ER ——— i — a i BY PP. GRAY MEEK. — Ink Slings. ——Another year is almost gone beyond recall. —Have you done it yet? Your Christ mas shopping ! ——fGood morning, readers. How do you like oar Christmas overcoat? —One consolation the fellow with money always has, is, if he can’s express himsell he can at least pay the freight. —The ARBUCKLES have disgorged to the government without even a struggle. They ‘evidently thought it cheaper to pay up and save costs in the sugar scandal. —Send the WATCHMAN to some [riend for a year. It would be as nice a Christ. mas gilt as yoa could make because it will be welcomed by the recipient every week. —Prohibitionists are walking now with higher heads and more extended chests than ever. Nine United States Senators failed to draw cork screws from the Senate supply room this year. —The Washington minister who thinks there is nothing lacking to afford the people complete joy on Christmas, possibly don’t work for $1.10 a day and pay 18 cents a pound for his bacon. —Having bought the hanks, and insur- ance companies J. PIERPOINT MORGAN ie starting in now to buy the telephones. Alster while we won't be able to talk with- ous settling with him. Ain's it awfal, MaA- BEL? —80 we contemplate a protectorate for Nicaragua. How nice, especially since Nicaragua would be able to take care of herself were it not for foreign soldiers of fortune keeping her in a constant tar- moil. —The Pablic Defense association wants fands. If yoa know of any association of a public character that don’t the WaTosH- MAK will be glad to make doe ackvowl- edgment in addition to farvishiog it a four color chromo as a memento of the fact. ~The authorities of New York are haut- ing for one Edstadio Papavasiloputo uoder arrest for the nnderestimation of a cargo of figs. A fellow whooould get away with that kind of a name hanging to him ought to be able to hide with a thunder storm in his pocket. —Love of country is a great thing. Keep count of the Senators and Members who go down to Panama to see that no one runs away with the canal and you'll know how many patriots we bave. Bat don’t forget that they all make the government foot their bills. —It is altogether probable that the wrinkled-bellied patriots who are always ““‘whoopin’ it up’ for tariff protection and the Rapublican parsy, will have reason to conclude that a public appropriation for them would fis their case fully as well as one for the ship subsidy seeker. —Bellefonte and State College will both be mecas of interests next week. The annual teachers’ institute will be beld in this place and that will mean the assem- blage in Bellefonte of almost three hun- dred teachers as well as instructors and visitors. At State College the meeting of the State Grange will attract almost one thousand visitors. —It is to be a game of give and take in Washington. The President ie sore be- oause Senator LA FOLLEITE, ol Wisconsin, has oritioised him in magazine articles and because the President is sore he hae refused to recognize any of LA FOLLETTE'S friends in federal appointments. ‘Big Brun” doesn’t seem to be very big when it comes to overlooking personal pique, does he ? —Next Saturday will be Christinas and the present we want from many of you ie one of those green Williams that will push your label up to the point where Uncle SAM won't be nosing around ahout i$, Now just let us see how many Christmas letters of this sort will be seut to the WATCHMAN office. We would like to have alot of them, so please don’t disappoint us. —Pennsylvania is reputed to have fallen into third place in the number of students sent to Princeton each year. Previous to this year she has invariably held second place. Gradually Peunaylvanians are be- giuniog to realize that their own great in- stitutions of learning are advancing with leaps and bounds while the older schools of the east are content with the reputations they made ball a century ago. ~While we have no sympathy with strikes or strikers we do believe that some step will have to be taken by labor, ere long, to bring about a fairer parity between its wage aod the cost of living. Itis out of the question for any honest man to re- main hooeat, support his family and bave anything more thao the scantest existence under present conditions. We do not pre- tend to place the blame but we do think that whether yon be a Republican, a Demo orat, a Probibitionist or a Socialist and are a laboring man as weil, it is time for you to look about and try to discover whas is wrong. We would tell yom, but right away youn would say: Ob, that is only your Democratic idea of it! You kuow there is vomething wrong when you can no longer make ends meet even io the moss prosperous times, 80 we wounld udvise youn to think bard on this matter and when the next Congressan is to he elected see that a man who will do something for you is ohosen. Congress is the only place you can ges relief, “VOL. 54 MeNichol In New York. Senator MCNICHOL, the contractor boss of Philadelphia, bas just pulled down a three and a half million dollar contract in New York. Senator McNICHOL, it ie sig- nificantly observed in the news statement of the event, ie a close personal friend of Tim SULLIVAN, one of the TAMMANY sachems. Both gentlemen belong to that school of politics which teaches that it isa matter of friendship rather than principles. It McNicHoL lived in New York he would be s Democrat and if SULLIVAK lived in Philadelphia he would bes Republican. But they are alike ‘“‘out for the staff,” and they get it. Probably they have ‘‘pooled their issues’’ and will divide the profits of manicipal work in both cities. On the other band there may he some- thing of greater importance than appears on the surface in this invasion of New York by contractor McNicHoL. MURPHY and the SULLIVANS, big and listle TiM, are notin politics for their health. As the last manio- ipal election is was demonstrated with a tolerable measure of clearness that the Democratic party of New York bas been rescued from the control of MURPHY and the SurLnivans. The eleotion of Judge GAYNOR to the office of Mayor was a more ot less emphatio notice to the political cor- raptionists of that city that no crooks need apply in the latare. Iu the face of such facts it wouldn't be io she least surprisiug to see MURPHY aod the BULLIVANS face about and join hands with RoosEvELT'S friend, HERBERT PARSONS, in the interest of spoils. If those enterprising gentlemen bappen to have such purposes in mind, Shey could hardly do better than form an alliance with ocootractor McNicHOL, of Philadel- phia. The smiling Senator has abundance of money of his own and vast resources in the way of accumulating that of others in political emergencies. It is said that he can reach the board of any Sunday school in Philadelphia by simply sayiog thas the tariff isin danger and shat votes mast be bought to save is. Sach an ally joived in selfish parposes with Mr. PARSONS and the MurpHYS and SULLIVANS would probably give the combine a secare grip oo the municipal work of both cities. It is worth while to keep an eye on all of them. The Usurpation of Power. Secretary NAGEL, of the Department of Commerce, is certainly an adherent of she RoosevELT echool of politics. “In fivan. cial and commercial conditions,’’ he de- clares in his annual report, ‘‘the bnsivess of the country has become nationalized. Ite legal regulation must also be nesional.”’ In other words the strong arm of the feder- al governments must be sufficiently etretoh- ed ont so as to reach the remote sections of the country aod [all with fall force upon every individual who aspires to participate in the business activities of the country. Other members of the present cabinet have expressed the same ideas in different forms and leave no doubt as to the trend of senti- ment in official Washington. Soon after the beginning of President RoOSEVELT'S elective term in the presi- denoy such ideas were sent out tentatively. EutAu Roor, at the time Secretary of State, in a epeech delivered in New York suggested thas if the state governments failed to exercise certain powers ‘‘sooner or later constructions of the constitution will he found to vest the power where is will be exercised —in the national government.” This declaration so shocked the public ag the time that both Mr. Roor and the Presi- dent subsequently modified, or apoligized for expressing it. There is no fear of it now, however. Both the Secretary of Com- merce and the Attorney General bave enunciated it within a month. The pretense that the States have failed to exercise their legitimate functions and that therefore the federal government is justified in usorping power, is a sabter- fuge. The States bave always been willing to exercise the authority vested in them and when some of them fulfilled their obli- gations in this respeot sell-seeking federal judges like PRITCHARD, of North Carolina, hastened to win the favor of ROOSEVELT by enjoining them from executing the lawa passed by the Legislatures. The constitution of the United States gives ample power to the national govern- ment and the usurpation of power not granted in that instrument is treasonable aud should be punished with all the sever- ity possible. we The day is ended —its work is done; it befits thee, O my soul, before thou givest thyeell to repose, to ask if that work has been well done. Consider if thy duties bave been faithfully performed. Host thou exercised a geatle, obliging dispo<ition to- ward those with whom thou bass been ae- sociated ? Hast shou been careful to keep in subjection all vain thoughts and evil pas<ious ? Has pride had no dominion over thee, and have not vanity and ambition caused thee to err ? Hast thou spoken no ill of thy veighbor ? Hast thou espoased the cause of the injasil, and has troth dwelt on thy lips? Has love to thy Heaven ly Parent influenced thee in all thy doings, and made itself visible in all thy actions ? New Form of Prosperity. The country is indebted to one of the officials in Washington, who enjoys an adequate income, for a new phrase. He tells us shat ‘‘prosperity is coming in bonches.”’ That is a more or less ambign- ous expression and might mean anything or nothing. Bat it was intended to ocou- vey the idea that prosperity is abundant aod that the rewards of labor and indastry are generous. The railroads are anusaally busy, this self-satisfied optimist adds, und the mails and express offices are deluged with Christmas wifts and other traffic. This fact might indicate that the Post-office Department and the express companies are prosperous but is no evidence of the pros- perisy whioh brings contentment to the people. The mails may be crowded at this time and they need to be to make up the defi- ocienoy of nearly $20,000 000, the largest io the history of the country. The ex: press companies are certainly prosperous "STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION. BELLEFONTE, PA., DECEMBER 1 7, 1909. Postal Savings Banks. Information comes from Washington to the eff<ct thas Senator ALDRICH bas finally inolined toward public sentiment sufficient ly to consent to necessary legislation for the establishment of postal savings banks. The platform adopted by the last Republi- oan National convention committed tbe party to that form of financial folly and President TAFT asks for the legislation in his annual message. At first ALDRICH, who is hoss of the Cougressional machine, was vehemently against the projest and there was some reason to hope that he would prevent it. But be has been in- duced to alter his mind on the subject and the chances are that postal savings banks will be provided for during the present session, We can imagine no more mischievous form of centralization than this. With the President and Congress usurping ao- thority to regulate industrial activities and farther fastening their ocootrol of the for they have been declaring dividends of financial operations of the country through NO. 50. Cutting of Melons. From the Philadelphia Record. In spite of the financial oatastrophe of 1907, and she consequent slowing down of busiuess in 1908, there bas been a wounder- fal cutting of melons amoug the transpor- tation companies in the year just drawing to a close, Notwithstanding the tremendous outlay of the Pennsylvania Railroad company for permanent improvements—involving the payment of a lnmp sam of $50,000,000 out of surplus earnings and profits toward cost of coustruction of its New York terminals ~—it is now offering what is equivalents to an extra 8 per cent dividend tosharebolders subscribing for new stock. The New York Central isoutting the same kind of a melon for its stockholders. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western. with earnings for 1908 of 40 per cent on its capital stock, 20 per cents nividends and total sarplas 32 per cent greater than its capital stock, consributes a very jaioy melon. The Soathern Pacific and Union Pacifio bave managed to turn lean yems for the business of the country into exceedingly fat years for the owners of sheir preferred and common stook. some hundreds per cent. But the express messengers and deliverymen are not pros- peroas for though the cost of their living has been increased at least fifty per cent. the amount of their wages bas not heen in- | founders of the Republic unanimously | dend creased at all. Workingmen in other ave- the medium of postal banks we can see little hope for the long continoance of that equilibrium between the authority of the state and federal governments whioh the agreed is essential to the preservation of naes of indusiry are not prosperous, either, | our form of government. There is especial and as & matter of fact most of them have the greatest difficulty in making ends meet. If we bave *‘prosperity in bunches,” the distribution of the bunches is not equal. The giving of tokens of affection and testimonials of [friendship at Christmas time is increasing in popular favor, justly aud properly. Men, women aud chiidiea in all walks of life strive as they never did before to exchange gifts with their friends during the Yuletide season. This fact materially enhances the volume of business of the Post-offiee Department and the ex- press offices, but it is not a certain sign of prosperity. On the contrary is proves nothing in that direction. The measure of prosperity is the ability of the body of the peopie to provide themselves with all the necessaries and some of the luxuries of life and that condition is far from present at this time. ——fubsoribe for the WATCHMAN. dauger in this project for in the event ofa currency famine the postal banks would afford a seourity absent from others and would naturally drain other banks, how- ever substantial ard deserving, of deposits. What popular demand bas infloenced Senator ALDRICH to change bis mind on | his subject can bardly be conjectured. We have seen no evidence of it in this seo tion or in this State. It was one of the absurd ROOSEVELT policies and none of them were based on reason. The Repub- lican National convention approved the soheme because the leaders of that party imagined that it would be popular with the people. Bat as a matter of fact this expectation was disappointed and before the campaign was ball over the subject was quietly dropped out of the reckoning altogether. Probably Mr. MORGAN imag- ines that with a friendly Postmaster Gener- al postal banks could he annexed to bis bunch of assets. ee ——————— spawils from the Keystone. —In the Clearfield schools there are en. rolled 735 boys and 699 girls, a total of 1.434. —Within the next week almost $1,006,000 will be drawn from banks and trust comps. nies having state money deposited in them to meet the appropriations which fall due near the beginning of the year. —Erb & Moyer, who bad been operating & saw mill on the Boring tract of timber near Mill Creek for some months, have moved their mill to M. F. Robley's land, near Ma- pleton. There are 200.000 feet of timber om the Robley trset. —C. G. Trimmer, of York, was held up and robbed of about $145 in broad daylight. He bad been accustomed to take the money every Saturday from a bank to his factory and when he was in the alley where the fae- tory is located three men pounced on him and took the money. —Mayor Aikens, of Lewistown, will ask for damages for an alleged assault made om him recently by Reed Hayes, as the result of a quarrel as to whom should go fees to the amount of $1 50. Hayes not long ago inher- ited a fortune from his uncle, Andrew Reed but still looks after small matters in law. —All the ears that are needed are now be- ing supplied to the Glenwood company at Glen Campbell, Indiana county, by the Pennsylvania Railroad compuny. The com- pany bad plenty of orders and men bot was kept from doing as much shipping of coal as it could on account of the shortage of cars. It is now operating in full in all its depart. ments. —Frank Erdman, aged seventeen years, of Sunbury, was run down by a Reading pas- senger train on the bridge over Shamokin creek Saturday and killed. Erdman saw the train approaching and started running to clear the structure. He had only a few more steps to reach solid ground when he was struck by the locomotive and his body hurled into the creek. —Electricity is now used to haul at the | | mine of the Valley Stone & Coal company in ‘| Stoney Creek township, near Johnstown. The new system has done away with some of "| the drivers, etc., but more men are now em- The Jeisey Central is paying an extra 2 per cent dividend in addition to its regular 8 per cent —a Christmas offering. The Adam« Express company bas added $4 per share to its regular 8 per cent divi- The Wells Fargn Express company bas incteaved ite capital stock from $8,000,000 to $24,000,000, giving its stockholders what is equivalent to an extra dividend of $300 per share, paid ous of surplus. In the face of these proofs of corporate prosperity it is hard to understand the alleged necessity for a general advance in freight rates. What Chester Felt. From the Emporium Gazeite, Former Senator Chester I. Long, says he has felt the political pulse of Kanvas ; which is no snch thing, unless her pulse is in her big tra. What he felt—that bot, throbbing thing, that Senator Loong fels, not the pulse of Kansas, but a swift kick. He should revi-e his =satement. New Postulate in Laelid. From the New York Evening Post. The committer of professors that bas ses ous to reform Euclid’s geometry might be- win by incloding the postulate that a straight line between two terms in the White House leads through East Africa. : ——You missa good thing if you don’t take the WATCHMAN. ployed on tonnage work, so that the labor saving improvement increased the pay roll rather than diminished it. There are about 300 men employed in the mine. — Edward C. Cunliffe, who four years ago stole $101,000 from the Adams Express come pany at Pittsburg has finished his term in the western penitentiary and started life anew. Two years bad been taken from his term for good behavior. He is thought to have some of the money he took in hiding, but when asked about it said that he and the express company had adjusted their affairs. —Patton’s board of health at a recent meeting was forced to close the schools until January 1st and to forbid any child under 16 years of age to attend church or Sunday school, or any place of amusement. This step was rendered necessary by the many caces of contagious disease in the town and was arrived at after mature deliberation and under the advice of almost every doctor im the town. ~The State Department of Health has now 114 tuberculosis dispensaries in Pennsylva. nis, two new ones having been opened at Nanticoke in Luzerne county, and sat Brownsville, in Fayette county. At the present time over 11,000 tuberculosis patient® are being treated at these dispensaries and trained nurses are visiting the homes of these patients teaching them how to care for themselves and instructing the other mem- bers of the household how to guard agains® nfection. : —In the Apoilo- Vandergrift- Westmore land county, district, the hello girls are out on strike. One young lady had been having a young man call to see her while she was at the office and the management became aware of the fact and suspended her for violation of the 1ules. Then the other girls went on a sympathetic strike. The manager filled their places aud will not give up bis side of the fight and the girls, having other alleged grievances, will take their side of the ques- tion to court. —John Miller, superintendent of the Mel” lon National bank building in Pittsburg committed suicide on the main line express ata point near Downingtown shortly after 1 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Miller had been in Atlantic City in the hope of regaining lost health and was on his way howe. It is be- lieved that he became despondent on the train because of the fact that he had little improved, and, taking a razor irom his suit case, slashed himself across the throat. He ! died before any assistance could be given. He was about 50 years of age. —Several years ago, while Miss Nell Bowers, of Blandsburg, was a student at Birmingham seminary, she made the ac qusintance of John Seeds, a lumber mer chant. She graduated and the pair drifted apart. On Friday they met accidentally on a street in Altoona and they determined to be married immediately. A marrisge li- cense was procured and Miss Bowers be- came Mrs. Seeds, the Rev. William 8. Mil ler performing the ceremony. Seeds was on his way west to look over some timber lands, and his wile accompanied ins —Returning io his bome near Bloomsburg late Saturday night with his wagon laden with Christmas presents he had purchased for his family, Charles Freeze, when he reached home, attempted to pick up the packages while he had his loaded shotgun in his one arm. Several of the packages dropped from his grasp, the gun was acei~ dentally discharged and the top of his head blown off. The team took fright at the gun's discharge and ran away. The hones were found by the victim's father a considerable distance from the scene. Freeze was lying dead in the wagon. ~The officers of the Young Men's Demo. eratic club, of Willismsport, are arranging for the annual Jackson day bauquet which will be held in that city on the evening of January 10th: The anniversary is January Sth, but as that day falls on Saturday, the club decided to hold the meeting on the Monday evening following. These dinners are always well attended, prominent Demo- crats coming from within a radius of 100 miles of Williamsport. The list of speak- ers for the occasion is not complete, but among them will be C. LaRue Munson Esq., and Hon. William B. Wilson. Gh
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers