Democratic watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940, July 19, 1912, Image 1

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—Are you on the WiLsON wagon yet? |
The seat’s there for you. i
—The cold wave that was predicted
got thawed out before it arrived.
——Imagine the language which would
have been used if ROOSEVELT had had
that little episode with Colonel WATTER-
SON.
—The most convincing proof of the, =~ TTT
Mr. Guthrie Elected Chairman.
theory that “a sucker is born every min-
ute” is seen in the fact that most of the
fellows who work on it have the dough.
—An aviator was gored to death in the
French Soudan the other day, by a bull
buffalo. It was an unfortunate ending
merely precipitated a little by the buffalo,
—Your Uncle SAMUEL'S boys did things
at the Olympic games. Having the stuff
in them and MIKE MURPHY to tell them
how to get it out they left Stockholm
world beaters.
—Stranger things than Pennsylvania's
giving her electoral vote to a Democrat
have happened in politics, but not often.
It is going to happen in November, be-
cause the Keystone State wants Woob-
ROW WILSON.
—It has been announced that it will
cost about $100,000,000 to finance WILSON'S
campaign for President. Progressives
are particularly urged to remember that
money, not talk, counts when it comes to
raising this sum.
——The "Bull" Moose National con-
vention ought to have been called for an
earlier date than August 5th. Present
indications are that by that time there
will be nothing left of the party except
the shadow of teeth and antlers.
—A New York beauty doctor advises
women who would remain beautiful to
talk to themselves. Why, she does not
state. But everyone knows that most
women would prefer growing ugly asa
mud fence to talking to themselves alone.
——Of course Mr. LORIMER, of Chica-
go, may become a candidate for election
to the United States Senate when the
Legislature of Illinois reassembles. But
he will find that the methods of conduct-
ing campaigns for that office have
changed.
—Lightning is beginning to play its
usual mid-summer havoc with Centre
county barns and the farmer who sees
often as he does his shirt. We have no
positive information on this subject but
it is safe to say that if he changes his
shirt as frequently as he alters his views
his laundry bill must be enormous.
—Mr. BELMONT gave $250,000 to the
PARKER presidential campaign in 1904
without hope of getting anything back.
It looks as though a man who would put
up a wad like that to help elect another
man President might be far more of a
Democrat than many of his calumniat-
ors.
—Senator LAFOLLETTE has recently
given us some information concerning
ROOSEVELT and his campaign for the Re-
publican nomination which ought to have
been offered earlier. But it may serve
the purpose of an antidote for the ROOSE-
vELTphobia that was epidemic in some
sections a few weeks ago.
—Councilman BROCKERHOFF took the
right stand in holding up the final pay-
menton the Allegheney street paving un-
til the work has been completed satisfac-
torily to council. It is far easier to deal
with a contractor when you still have a
little of his money that he would like to
have for use in his business.
—Mausical shows without music are to
be produced in New York as a result of
the musicians’ strike. At least, late an-
nouncements are to that effect. Many
people with the experience of having
heard them will be pardoned for failing
to recall that they ever did produce many
musical shows with music in New York.
—The theatrical musician's union has
demanded an increase of wages from
New York theatrical managers. Accord-
ing to the scale they demand a road mus-
ical show would have to carry an or-
chestra that would cost $75,000 for a sea-
son. Of course this contemplates an or-
chestra of twenty-five pieces and not the
one piece affair that we are accustomed
to listening to at the local play house.
—At a meeting of the Democratic
State Central committee in Harrisburg
on Wednesday Geo. W. GUTHRIE was the
only candidate for the position of State
the State Democracy; all of his pretense
of holding the office prior to Wednesday's
meeting was but presumption. It is dif-
ferent now and the WATCHMAN urges all
Democrats, no matter what their feelings
may have been, to forget animosities and
turn in for the enthusiastic support of
| The committee made an
mistake in failing to fill
lr a oy
VOL. 57.
The election of Mr. GEORGE W. GUTH-
RIE to the office of chairman of the Dem-
ocratic State Central committee, at the
meeting in Harrisburg on Wednesday,
was clearly forecast by previous events.
