Deora Wald BY P. GRAY MEEK. SE — INK SLINGS. —-Seventeen days until Christmas. —You are late enough as it is, so you had better start that Christmas shopping at once. —With the price of eggs so high any kind of a ham actor can strut the stage with impunity. —A smile and a pleasant word don’t cost any more today than they did a thousand years ago. —The President’s message to Congress was exactly what the country wanted to hear. No more, no less. —If it’s really an acceptable Christmas gift you are thinking of sending to sone friend why not send the “Watchman.” —The demand for a two-and-a-half cent piece is justified when we recall that we have to pay three cents for one “two-for.” — New York is to have a new fifteen million dollar hotel where, we presume, only the possessors of “war brides” will be able to put up. —Centre county's share of the nation- al Democratic campaign debt is $400. The “Watchman” has started a subscrip- tion to raise it. Will you help a little. — Instead of talking embargoes and boycotts why doesn’t some one talk to the hens. After all they are the ladies who are responsible for the high price of eggs. —Congress should remember that President Wilson had an immense popu- lar majority, while it, for the most part barely got through by the skin of its teeth. —We had a silly spell on Wednesday and got to wondering whether any of the terrific winds that were blowing that day were going through those 100 per cent. whiskers. —All told there are not a half a dozen salaried men in Bellefonte whose salaries exceed the wages of hundreds of mill hands in the Pittsburgh district who are earning ten dollars a day. —Congress is in session again. Let us hope that it will pay serious attention to only such business as is really essen- tial to the carrying out of the program already laid down by President Wilson. —What a blunder the Allies madein in- ducing Roumania to join them without having made ample provisions to protect her rich stores of grain and oil. Now they are all falling into the Teutonic hands and will be the means of nullify- ing much of England’s efforts to block: ade German ports. “Don’t pay forty cents— a pound-for- your Christmas turkey, even if you can afford to do it. They are not worth the money and if you pay such a price it only forces others to do the same. Thanksgiving turkeys were sold in Belle- fonte for thirty-five cents dressed and Christmas turkeys will be no higher. —Up to this moment, we believe, we have failed to note the fact that the Panthers, Bellefonte’s famous hunting crew, didn’t go into camp this season. We understand that they could find no correspondence school in the country that gives courses on how to bury does so they will stay buried and feeling that to be their greatest weak point in the hunting game they decided not to ven- ture out this year. —The predicament in which Squire L. C. Bullock, of State College, finds him- self is really pathetic. The spectacle of a magistrate of the law pleading guilty in open court to six indictments is un- usual and a grave reminder to both the appointive and electoral powers that careful examinations into the history and qualifications of men should always be made before they are placed in posi- tions where it is possible for them to dis- credit the law. —1It is high time that Bellefonte arous- es itself to the necessity of an adequate fire-alarm system. When things come to such a pass that John Bower is left re- posing in the arms of Morpheus when one of the largest business blocks in town is threatened by the flames, some- thing must be done. The Coleville band without Sam Bryant is about the only thing we can imagine as being as bad off as any kind of a fire in Bellefonte is without John Bower. He’s the town’s assistant fire marshall, too, and council should see to it at once that no more jobs of this kind are pulled off without the presence of the one fireman whose reputation for “being there” has been so clandestinely shattered. —The whole State of Pennsylvania seems to be rallying to the cry of mercy for the Jefferson county boys who are condemned to electrocution at Rockview during the week of January 22nd. The “Watchman” has ever been opposed to clemency that is predicated purely on sentiment and while, with many, senti- ment may be the sole motive in the movement to secure commutation of sentence for these youthful murderers, there is real ground on which the Board of Pardons might grant it. No normal human being could kill another merely as a matter of accommodation to a friend. That is exactly what the Mottern boy did for his friend, the Haines boy. If he is not normal he should not be held to VOL 61. Penrose and Senator Vare. The fight for the Republican nomi- nation for Speaker of the House at Harrisburg, is approaching an acute stage. Both the candidates are silent, of course, for the reason that they are figure-heads and neither knows whether he will be a candidate tomor- row or not. But the distinguished gentlemen whom they represent are talking freely anc both Penrose and Vare have issued statements, more or less vitriolic. For example, says “the prominence of contractor leadership in the so-called Republican organization of Philadelphia, with the frequent scandals which have attach- ed thereto in the past, and are fla- grant at the present time, has been and is the subject of adverse eriti- cism and reproach among patriotic Republicans throughout the State.” Those are “fighting words,” as the school boys say, but have not fright- ened Senator Vare. He says that Senator Penrose’s official position “has no connection with the State Legislature, and significantly adds that “as usual, he, (Penrose,) is mer:- ly trying to inject himself uninvited, into a situation which can very well be handled by men regularly elected to Harrisburg for that purpose.” Then he proceeds to accuse Penrose of responsibility for the defeat of feld in Pittsburgh and finally insinu- ates that Penrese is a silent partner in some of the ccntracting operations of State Senator “Jim” McNichol. That “was the unkindest cut of all,” for it plants the seeds of a suspicion that will work direful consequences in the future. But the people of Pennsylvania may look on with perfect complacen- cy to this battle between the crooks. There is an old adage that “when rogues fall out honest men come by their own,” and this interesting but probably nasty fight may do the pub- lic a power of goed. In any event we are entirely satisfied and perfectly hitter end,” “the last ditch,” and all the other stages that indicate certain and not too long delayed death. Pen- rose has been responsible for a good deal of the evil which has fallen upon Pennsylvania and the Vares are even For these reasons we shall not offer good offices with the view of re~oncil- vene if we can help it. President Wilson’s Message. In his address to Congress on Tuesday President Wilson wisely gives much at- tention to the completion of the legisla- tive program for the avoidance of labor strikes. His attitude on that question as revealed in his address to Congress last September won hundreds of thousands of votes to the Democratic party. If Congress will have the good sense to complete the program as expressed then and urged again in the address in question the affiliation of those voters with the party will become permanent. He is the first President to take the case of the wage-earner in a labor controver- sy and if his party in Congress will show that it is in sympathy with him self-re- specting working men will support it. It is said that the railroad brotherhoods are opposed to the completion of the President’s program, that they want only such partof it as benefits them. We do not believe they are so unfair. The President frankly told them in the begin- ning that his solution of the problem in- volved the passage of six separate meas- ures of legislation. There was only time for one, however, the eight hour day law, and that was passed and accepted by the men. That action morally bound them to accept the others and we have full faith that they will accept them when they are enacted. It is up to Con- gress to give them the opportunity and at the earliest moment possible. Delays are always dangerous. tion but advocates the completion of sev- eral measures which were begun during the last session and are now on the cal- endar of one branch or the other. The appropriation bills will be large this year and will provoke a good deal of discus- sion and the length of the session is lim- ited so that little time can be spared to the consideration of new propositions. But there will be time enough to clear the calendars if industrious effortis given to the work and the President justly be- lieves that Congress will do its part well. Meantime the country will watch the proceedings with great interest and will lay the blame where it belongs if things the fullest accountability for his crime. go wrong. Penrose Representatives Coleman and Barch- willing that it shall continue to “the : worse in every essential particular. iation or permit any one else to inter- | The President suggests no new legisla- ' STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION. Promise of Permanent Harmony. ell Palmer, member of the Democrat- ic National committee for Pennsylva- nia, sounded a note which promises enduring harmony and ultimate tri- umph in the State. Referring to the distribution of party patronage he said: “There will be no bargains or deals in regard to Federal patronage. Every element in the party will be recognized, not as factionists but as | Democrats.” That is the true spirit and we sincerely hope it will be main- tained. If that policy had been adopt- the victory which is now a hope of the future would be a radiant page in the history of the State. | yania are not spoils-mongers. vast majority of them are as free from selfishness in their political ac- tions as an unborn babe is free from crime. But they are self-respecting, intelligent and courageous citizens, who “know their rights and knowing dare maintain.” The selfish abuse of authority and the unjust distribution of rewards is, therefore, repugnant to their sense of justice and being hu- man they resent such outrages. Four vears ago that unwise policy was laid | down and pursued until a great num- ber of the party workers became dis- gusted and rebellious. In the state- ment of Mr. Palmer referred to there is the promise of a better condition. The Republican party of Pennsyl- vania is rotten. Torn into factions and bitter in the animosities of its leaders, right-minded men will turn from it to save the Commonwealth from shame. Tn view of these facts the present is an auspicious moment for the new departure indicated by Mr. Palmer. A united Democracy de- voted to the interests of the people and alike militant and alert will hold out to the disgusted Republicans an inviting retreat and the next Govern- | or of Pennsylvania may be easily made a Democrat. Mr. ed after the election of four years ago: i In an interview published in Phila- | delphia, the other day, Hon. A. Mitch- | BELLEFONTE, PA.. DECEMBER 8, 1916. Roosevelt Misinterprets Lessons. Colonel Roosevelt has taken the world into his confidence at last and in a magazine article tells why Wilson was elected and his own personally conducted candidate was defeated at! , the recent election. The voters were too stupid, he declares, substantially, to learn the lessor. he taught and ab- sorb the ideas he promulgated. “The | appeal made for Mr. Wilson,” he says, “was one which would tell very The Democratic voters of Pennsyl- | The | Palmer has spoken wisely and well. ‘Let him now | prove his faith by works and a cordial | response will come to him from all sections of the State and from every | Democrat. i Penrose’s Little Trick. Senator Penrose is again playing his old and probably his only trick. He is endeavoring to defeat one meas- i ure of legislation by threatening to agitate for another. His purpose ex- presses the standard of Republican statesmanship. On one occasion the late Senator Quay prevented the pas- sage of a bill to which he was oppos- ed by threatening to read a hundred volumes or more of Department re- ports. It was the only way he could think of and an oyster would have quite enough brains to turn the trick. Penrose’s scheme is different only in that it reveals a greater measure of { malice and brutality. He threatens | to advocate the Force bill which was . buried more than thirty years ago. Senator Penrose is very much op- posed to the passage of the pending Corrupt Practices act. He appre- hends, no doubt, that in the event | that measure becomes a law, a consid- | erable number of his friends would be “sent to the penitentiary. Besides he ‘understands that with such legisla- | tion in operation the Republican par- i ty would have no more chance of car- | rying a national election than Sam | Salter has of being President of the | United States. He knows that India- na, Illinois, New York and New Jer- sey would have voted for Wilson this . year if they had not been bought to | vote for Hughes and that a corrupt ' practices law will stop the flow of gold necessary to buy enough vctes to carry a State. So the Senator imagines he can scare the Southern Senators out of | voting for the Corrupt Practices Act by threatening to introduce the Force Bill. Possibly there are in some of the asylums others simple enough to share that belief with him, but not many. The looters and grafters who controlled the Republican party then couldn’t pass that bill when it was up | a generation ago and the Democrats | were weaker than they have ever been ' since. Therefore there is no danger of its passing now or at any time in the future. Men of the type - that fa- | vor such legislation are mostly in | custody or dead and that vicious spir- it will never be revived in this coun- try of just and intelligent men. i —=Put your ad. in the WATCHMAN. strongly with good, honest citizens whose preoccupation with their own pursuits was such that they could not be expected to look deeply into nation- al affairs and general world condi- tions,” and, he adds, “it would have been highly creditable to the average man if he had possessed the vision and disinterestedness to disregar! such an appeal.” The Colonel tried his best, we may assume, to guide the stupid voters along the paths of reason to an intel- ligent understanding. But they were alike stupid and obdurate and de- clined to regard “the crimes commit- ted in Belgium 2nd Armenia, in the sinkirg of the Lusitania and in Mex- ico” as burning issues in a campaign for President of the United States. While Roosevelt was President precisely similar outrages were per- petrated in Armenia and elsewhere, but they were of no consequence to the voters of the United States then. Now it’s different, of course. Rooce- velt is out and lusting for the power that made life to.him “bully” and in his opinion the people of the country should all think as he thinks along the lines of public concern. ‘As a matter of fact, however, the Colonel has misinterpreted the rea- sons for the splendid result of the election. It is true that the people hearkened to the appeal made in be- half of Mr. Wilson, but not for the reason that they are stupid. On the contrary they were influenced to their action at the polls by the highest standard of intelligence. They knew what Wilson did during the period gince the beginning of the European war and that the opposite of that meant war. They voted for Wilson because his re-election meant peace and prosperity and the frenzied ap- peals of back-biting blatherskites couldn’t dezeive them or swerve them from their wise purpose. They justly discredited Roosevelt and voted for Wilson who had been tried and is true. — Lloyd George may be some- thing of a boss ir London but when he undertook to put Sir Edward Garson in control of the war operations he slightly overreacked. It is remember- ed that Sir Edward made considerable progress in organizing a war of his own against England a trifle more than three years ago. The professions of reform now so voluably expressed by leading Re- publicans will be forgotten before the Legislature meets. The leading Re- publicans know that the electoral re- form they talk of would make Phila- delphia debatable ground politically. — Well, it’s Penrose’s move. Brother Bill gave out the last inter- view and it was a stunner. Giving “a dog a bad name” is nothing toward charging a man with being silent partner in a Philadelphia municipal contracting firm. —Anyway the aspiring foot-ball star who is not included in any of the many “All American” teams that have been picked can pick himself for a team of his own selection and have about as much satisfaction as any of them get out of it. a ——————————— — Congress has a big job before it and a limited time in which to werk. But we hope all Senators and Repre- sentatives will show proper respect for the eight-hour day. — If Carrsnza really wants Villa he can get him by inviting General Pershing to participate in the hunt. Ten to one Pershing will be willing and anxious. —— Our wealthy friend Jacob Schiff, of New York, is flattering him- self when he talks about the tempta- tions of young women. — One of the reasons Wilson was elected was the people didn’t want Roosevelt to be butting into affairs in Washington. — Reform legislation will need a suitable escort while passing through the Legislature with Baldwin in the chair. NO. 48. | Time to Avert Disaster. i From the Public. | Though the protectionist claim is ab- | surd that low tariff rates will bring on an industrial depression, it must not be assumed that therefore no depression will come. Nothing is more probable than that within a few years—possibly : before the end of President Wilson's | administration—another period of hard ! times will be on us as bad as the depres- sion of the 90s and of Roosevelt's ad- ministration, if not even worse. The de- pression cannot be averted by tariff leg- | islation nor by restrictive laws of any { kind. Business depressions result from re- strictions which interfere with industry | and make it unprofitabe. The restric- | tion chiefly responsible is of the use of natural resources. When land values in- | crease faster than potential productivity there must come a time when it becomes a losing venture to buy or rent for land use. Then industry must stop and de- pression sets in, to last until values fall enough to make resumption possible, or until labor and capital become satisfied with smaller returns, or until improved methods of production make it profitable to pay high prices for land. The forces that bring on depressions are at work. The continuation of the European war, which many believe will continue prosperity, cannot avert the disaster. Delay in making peace will not delay the depression. It can be pre- vented in no other way than by removal of the cause. And so far as the govern- ment is concerned little or nothing has been done along that line. Even so moderate a proposal as the Crosser bill is being smothered by the house com- mittee on public lands. In Oregon and California measures have just been voted down by the people which would have made industrial depressions impossible. Men and women have helped to secure rejection of these proposals who will be Joud in complaint when hard times come. So also will be the Congressmen who are now keeping the Crosser bill from com- ing to a vote, or who are ready to op- pose it should it be reported out. There is still time to prevent disaster. But that it will be used as it should be is not so certain. In the meantime inflation of speculative land values continues, and the evil is. actually looked upon by the unthinking as a guarantee of con- tinued prosperity. There must be an awakening some time. Let us hope that it will come before another disaster overwhelms national industry. An Effective Boycott. From the Johnstown Democrat. The public has recently had some very instructive demonstrations of. how high prices are made and unmade. Current news reports carried the information that turkeys would be high for Thanksgiving, that eggs were going out of sight and that provisions generally would soon be out of reach of the poor man. Fearing that prices would increase there was a rush of buyers. The demand was so brisk that prices were marked up hour by hour. And then affairs took a different turn. It was reported that the people of various cities were refusing to buy at the new levels; that in such and sucha place the purchasing public had declared a boy- cott; that the women were preparing to get along without a great many commod- ities until prices tumbled. The result was that prices tumbled. If the public gets scared, if it rushes into the market to stock up prices will advance in response to the eagerness shown to buy. If the pub- lic does not get scared, if the purchasers hold their heads, prices inevitably retreat to lower levels. Whenever there is a scare of any kind the general disposition is to load up for fear prices may go higher. The process of loading up causes prices to rise. The public has the high cost of living problem in its own hands. It can refuse to pur- chase goods when the price goes above certain reasonable levels. The women can knock the bottom out of high prices almost any time they set their mind to it. Champ Clark in the Chair. From the Springfield Republican. It looks as if the Democrats would be able to organize the next house and make Champ Clark speaker. Recountsin three closely-contested districts inPennsylvania, in one New Jersey district and one North Carolina district favor the Democrats. This makes the present outlook: Dem- ocrats, 217; Republicans, 213; Progres- sive, one; Socialist, one; Prohibitionist, one, and Independent, one. The total membership is 435, and on the above reck- oning the Democrats lack one vote of a majority, but Raidall, the California Pro- hibitionist, and Kelly, Independent, of Pennsylvania, are counted on to act with the Democrats on organization. This pros- pect chills the discussion of Republican as- pirants for the speakership, but in any event the close division between the par- ties in the next house will make for mod- eration in its action. ere eter Progressive Policies Demanded. From the Public. The re-election of President Wilson is by no means a Democratic party triumph. The western voters who chose Wilson electors made clear their wish to elect progressive officials regardless of party. As between Wilson and Hughes they nat- urally preferred the President. And as between the Republican candidates known to be progressive, and un- tried Democrats, they preferred the for- mer. These voters can only be held by progressive policies and they seem able to distinguish between real progressivism and the Roosevelt-Perkins kind. The party that does not deal fairly with them will take a very dangerous risk. Pr— ——TFor high class Job Work come to the “Watchman” Office. 'SPAWLS FROM THE KEYSTONE. —Westmoreland county’s latest murder was caused by drunkenness and resulted in the kill- ing of Frank Koderman by his brother Tom, ' —The Cambria Steel company has posted no- i tices at Johnstown announcing an increase of | wages to general labor which will amount to * about 10 per cent. —The case of former Judge John W. Reed, of Jefferson county, against the Brookville ‘““Repub- lican’’ was settled by the parties before the mat- ter got into court. —William H. Bonn, of Wilkes-Barre, has been orderded to muzzle a flock of 200 geese. The order was made by Alderman William McCart- ney in his efforts to make the nights peaceful for the residents of that city. —A man by the name of Joe Pearson has been lodged in the Clearfield jail to await trial on the charge of having sent threatening letters to the superintendent and the manager of the Westover tannery. It is reported that he has admitted his guilt but denies all knowledge of certain bits of malicious mischief done. —John D. Schieff, an employee of Williams- port’s highway department, was run down by an automobile driven by George W. Jackson last Thursday afternoon and died at the Williams- port hospital early Saturday morning as the resul; of his injuries. Jackson has been held on the charge of manslaughter. Schieff was 56 years of age. —With the purchase of a tract of fifteen acres of land, on which the old blast furnaces aie standing, and other buildings along the banks cf the Susquehanna river, the way has been openec for another industry for Wrightsville, Pa. The price paid was $14,500, and the Susquehanna Casting company and the Wilton Manufacturing company are interested parties. —Frank Courson, general foreman of the Pit- cairn shops of the Pennsylvania railroad and a former resident of Altoona, where he learned his trade in the local shops, has completed a car draft gear which, it is claimed, is a great im- provement. Mr. Courson has been offered $150,- 000 for his invention by a car building concern. The invention required twelve years’ time to perfect. —Mr. Charles Reigh, who resides on the Wolf farm, near Gannister, was recently reliev- ed of close to a hundred chickens that had been fattened for market. About the same time he had a valuable cow brutally cut over the body with a sharp knife of some kind, which animal was so badly cut that it had to be sold to a nearby butcher as beef stock. The cow was valued at close to one hundred dollars and was sold for little better than half that amount. —Six men were wounded, two probably fatal- ly, in a clash between Deputy Sheriffs and strik- ing coal miners for the Saltsburg Coal company at Avonmore, near Pittsburgh, on Tuesday. Four of the wounded were taken to a local hos- pital. According to Philip Murray, president of the Pittsburgh district of the United Mine Work- ers of America, the riot occurred when striking miners attempted to approach five men said to have been strike breakers. Four arrests were made. —While hunting one day early in the season on Poe mountain, John Vonada, of Coburn, Centre county, saw a bird rise and taking it for a pheas- ant he firedand brought it down. It was very large and resembled a young eagle. Only the tip of the wing was broken and the bird easily fought off two dogs. The hunter, however, man- aged to secure it and took it to his home where it is living on muskrats and mice and is recovering from its wound. It is Mr. Vonada’s intention to set it free. -A damage verdict of $145,830 against the Pennsylvania Railroad company, secured by the Sonman Shaft Coal company of Cambria county, Pennsylvania, of which Chairman Vance C. McCormick of Harris- burg, Pa. is treasurer and a principal stockholder, for failure or refusal to fur- nish cars for ghipping coal, was affirmed on Monday by the Supreme court. The court directed a new trial in a claim for $21,094 damages by W. F. Jocaby & Co., of Philadelphia, against the Pennsylvania. —Work has been stopped on the I'ort Louden and McConnellsburg railroad by reason of the sheriff of Franklin county seizing the tools. equipment and supplies of contractor Clyde Kuhns. This road started as a trolley line, was then chang- ed to a steam line and recently wag halted. by the public service commission when its promoters tried to water the stock. Aside from a little lumber narrow gauge over the Bedford side, Fulton county has no railroad and was banking high on this one. — Hannah A. Duck, widow of Rev. Chas. L. Buck, of New Enterprise, Bedford coun- ty, who died recently, left an estate valued at $30,000 to charity. She bequeathed a fourth each to the Old Folks’ Home of the Church of the Brethren at Martinshurg, Orphans’ Home at Huntingdon and home and foreign mission work of the Church of the Brethren. During her life time and gince the death of her husband, Mrs. Buck had given $2,000 to Juniata College. A quilt over 100 years old was willed to her sister. —Winburne, Clearfield county, had four de- structive fires last week. On Sunday a dwelling owned by Albert Kowalski was burned to the ground. Monday afternoon the repair shops of Bloomington mine No. 9, were totally destroyed by a fire which caused aloss of $10,000. Tues- day afternoon the Methodist Episcopal church building, used by the school board to house the eighth grade schools, caught fire from the fur- nace and was damaged to the amount of $800. On Wednesday the big union hall owned by the United Mine Workers of America was totally de- stroyed by fire. The loss was heavy. ~ —The Blair Limestone company, on Wednes. day, near Blair Four, fired the largest blast ever shotin a quarry anywhere. There were 35,000 pounds of dynamite of a type known as Trojan powder. There were 23 holes, sixteen of them 189 feet deep, each hole 5 5-8 inches in diameter The shot brought down 200,000 tons of limestone. Officials of the company from Pittsburgh and many people from that district viewed the shot which shook the earth like an earthquake, but did not make any loud detonation. Cyrus Ickes: of the Raystown company, fired the shot by throwing the electric switch in the Raystown substation, down in the town of Blair Four. The whole town of Blair Four was evacuated, the only occupants being Mr. Ickes and the manager of the Powder company, F. J. Leonard, who had the blast in charge. —In the contest to break the will of the late Rosalie P. Coleman, formerly of Lebanon, Pa. but now of Paris, instituted in the Lebanon coun- ty courts by her son, D. Guido Hinkel, a surgeon in the German army, W. G. Light, counsel for the son, Tuesday filed in the local court returns of the alias citations, service of which was had by publication in New York and Paris on the several parties in interest, including the beneficiaries un- der the will, by the provisions of which the son is disinherited. The Pennsylvania Company for Insurance on Lives and Granting Annuities, which is the administrator of the Coleman estate in the United States, Tuesday entered its appear- ance through local counsel as a party to the suit. It was announced Tuesday that the testimony of Prince Eonnersmark, father of Dr. Hinkel, had not as yet been taken by the Berlin court, be- cause of legal technicalities.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers