are registered.
Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, is the last day that this
of York and Adams counties in their treat-
ment of the crooks who betrayed them during
the last session of the Legislature. In other
words at the Democratic primaries in
Schuylkill connty last Saturday JonN F.
HIGGINS, the recreant State Senator for the
Thirteenth district, was ‘‘snowed under’’ so
badly that be is hardly entitled to a place
among those who ‘‘also ran.” Out of a
total vote of more than 6,000, he received
less than 500.
‘We have a right to point with pride to
the record of the Dem ocratic party in this
respect. Of the ten or fifteen recreants who
served the purposes of the QUAY machine
during the last session only one will be re-
turned to the next and he comes back un-
der pledges of reform which entitle him to
forgiveness for past offences and confidence
in his integrity for the future. One "after
another has fallen before the force of out-
each was so emphatic as to serve for years
as an admonition to others.
On the other hand the Republicans have
shown favor to the crooks of their party in
selecting candidates in the safe Republican
districts: Every member of that party who
became notorious on account of his brazen
venalities has been renominated except in
some of the Philadelphia districts where
they voluntarily withdrew in order to make
place for other crooks who claimed the fa-
vor on the principle of rotation. What de-
pendence can be placed in the pledges of
reform made by a party which thus gives
the lie to its own promises?
——The book question is one that is
seriously disturbing the school boards in
many districts in the county just now and
if reports be true we fear some of the di-
rectors are falling victims to more than the
blandishments of suave book agents. The
WATCHMAN merely publishes this note of
warning lest directors go too far in ao-
cepting gifts of one sort or another in con-
sideration for their support of certain
corporations. Such bribes are just as
criminal as any other and are as likely to
be punished. It is even said that certain
Bellefonte political leaders have been whip-
ping directors into line in some districts
and if such really is the case it is high time
that the people of those districts look after
their intereste a little by looking after their
directors.
——The young Democrat who voted on
age last fall cannot vote at all this year
can be done.
unless he is registered.
EE ——————
raged public sentiment and the defeat of
NO. 33.
The Long End of the Fight.
From the Philadelphia Ledger-Times.
To an impartial observer who bas a
knowledge of the situation, it looks as if
the Democrats had the better end of the
fight up to date.
Great interest attaches to the state
ticket. It is conceded that the past records
of Robert E. Pattison, the Democratic
candidate, and Samuel W. Pennypacker,
the Republican nominee, cannot be at-
tacked. But much political capital will
be made out of Pennypacker’s enlogy and
defense of Quay and his emphatic assertion
that Pennsylvania has no ills worthy of
mention. By his pamphlet and by his
recent. interview Mr. Pennypacker bas
proven, that instead of being an inde-
pendent Republican, he is an out-and-out
Quay man, and, if elected, would be con-
trolled by the Beaver statesman.
It has been decided to allow Mr. Penny-
packer to only make a few speeches. His
itinerary is now being arranged and he
will not begin his speech making campaign
until early in October.
Mr. Pattison will make a number of
speeches in September, and in October he
will be kept exceedingly busy, as the
Democratic leaders are planning an ag-
gressive speaking campaign. It is believed
by many that should Mr. Pattison be
elected he would at once become a strong
presidential probability in 1904,
. Trouble is brewing for the Republican
machine in many of the legislative dis-
tricts. Great efforts are being put forth to
save Senator Penrose, whose term expires
Yareh next.
Reports from the state are discouraging
to the machine leaders. Hardly a county
in the State is free from internal dissension.
In Philadelphia and in Northumberland,
Bucks and other counties, the machine is
being bitterly opposed by the antis.,
The personnel of Quay’s executive ‘eom-
mittee, announced last week, sent a wave
of guffaws over ‘ ‘Capitol Hill, ’’ and some
of the faithfal are. not done lau hing. yet,
Friends of Attorney General Elkin say that
so far as he is concerned there will be migh-
ly little work done. They may say that
they are loyal and all that sort of i thing,
but they have large knives up their sleeves,
and when the opportunity shall present it-
self they will be found doing a litfle slash-
ing on their own account: -
In the Lycoming county Democratic prim-:
aries Saturday Seth T. “Foresman bad, Bo
opposition for Congressman, nor had
Henry Cochran any for State Senator.
1t Will Hit the Farmers Hard,
From the Pittsburg Post.
A great trust is in process of torthabion
that will hit the American farmer. True, |
other trusts have reached him indiree
the advanced Prices of farm materials,
the harvester trust will go for the i
er’s pockets by the direct route. This
trust, it is now proposed, shall cover every-
thing i in the reaper and mower line, but'a
manager of the new combination says that
the harvester trust will handle 95 per cert.
of the business of the country. The cor-
porate name of the trust is the Internation-
al Harvester Company. It moves against
the whole world. It has what it calls a
conservative capitalization of only $120,-
000,000. But this harvester trust also pro-
poses for itself a philanthropic enterprise.
They state the case in this way :
The manufacturers realize that their wel-
fare and the interests of the farmers are
identical. An advance in the price of agri-
cultural machinery would injure the farm-
ers and react upon the manufacturers. But,
on the other hand, if exisiting conditions
continued, an advance i in prices would have
been inevitable. It thus became necessary
that either the prices should be advanced
or that substantial economies should be ef-
fected in the manufacture and distribution
of the agricultural machinery.
One suggestion of proposed economies 18
that under the trust formations 10,000 em-
ployes will lose their situations. But what
will they do for bread and butter? Ten
thousand skillful and alert men thrown out
of their life long employment is no small
matter. It is the way the trust expects to
make its dividends. These displaced men
will probably go into the harvester busi-
ness again and equalize matters with the
newly created trust by selling farm ma-
chinery at lower prices. But can they do
so against the $120,000,000 trust. The pre-
cedents do not run ‘that way.
The harvester trust is organized under
the liberal trust laws of New Jersey and
will soon be ready for operations. We are
harvesting agricultural products in this
great country 12 months in a year. The
harvester trust expects to control product-
ion in the United States and Canada, and
do it all for the benefit of the farmers! It
will not only tarn out all the machinery
needed by the farmer, but will also deal in
farm products, buying and selling. The
farmers who will make money out of this
gigantic enterprise will be the horny heart-
ed and conscienceless farmers of Wall
street and kindred districts.
Chairman Creasy Names His Staff Ap-
pointments.
State democratic chairman William T.
Creasy Saturday aunounced his staff. ap-
pointments for the gubernatorial campaign
as follows,
Secretary P. Gray Meek, of Bellefonte.
Assistant secretary, Randolph Shirk,
Esq., of Erie,
Resident secretary. T. K. Van Dyke,
Esq., of Harrisburg
Sergeant-at-arms, James A. Sweeney,
of Hazleton.
Mr. Meek and Mr. Van Dyke are ex-of-
ficio members of the state executive com-
mittee. With this competent and expe-
rienced staff the state chairman will be en-
abled to direct the coming campaign vigor-
ously and intelligently.
An Honest Confession.
Gallipolis (O.) Tribune.
We paid $20,000,000 for the Philippines,
and have spent through the army $170,000
000 on them since. We wish to the Lord it
had been the Democrats that did it.
——Suabscribe for the WATCHMAN.
Spawls from the Keyar-
—The Episcopal church at Elev has
tendered a call, which has ! «ccepted, to
Rev. George Bishop, of Gre . Bead, Pa. Rev.
Mr. Bishop will remove to Renovo at once.
—M. D. Detweiler, ¢/ _arrisburg, has been
chosen the first presideng of the board of
trustees of the National Home for aged Elks,
at Bedford, Va. He was chairman of the
committee which selected and purchased the
home.
—After having undergone .four operations
for appendicitis within a space of four weeks,
Welton Hubbard died at Jersey Shore Thurs-
day night, aged 23 years. He was a fireman
on the New York Central railroad and is sur-
vived by his wife.
—A law passed by the last Legislature and
approved April 11,1901, gives a rebate of 80
per cent of taxes paid on timber land, not ex-
ceeding fifty acres, owned by one person.
The law is intended to encourage the preser-
vation of timber land.
—Mrs. Sara Mackey, of Porterfield, near
Franklin, Pa,, died Friday morning, the re-
sult of constant sneezing. She sneezed 500
times in an hour, by actual count. Previous
to this she had made a record all the way
from 100 to 200 sneezes an hour. Her physi-
ass were unable to ‘do anything for her re-
ie
—The Pennsylvania Railroad company has
authorized a change in the steps of all the
passenger coaches. As each car is returned
to the shops the alteration will be made. At
present the coaches are equipped with three
steps, but the new cars are to have four.
This change will cause the steps to drop near-
er the rail and will enable passengers to get
on the platform with more ease.
—Dr. A. H. Halberstadt, State Medical In-
spector of Pottsville, Pa., after a thorough
investigation, has issued a statement that
smallpox cannot exist long in the anthracite
coal region. He gives it as his opinion that
the sulphur compounds which are found i in
the waste water from the mines act as pow-
ful agents in destroying the disease germs to
which communities as a rule’ are subjected.
—A few days ago, after the employes of the
West Branch Fire Brick company had gone
to work at Drury’s Run, one of their number
who had been laid off for the day, went to
their rooms in the hoarding house and made
a good haul. He stole from Elmer Brown,
Jr., a new suit of clothes and other articles;
from a man named Blackwell he took a pair
of shoes, and from ‘George Saiers, he took
forty dollars in money and a revolver. The
thief then made himself scarce.
—The following ministers have been in at-
tendance at the Newton Hamilton camp
meeting : Revs. A. 8. Baldwin, presiding eld-
er Juniata district; J. C./ Bell, presiding elder
Altoona district ; M.C. Piper, F. W. Biddle,
Lamberion, 1S ‘Souser, P.F. ‘Eyer, Dr. M.
K: Foster, J. B. Brenneman, G.L. Comp,
Isaac Cadman, O. W. Bryner, Samuel Pitten-
ger, LN. Moorehead, G. M. ‘Klepfer. Ei s
Baker, W. H.' Benford, Evangelist H.:
Scudday, Dr. an G. Shoemak-
: ind udge Posies, of the Soperion cout, has.
handed down a decision in which he says
that townships incurring indebtedness must
pay the same. Many townships in Luzerne
county have been bankrupt for years. Or-
ders on their treasuries hive sold as low as
ten cents on the dollar. Some money lend-
ers in Wilkesharre purchased a lot of money
orders at this low rate on Plains township,
Luzerne county. Suit was then brought
against the township to recover. The county
courts decided in favor of the creditors and
Judge Porter upholds the lower court. He
says the assessment will have to be raised
and the necessary amount of money to pay
off the indebtedness must be placed in the
hands of the treasurer.
' —Harvey Knauer died- Sunday afternoon
at 12:50 at his home in Altoona, of lockjaw,
which developed from a slight injury he re-
ceived to his right thumb a little more than
a week previous. On Saturday, Aug. 9th,
Mr. Knauer had ridden on his bicycle to the
Buckhorn and on the return trip was de-
scending a steep hill, when the wheel struck
a stone and fell over. The only injury he
sustained in falling was to his. thumb, which
was dislocated, together with a punctured
flesh wound. He came home and had the in-
jury attended by a physician and, though in-
capacitated from work was apparently get-
ting along all right when at an early hour
Saturday morning, a few hours less than a
week afterwards, lockjaw developed.
—R. L. Duvall, with thirty five engineers,
bas commenced a survey at :Locust Grove,
Fulton county, the only county in Pennsyl-
vania without a railroad. It is authorita-
tively stated that they are making a final
survey for the Wabash eastern outlet. The
party had seven four horse wagon loads of
supplies unloaded at Hancock station, on the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. which ‘will be
the base of operations. A force of Wabash
engineers made a preliminary inspection of a
route in Fulton county a few weeks ago, start
ing at Magnolia, W. Va., thirty miles east
of Cumberland, where the extension of the
West Virginia Central from Cumberland to
Cherry Run is projected to cross the Potomac.
This survey continued as far north as Ever-
ett, Bedford county, which is said to be on
the route of the Wabash, and parallels the
Pennsylvania from Pittsburg.
—Joe Martz, the 12 year old son of a West-
moreland county farmer, and a companion
went out ' groundhog hunting last week.
They had not been on their quest a great
while until they stirred up a woodchuck.
Being hard pressed the groundhog took re-
fuge in a hollow tree and the boys immediate-
ly began the work of ‘‘smoking him out.’”’
They were just about to light a big pile of
wood, says the Greensburg Press, when rain
began to fall. Lightning accompanied the
storm and the boys took refuge in a neighbor-
ing thicket. Suddenly there was a flash
more vivid than the rest and the tree in
which the groundhog bad taken refuge was
split from roots to topmost branches. The
rain over, the boys renewed their hunt.
The groundhog was found dead in the hol-
low tree. In their delight over the success-
ful end to the hunt the boys forgot that they
had been in great danger. The thicket in
which they had taken shelter was less than
100 feet from the tree struck by lightning.