The vote at the primaries in April indi-
cated a popular sentiment in favor of
“reorganization” along the lines laid down
by Mr. GuTHRIE, Mr. PALMER and Mr.
Vance McCormick and those of differ-
ent views on the subject accepted the
verdict of the ballot and made no strife
for a reversal of the result. It is to be
regretted, however, that Messrs. GUTH-
RIE, PALMER and MCCORMICK were not
equally fair and unselfish. If they had
been, the members of the committee for
Allegheny county placed on the roll by
the arbitrary action of the officers of the
GUTHRIE committee would have been re-
moved and those really elected by the
Democrats of the county put in their
places.
This is no matter of conjecture but a
palpable fact. Mr. GUTHRIE himself, in
discussing the question before the com-
mittee, admitted that the members seat-
ed had no just or legal title to the seats.
Neither the members whose names had
been read from the roll nor the claimants
were elected, he positively asserted, and
the committee proceeded to vote in
usurpers who were supposed to represent
the GUTHRIE crowd. If neither of the
claimants were elected the plain duty of
the committee was to declare the seats
vacant and provide a way for filling them
in the future. But that method would
not have afforded opportunity for the
sycophants of the committee who imagine
that Colonel GuPFEY'S strong box is
empty while those of GUTHRIE and Mec-
Cormick are full to repletion. It wouldn't
have given the political hucksters, hungry
for plunder, half a chance to "feather
their nests.” '
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and for the purpose of promoting party
unity, he resigned upon the election of
Mr. GUTHRIE, as his successor on Wed-
nesday. This course had been agreed
upon among the parties in interest in
advance, Mr. GUTHRIE being especially
insistent upon the subject. Of course
there was an implied obligation that
GUTHRIE would be elected to fill the va-
cancy and Mr. RITTER and his friends
confidently expected such action. But
Mr. GUTHRIE announced that there was
no necessity for filling the vacancy as he
already had title to the office. The man.
ly course might have involved a little hu-
miliation but it would have meant manli-
ness.
If there were nothing in this question
other than the trifie of humiliation on
one side and the other, it would be unim-
portant. But the gravest legal compli-
cations may ensue. For example if Mr.
RITTER were the legally elected chairman
for a term ending on January 1, 1913, his
resignation creates a vacancy in the office.
That he was the legally elected chair-
man under such circumstances may be
implied because Mr. GUTHRIE repeatedly
refused to submit the question to judicial
decision. Under the law the chairman
of the State Central committee has cer-
tain functions to perform. If there is no
chairman he can’t fulfill these obligations
and confusion, if nothing worse, may re-
suit. This and other dangers might have
been avoided if Mr. GUTHRIE had been
equal to the task of swallowing his absurd
patrician pride and accepted the unani-
mous election for the unexpired term
which the committee was ready to give
him.
Still we hope for the best. Mr. GUTH-
RIE may take time to register this year
and he will probably find out where the
voting place for his precinct is and that
will be a distinct gain. Moreover his
election may put a stop to the systematic
slander of political leaders which has
been common in Pennsylvania for years.
At least we hope these results will ensue
and so hoping urge every Democrat in
Centre county to work for the victory
that is ready to pluck in Pennsylvania.
~The first month of the bass fishing
season is gone and so far very few of
this species of fish have been taken out
of the waters of Bald Eagle creek, and
some fishermen incline to the belief that
the high water of last spring washed the
bass down into the Susquehanna river.
~——Happily the term of Senator BAI
LEY, of Texas, expires before long and
the people of that State may be relied
upon to get him out without a vote of
his colleagues.
~The Granger's encampment at
. | Centre Hall will this year be held Sep-
tember 7th to 13th inclusive.
Senator Lorimer’s Case.
The vote which deprived WiiiiAm
LORIMER, of Illinois,of a seat in the Unit-
ed States Senate was not unexpected.
Probably it was not an undeserved issue
of an investigation which has dragged
along for nearly three years. It must be
admitted that the evidence failed to con-
nect the individual directly with the cor-
ruption which it is frankly admitted pre-
vailed at Springfield during the Senator.
ial campaign which culminated in LoRri-
MER’S election. But it was naturally
presumed that he had something to do
with the matter and as he was the bene-
ficiary, the punishment was, justly, or
unjustly, visited upon him. As a rule
men do not pay large sums of money to
advance the ambitions of others unsel-
fishly.
In any event the time had come when
some drastic remedy for existing evils in
connection with Senatorial elections had
to be adopted. It is about seventy-five
years since the first tainted title toa seat
in that body came under public notice
When SIMON CAMERON, of Pennsylvania,
was first elected to the office the charge
was made that three of the votes cast for
count objection was made to his qualify.
the policy of State sovereignty which
then prevailed, however, it was decided
that there was no authority to go back of
the certificate of the election. Mr. CAM.
ERON was sworn in and the subject was
soon forgotten in the Senate and proba-
bly in Washington. :
Since that the election of Senators in
Congress by bribery and corruption has
publican caucus of his State and
Senator now in commission testified. th
change the current of events in the Sen-
ate and if that result follows it may be
said that “the end justifies the means.”
The evil has been a subject of concern
to thoughtful men for many years. Thus
far the only remedy suggested is a change
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STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
BELLEFONTE, PA, JULY 19, 1912.
ROOSEVELT campaign in Pennsylvania
under a TAFT Republican banner. It is
rather a crude plan, of course, and indi-
cates plainly that its author is "a ’pren-
tice hand” at statesmanship and a novice
in political leadership. It involves the
surrender of the regular National party
organization, so far as Pennsylvania is
concerned, unconditionally, to the RoosE-
VELT bolters, and implies a very scant re-
spect for the intelligence of the leaders
of the “Old Guard.” Whether the TAFT
National committee will “fall for” the
trick remains to be seen, but our own
opinion is that it won't.
Mr. FLINN'S state chairman presented
this unenticing program to President
TAFT, the other day, but obtained little
encouragement for the hope that it will
be accepted, from that quarter. Chair-
man WASSON assured the President that
he will personally work for TAFT'S elec-
tion, while his associates, bosses and can-
didates, will be doing their level best in
‘the other direction. In other words
become the rule, rather than the excep- h
tion. Only a short time ago a sitting I ¢
Senator admitted that he had spent con- |
Wasson and FLINN appear to have come
the late C. L. MAGEE and FLINN during
him had been purchased. On that ac- |to the same agreement made between
ing. Under the strict interpretation PL a Legislature
of 1899. FLINN took one side and MA-
GEE the other with the expectation that
they “would catch game coming and
would | must make his opposition “in the open.” | co;
. | majorities in three-fourths of the States.
siderably more than $100,000 to secure |sho
his nomination for the office by the Re- |
—t is to be hoped that the reduc- |
LIAM F. McComss, the capable young
lawyer who managed Governor WILSON'S
preconvention campaign, was unanimous-
iy elected chairman of the National com-
mittee at the suggestion of the candidate.
An advisory committee has been propos-
ed to consist of several gentlemen of
ability and experience and every availa-
ble force will be enlisted in the work of
ought to be no question as to the result.
WiLsoN and MARSHALL ought to have
The new National chairman is new to
the business of campaigning but his brief
experience is substantial evidence that
he understands the science of politics.
He conducted Governor WILSON'S cam-
paign for the nomination with consum-
mate skill and masterful ability. With
as little and probably less money at com-
mand than either of the others he had
an organization at Baltimore admittedly | are
superior to that of any other aspirant.
In this fact he revealed a genius for or-
ganization which is certain to prove of has
advantage to the larger domain into
which he is now about to enter. He will
have a wider area in which to work and
greater opportunities to exercise his skill.
Setting out with an admirable ticket, a
capable captain and a united and enthu-
siastic force of militant patriots, the Dem-
ocrats of the country are to be congratu-
lated upon the bright prospects before
them. Of course those of us who reside
in Pennsylvania have a particularly “hard
row to hoe.” But carrying Pennsylvania
for WILSON and MARSHALL is not without
possibilities even if the dissensions among
our enemies are composed, while if the
existing fissure continues this State
ought to be ascertain togo for the Demo-
cratic ticket as Texas. A great deal de-
pends upon the individual energy invest-
ed in the work and for that reason it is | cratic
up to every Democrat to perform his
duty.
—For high class Job Work come to
whole
conscience of the whole
wise he is only one of the The
demanded the removal of the jun-
ior from Illinois before Roose-
velt refused to sit with him at a banquet.
The removal of this man was a foregone
conclusion before the Senate on March 1,
1911, refused to unseat him.
Ep tw us
gives
groud of and something 1 be for.
of the gentiemen who voted in fa-
vor of the Senator did so because they
were convinced of hi imomnct, ou
ers v or
Ee.
Among them were Guggenheim and Ste-
phenson, who have thus far escaped im
peachment. Dupont may be named with
them. There have been whispers against
against them. Voting were
JHaingt HET is ior Jotmer were
ble Smoot and Heyburn and Crane and
Gallinger.
Among those on
Senators Bailey and
for Lorimer last year.
party little cares what
days, for it has long
upon him as a Democrat.
less attention to the good
than to the affairs of Bailey,
since he assumed
than the .
tism of
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be made for a sick
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should proceed Sen-
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the WarcaMAN Office.
Brickbat or Bouquet?
From the Record.
EE Roary, the Joins:
town Democrat, is not as patient in the
natigr of dismissing judges it finds
he cord, and would have ther ge
con
i nevertheless, that
SPAWLS FROM THE KEYSTONE.
—Discovery of gas at Cresson is causing great
excitement and real estate dealers of the moun-
tain town are busy. ‘
~Three steam shovels and 700 men are busy at
Sand Patch, moving the 51,000 cubic yards of
earth that caved in at the Baltimore and Ohio
tunnel at that place.
—Mrs. Joslin Nelson, of Hastings, stooped to
pat a bull dog kept at her home as a pet, and the °
animal jumped at her, biting her hand so severely
as to almost sever the fingers.
—McAllisterville is going to have an Old Home
Week and soldiers orphans’ reunion, August
20th-22nd. There will be an aeronaut and numer-
ous other attractions for the celebration.
—Samuel Burkhart, aged 74 years, died at West
Newton. Sixteen years ago he had made a wager
that he wouldn't cut his hair until a Democratic
President was elected. He carried long locks to
the grave.
—'Squire B. F.Isenberg has instituted a test
ploded and the bullet whizzed past his cheek
reddening the skin.
—While trying to repair a trolley pole. George
voltage and fell from the top of the car uncon-
scious. His life was at first despaired of, but at
last reports he was recovering.
—Altoona was the scene of a murder on Sat-
known teamster, who was shot by his brother-in-
law, Edward Kaufman. The murderer was ar-
rested and taken to Hollidaysburg jail.
—Fred Marshall, a Lock Haven tailor, went out
Eight cows and a calf lost their lives and a large
quantity of grain was consumed.
—W. J. Burns, of Reedsville, had a thrilling ex
perience in a thunder shower recently. He took
refuge under the binder on which he had heen
working and when a friend told him of his dan-
ger there, he went to theedge of the field, pulled
a sheaf of wheat over him and waited. Light"
ning ran along the fence and stunned him, leaving
a big mark on his shoulder.
~The other day a message came to DuBois
the death at Chicago of a relative of Mrs. J. F.
Graffius. The recipient understood that it was
Mr. Graffius whose death he was to report and
was much surprised when that gentleman answer-
ed his ring. “I came,” said the messenger, ‘to
tell your wife that you had been killed, but it
must have been somebody else.”
~While playing with his brother George, aged
2
. |5 years, at their home one mile beyond the
Dougherty Mines at 10 o'clock Saturday morn-
ing. William Dare, Jr., aged 8 years, was instant
ly killed by a shot fired by the former. The
were alone in the house at the time and
playing 'with their father’s shot-gun.
side of the child's face was blown away.
who | arms were broken and it is feared that he is in-
jured internally,
~Charles W. Weimer, a blacksmith of Lan-
caster county, died while being prepared for an
operation at a Lancaster hospital. Weimer had
a tree to watch an animal burrow his gun was
discharged and the load almost shot away his
right-wrist. An hour elapsed before he was able
to reach his home. While he was treated pre-