ERS spre 8Y BP. GRAY M Ink Slings. '—And it is beginning to look as il even Copenhagen bas lost faith io Dr. Cook. —Texas bad zero weather last week. It was something awfal for Texas, but the cold killed the boll wevil and there was some good come out of it, alter all. —Bellefonte wasn’t naturally cold toward the public school teachers of the county. It was the inferior steam heating apparatus in the opera house that gave them the frost. ——No matter what the Speaker's for. bears called themselves in Ireland or else- where, Mr. CANNON justifies bis claim to the name he has assumed by shooting off his mouth frequently and recklessly. —Poor Dr. Cook. If he hung his stock- ing oo that Danish chimney with the hope of finding the North Pole in it on Christ. mas morning, his disappointment will be as great as that of all the other bad listle boys. ——1It looks as it Tarr is aligoing him. self with Mr. WATTERSON in the matter of that prospective dinner. Probably he imagines that it wonld please ROOSEVELT to make she New York World pay the cheok. —The Easton man who discovered thirty shousand dollars in gold in an old, unused sale in his barn bas reason to have a very merry Christmas. It ie supposed that his grandfather placed the money there many years ago. ——Daring the interval between Christ- mas and New Years the woman whose bus- band earns a dollar and a-ball a day may find leisure to fignre out how the bounding prosperity, of which the newspapers speak, affects her. —New York State institutions are to substitute goose for turkey as the privei- pal dish on the dinner table tomorrow. The price of turkey has gone so high that it is out of the guestion for the larger char- ity and penal institutions. —Under an order to go into effect on the first of the year the National Goard of Pennsylvania is to be reorganized. Part of the plan is the abolishment of the Gov- ernor's stafl. What a galaxy of peach Colonels are thus to be chased out from ander their covering of gilt lace and brass buttons. —Congress has been importaned to make inguiry into the high cost of living, but how is that going to help. II Congress were to reduce the tariff on a great many articles shat do not need protection at all there would be a complete readjustment of economic conditions that would make inquiries as to the high cost of living un- Necessary. —Why all this fuss about Dr. JONNESCO and bis wonderfal operations with the use of stovaine and strychnine? The city papers are fall of a Chicago man whose ten toes were taken off painlessly while he sat and laughed at the surgeon who was operating. That's nothing! We have heard of fellows who have sat at a poker table and losta far more important part of their anatomy than toes and laughed all the while. —Certainly the Republican party of Pennsylvania bad no more orthodox nor spectacular member than the venerable THOMAS V. COOPER whose tragic death at bis home at Media, early Sunday morning, was the the sensation of thas day’s news. He was probably the oldest of the active Republican politicians of the State aod his genial nasare, hopeful disposition and love for companionship made him most popular among his fellows. —Reports are to the effect that the Hon. Lew. EMERY, of Bradford, is to enter the fight for she congressional nomination in this district. Now all that is needed is av aspirant from Centre to make a candi- date from each county in the district. I seems like this would be a chance for our “‘|eading Republican and champion peach farmer" to throw a harpoon at tbe Hoo. EMERY for treating him as he did at the national convention. ~The borough of West Chester has hit on the novel plan of encouraging village improvement with cash prizes. The block in that borough that shows the most im- provement during the coming year is to receive a cash prize of one hundred dollars. There are second, third and fourth prizes, as well. The idea isa splendid one and could be adapted to Bellelonte's needs very picely. Sooh a prize might prove quitea stimulus to beautifying streets, front and back yarde and keeping pavements in gnod repair and Bellefoute could profit by im- provements in any of these lines. Here is a good thought for the New Year and we put it up to the burgess and council. —Oa Friday Judge ORMEROD, of Potter county, made a statement from the bench that will be of interest to the Grangers and supervisors of Centre county. In charging the jury in an aatomobile case he eaid: “The auto is as much a vehiole of the trav- eling public and has as much right to have the highway in a sale condition for its operation as< a farmer with horse aod wag- on and damages which might be collected from a township by reason of these thank ye mams wonld far exceed the cost of! hidden culverts.” The automobile is here to stay and the sooner we all adjoss ourselves to the new coudirions and re- quirements its coming imposes the happier we will be and the less liatle to expensive damage saits. President Taft Ignorant or Worse. The President of the United States grave- 1y informs the pablic, in his annual mes. sage to Congress, ‘‘that proportionate in. crease in the output of gold, which today is the chief medium of exchange and in some respects a measare of value, fornishes a substantial explanation of at least part of the increase of prices,” of which he admits the people justly complain. Bat he only attains the sablimity of a real Dogberry when he adds : *“The increase in popula tion and the more expensive mode of living of the people, which have not been accom- panied by a proportionate inorease in acre- age production, may furnish a further rea- son.”’ If the President doesn’t know more about the subject than that statement im- plies he could hardly acquire a certificate to teach echool in a country district in Centre county, at least. But the President knows better. His statement is a palpable and deliberate sub- terfuge uttered for the purpose of deceiving the pablic. He knows that the high prices are the logical and inevitable consequence of the vicious economic system which his party maintains in order to recompense the “Captaive of Industry’ for contributions to a fund used to debauch the ballot. He knows that the trusts and corporate mo- nopolies regulate the prices of all things in this country and that they fix them ata high rate so as to the more surely and swiftly impoverish the people in order that they shall be less able to resist the usarpa- tione of power and wealth. Ignorance may be excused for no man is responsible for his own mental equipment. Bat there is no exonse for #0 low an estimate of the intel- ligence of the people as the President's statement conveys. In 1900 the population of the United States, includiog every element, was 76,- 383,337 and the aggregate value of the pro- duots of the soil, including all farm pro: daots, for that prosperous year was about $5,000,000,000, a per capita production of nearly $66. This year the estimated popu. lation of the country is about 85,000,000 and the farm products, according to the statistics of the Department of Agriculture, aggregate about $8,700,000,000, a per oapita average of nearly $103. This shows that the President, knowingly or ignorant. ly, misrepresented she facts, and he could have had no other purpose in so doing than to deceive the people. The people are not fools and while they know that bread made from American grain is cheaper in Europe than at ome they will reason out the truth notwithstanding President TAFT's iguo- rance or worse. An fupending Bautle Royal. The President bas consented, according to Washington dispatches, to a coogres- sional investigation of the charges against Mr. BALLINGER, Seoretary of she Interior. These charges are of a very grave charac- ter. It is alleged tbat Mr. BALLINGER was, at the time of his appointment to his present position, counsel for certain cor- porations engaged in the nefarions practice of despoiling the government of the public lands. The accusations were framed and promulgated by a high officer in the gov- ernment, Mr. PINCHOT, Forester, and sup- ported by a former agent of the land office who is alleged to have been dismissed be- cause he interfered with the oriminal operations, The rea! question in issue is ROOSEVELT, not his policies bus his personality. When the quarrel began President TAFT tried the difficnls task of ‘‘running with the hounds.” That is to say, he undertook to play a neutral role and by professing confidence in BALLINGER, continue on friendly relations with PiNcmor. Mr. P1xcHoz, whose title to distinction is that he is one of RooSEVELT'S ‘‘yellow-baired boys,” appears to have been satisfied with that, but the dismissed agent of the land department wouldn't keep quiet. The result is that BALLINGER has finally pre- sented the alternative of an investigation or retirement, and TAFT is obliged to con- sent. The outcome must of necessity bea break between ROOSEVELT'S [riends and the President and after that the deluge. The truth of the matter is that a grave scandal is likely to be exposed as the result of this investigation. According to the evidence thus far presented, BALLINGER has heen for years, first as bead of the land office and subsequently as counsel for the land-grabbing corporations, robbing the government on a wholesale scale. Be- canee of this rather than for any fitness for the office he was appointed Secretary of the Interior, President TAFT being fully in- formed of his practices in advance. If these charges are proved, and of that there seems to be no doubt, TAFT will be ae deep in the mad as BALLINGER is in the mire. Meantime how does it come that the President must consent to a congres- sional investigation? eee ——1It is & «ale bes that Jadge LURTON'S friendliness for corporavions did more so- ward recommending him to the favor of TAFT than his predilection toward Demoo- racy. Trouble Ahead for Penrose, Senator PENROSE has had comparatively smooth sailing since bis acoession to the | house acoused of cheating the seat of QUAY in the councils of the Repub- lican machine of Peansylvavia. Soon after the death of the old man the insurrection of 1905, followed by the exposures of graft in the construction and furnishing of the state capitol, constrained all the leaders and followers of the party to assume a pre- tence of virtue. Colonel WATRES had been promised the nomination for Governor in 1906 bus promptly discerned the absurdity of pressing his claims. Another wachine servitor had heen slated for the nomination for State Treasurer in 1907, but he adopted the same wise polioy of seif-abnegation and the sarlace of the political sea ran smoothly. Bat in the near fatare the Senator is likely to encounter a vastly different polit- joal atmospbere. Since the election of S18s0N and STOBER the most servile of the machine slaves feel that is is safe to run for any office in this State and they are begin- ning to assert their claims with consid. erable vehemence. Senator PENROSE'S private secretary, Colonel WESLEY AN- DREWS, feels that he is entitled to his re- ward and Representative Jou~ K. TENER, of Washington county, bas aspirations for the gubernatorial nomination. When QUAY'S “financier,” BILLY MONTGOMERY, was caught in the toils of crime, Mr. TENER bailed him for trial and thereby probably prevented him from exposing all his asso- ciates in the crooked transactions. He feels that there onght to be some reward for shat. Then WATRES is again in the field. When, in 1903, the ELKIN insarrectors bad QUAY “‘Jisked out of his boots,”” WATRES averted that result by withdrawing from the fight at the psychological moment and throwing his strength to PENNYPACKER. That gave “Conrin SAM" a majority of the conven sion and saved QUAY from a defeat that would have been as humiliating as it would have been endaring. Is there to be no ree- ompense for this great service to the ma- chine ? Is the laborer no longer **worthy of his hire?” Within a few weeks Senator PENROSE will be compelled to answer these questions one way or the other. The worst of the lot is not alrzid now. Nobody basa more discreditable record than STOBER and Si1ssoN and oat of the expeotavoy there is liable to be vast confusion. Mr. Morgan and Organized Labor. Ahout ten years ago Mr. J. PIERPONT MORGAN announced his purpose to ‘‘break up’ the labor organizations of this country. He predicted at the time that five years would elapse before the result could be achieved. The occasion of his declaration was a strike of the employees of the Steel trues. The first movements in his cam- paign of destruction was the closing up of the mills in which the strikers were em- ployed. Men, women and children must have clothing, shelter and food, whether the pay envelope comes regularly or not. Mr. MoRGAN made it impossible for a consider- able number of them to procare those es- sentials of life, except upon compliance with conditions prescribed by himself. Bat this was not the only or even the most effective weapon available to Mr. MORGAN'S use in his orusade against or- ganized labor. The combination of capital through the medium of trusts and corpor- ate monopolies was his “right arm’ in the struggle for mastery. Because of this fact be contributed liberally of his own and other people’s money to the Republican campaign funds and exerted all his infla- ence, moral and material, for the snccess of the Republican party. The ‘“‘mother of trusts,” the tariff, was as assential to the success of his enterprise as the necessities of the workingmen were potential. Through the Republican party he obtained both to the fall measure. Recently Mr. MORGAN has expressed the belief that his puzpose has been achieved. There is no certainty of that at present. The struggle ie still on but the near fatare will develop the resals. Meantime work- ingmen are largely to blame if MORGAN succeeds. They have helped him very materially in his effort by supporting the party candidates and policies which were committed to his schemes. During the last presidential campaign they were ad- vised by Mr. SAMUEL GOMPERS and others of their danger bust many of them disre- garded the warning. When the result of the movement inaugurated by organized labor in Pittsburg last week becomes known the pablic will find out whether MORGAN is victor. ——Ol course tarkeys are high this year and probably some families which bave been in the habit of feasting on Christmas turkey may be obliged to be content with chicken to morrow, bus there is compen- sation in the koowledge that the trust magnates bave abundance of money to pros vide tarkey for their tables at any price. Republican prosperity seems to be partial to that class of citizens. —————————————————— ——Subsoribe for the WATCHMAN. STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION. _VOL.54 BELLEFONTE, PA., DECEMBER 24, 190. Practically a Mistrial, The weighers in the New York custom government for the benefit of the Sugar trust have been convicted. Within a few days, and prob- ably before the opening of the new year, hey will be sentenced to serve in one of the penitentiaries available for oriminals convicted in she federal courts. Among the culprits arraigned and tried with the others was an official of Ligher salary and greater importance thao the others. He is supposed to have been the go-between in the affair. That ie to say it is the impres- gion that be arranged with the officers of the Sagar trast to have the frauds perpe- trated aud probably got the largest share of the money. He was acquitted. ' Daring the trial the capable and earnest prosecuting officer declared that the coo: viction of this go-between was of the high- est importance. [In the event of his con- viction, Mr. STIMSON alleged, is is prob- able the entire conspiracy will be revealed. Possibly thas is precisely the reason he wasn't convicted. The officials of the Sugar trast might be implicated and the Washington authorities never intended that such a thing should happen. In fact it may be said that it was for that reason that no prosecutions were inaugurated dur- ing the Roosevert administration. The Sagar trust was among the most liberal contributors to the ROOSEVELT campaign fand io 1904 aud it wounlda’t do to punish its members, In view of the failare to conviot the go- between, therefore, it may be said that the trial of the New York custom house [rand eases has been a failare. It bronght misery instead of joy to a few poor families during the gladsome holiday period and will bring to punishment a few small-fry crooks. Bat it will not io the slightest measure work restisution lor the lost revenues or retard the grafting operations of those higher up in the trusts and the government service. The present administration, like its im- mediate predecessor, is conducted for those who created it and no prosecutions will be permitted that involve in danger of orim- inal toils those who contributed liberally tothe corraption fond. ~Belgiom bas banished ber dead King's favorite and welcomes his daoghter. Such a scandal as has been Belginm’s for years bas seldom been koown in the royalty of any country. . Philander C. Kwox. Seoretary of State KNOX has semi-official- ly notified Mexico thas this listle Nica- raguan tempest is a matter of no concern to that sister Republic and that the govern- ment of the United States wants neither advice nor assistance from that source. No doubt be is in the same frame of mind with respect to all South and Central American Republics. Bat it is not certain that less interested people of other coun- tries will take that view of the subject. The most binding and frequently the most vicious laws are those oreated by precedent and this little Nicaraguan tempest is oreating precedents with great freedom and expedition. They are coming so fast as to oreate confusion. The authorities in Mexico probably rea- son that if the action of our government in this Nicaraguan affair is allowed to pro- ceed withont protest, a similar policy may be put in operation against Mexico at some fatare time. Then there are hall a dozen other Republics on this hemisphere which have reason to apprehend the future if such things are to be tamely submitted to, and finally there is Canada, in which our rotund cousin, JOHNNY BULL, has sowe lingering interest, to be considered. Of course it would be different with Canada, for even natioual bullies have great re- speos for big navies and Great Britain con- tinnes to be premier in that line. But morally speaking they are all alike. As a matter of fact Mexico has a right to demand a bill of particulars in respect to this Nicaragua foclishness and every oiv- il:zed country in the world has an interest, inferential if not direct, in the matter. For that reason Seoretary of State KNoX is doing himself no credit but is doing the people of she United States infinite harm in assaming the bectoring attitude expressed in bis recens message to Mexico. Is proves, il there were any doubts on the subject previously, that PHILANDER C. KNox 13a wisfis in the office, in which, hitherto, with rare exceptions very capable and conserva- tive statesmanship prevailed. Mr. Kxox would better put a reel in his diplomatic sails. Misfit ———————————. —=Some of the oaricatures of Santa Claus are sufficiently atrocious to drive bim to the tall timber and the most credal- ous children to drink. ———— ——The Graugers want a Granger for Governor and the chances are that PEN- ROSE will offer them a corporation “larm- en. —————————————— ——Yon miss a good thing il you don’t take the WATCHMAN, X : i 2 i i From the Pittsburg Post. When Lewis Carroll wrote bis Jabber- wock jingles about “'brillig"”’ weather and “‘slithy toves’’ that ‘‘did gyre in the wabe,’’ be neglected tion a strange creature that might a* a ‘‘wabblous President.” Is is just pos- sible, of course, that this animal is an out- growth, that it could not even have been imagined in Jabberwock days. But that a “‘wabhlous President” does exist today is evident. Nay, it is quite obvions, \ His babitas is in Washington and be may | be sraced to bis air, if one care so nunder- take the dangerous task, in a lmge white mansion. Nor yes should the task be re- garded as perilous, There is nothing reall earsome about a ‘‘wabblous President.” Quite the contrary, in fact. Is would be quite safe for the smallest child to ap- proach, bask in the suushive of his broad features, and even go near euocugh to pat him gently. The habits of the ‘‘wahblons President’ are sirange enough, He will laonuch ont in one direction, but before be has advane- ¢d more than a few feet on his way, almost without being aware of the fact, apparent- ly, bis course has been changed; avd he bardly knows where he is going. All about him are bright-hued birds known as Politicianaties. They sing ever so sweetly. That is whats bothers the ‘“‘wabblons President.” He liste to the song of one of them and is lured by it. Then the song of another rounds the more sweetly in his ears and off he goes to listen to it. Sometimes he tries nos to hear the songs of any of the Politicianaries avd seta out for illets town. But always the songs are $00 tricklons and he turns hack to barken again to the Politicianaries. And ever and anon the “‘wabblous President” sings a little song of his own. And this is its refrain : “Where am I at? Ob, where am I at?” the light, beat and. power interests out a kuife sud cut the 8 her foot just in tit She went through th —Melvin Bailey, skirts of DuBois, saw thing that looked like it from the animal's 1 a roll of bills. By straw be found $500 when capitalized at $1,000,000. The con manufacture rotary engines ented by A. E. Suiter, and will. Ope; {ions in a few days in temporary Jquarte - The industry was secured through: the en~ terprise of a few of the hustling business men. *RUTLD —@Governor Stuart is expectedfto n successor to Insurance Commissioner Martin within the present week. Mr. Ma tin has been elected register of wills in PI ils adelphis and will take the office on the first Monday in January. His term as insurane commissioner expired on the third of May but be is holding the position until his sue= cessor is named. . : Frem the Lavcaster Intelligencer. The ship subsidy scheme, hard bit by the note of rigid ecouomy in she President’s message and department reports, notwith. standing the guarded recommendation for mail sabvensions for lines to South Ameri- oa end the Philippines, shows signs of re vival in the adoption of a resolution by the New York Chamber of Commerce favor- ing the enactment of a subsidy measure similar to the one whioh was defeated in she House of Representatives in 1808. A significant tail was added to the resolution, however, recommending also such further legislation as may promote the interest of American sbippi incladi admis- sion of ships: registry to be owned and operated under our flag on a basis to compete with the sipping of foreign countries. ith the urgency of economy staring them in the face onr lawmakers are hardly likely, in the immediate future, to approve any very extravagaut measure for the sab- sidizing of ocean steamship lines; but, ou the other hand, the insistent and well war: ranted demand for some measure of en- couragement for an American merchant marine in foreign trade may incline them to give heed to the tail of thas Chamber of Commerce resolation. A further recommendation which the chamber failed to endorse, but which may also command approval, was that of Lewis Nixon in favor of the restoration of the old disorimivating duties in favor of merchan- dise carried in ships of American registry manned by American crews. That would seem to be one of the most simple and sen- sible plans of the revival of the foreign merchant trade which made our flag known all over the world through many adminis. trations. _, ==1Robbers Who eniered Sut. Curry, the general merchant o x Clearfield county, secured goods, to the amount of $300. Fifteen overcoats and twenty suits were taken. There is no clue to the riflers but the fact that there have been many tramps loafing in that vicinity, makes peopie believe that persons of that class are the guilty parties. —One hundred and forty-four thousand dollars have been paid into the treasury at Harrisburg within the last few days as col=- Intersl inheritance tax on the estate of the late C.L. Magee, of Pittsburg, and as the sum thus paid is deducted from {funds that otherwise would go for establishing a me- morial hospital, an attempt will be made te have the money paid back by an act of legis i lature. i on —Indiana Normal scnoot nas a siege of ton. silitis. Last Thursday there were fifty-sev- en cases, most of them slight, caredjifor by one doctor. The number was on [the de- crease, however, at the time of ithe latest re= ports. Some of the students are going home. The infirmary has a dozen patients in it. of the sick forty are boys and they are kept to their rooma. Seven teachers are ill] aud the school has been closed. —There are well defined rumors that the Pennsylvania Railroad company “has acquir- ed by purchase the Hollidagsburg irom | plants of both the Hollidaysburg Iron and Nail company and the Eleanor iron works. The confirmation of the correctness of these rumors is expected Pabout the first of the year, when these iron works will be razed to the ground, to make way for the fast freight line of the company through thejtown. —Eli Wallace, a retired blacksmith living in the eastern end of Lebanon county, is the kind of « Santa Claus that amounts to gome~ thing. He makes a tour of the vicinity where he lives every six weeks, providing for the sick and helpless, giving shoes to children who otherwise would be kept out of school for lack of them and sometimes burying the dead. One old woman who died recently at the age of 86, gathered her existence for nearly twenty years from this man, —Solid geometry will be required of all students who desire to enter Penn State next September. At present this is not necessary to obtain admission to the schools of of agrie culture or natural science. Fourlnew course : es of instruction will bo offered in the next i catalogue issued. In the agricaltural echool te there will be offered a course in landscape gardening, in the school of engineering a course of architecture, in the school of liber. al arts a pre legal course and in the school of patural science a presmedical course. ; & 4 —An announcement was made on{Monday by the trustees of the Uuiveislsy of Penne sylvania that Henry Phipps, of New York, founder of the Phipps institute, in Philadel~ phia, had presented to the university $500, 000 to be used in the campaign against tu= berculosis. The management of the Phipps justitate will fall upon the university trus- tees, and the study, treatment and, preven tion of the dreaded disease will be continued in a new hospital to be erected at Seventh and Lombard streets, Philadelphia. The plans for the hospital are now being drawn by a New York architect. Effect of the Higher Heostery Daties. From the Chieago Tribune. The Awerican consal at Chemnitz de- soribes she metood of gesting around the higher duties on cotton hosiery imposed hy she Aldrich tariff. The great bulk of the trade bas been in stockings retailing bere at 25 cents a pair. The problem was to maintain that price in spite of the advance in dusty. The im bave slightly lessened their margin for profits. The manufacturers have done the same, and ate also turning out styles of hose which are slightly inferior in durability and work. manship to those bitherto supplied to the American 25 cent trade. The American importers, says the consul, will continue to buy freely in the Chemnitz markes until the home manufacturers shall be able to offer better goods at the current prices. This muss be a oruel disappointment to those manufacturers. They bad taken it for granted that they wonld have the American consumer at their meroy through the tariff leginlation which Congress gave them in the face of universal protests. It appears that they are not yes rid of Ger- mau competition. But while their hopes have nos realized, te American con- samer is faring a little worse than under old conditions. He can still get a pair of stookings for 25 oents, bus he will notioe presently that they do nos lass as long as they used to. In reality be will have to pay a little more for hie footwear, and no- body is benefited thereby. , This is the way in which one of the pro. visions of what its framers call the best tariff that ever was enacted works out. I ——————————————— ——The cold snap of she past ten days or two weeks has not only tested the capac- ity of the steam heating plant in this place bas the patience of the heat users as well. The various leaks around town results in the waste of #0 much steam that by the time is reaches a big majority of users the pressure is so reduced that it is almost an impossibility to keep a building warm enough to stay in; and in some instances it is impossible to do so, as was the case with the opera house when, after freezing all day on Monday and a short while on Tuesday morning, the teachers institute was taken from shere to Petriken hall for its day sessions. |
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers