BY P. GRAY MEEK.
INK SLINGS.
—Our troopers are home.
—This week last year was just about
as cold as this week has been.
—The “Watchman’s” unprecedented
combination offer is still open.
—Dewey is dead. Long live Dewey in
the memory of every real American.
—Many a girl who hadn't had a good
hug since last summer got it on Tuesday
night.
—Grand Army sandwiches are popular
with our troopers now. They want mus-
tered out.
—Those Philadelphia detectives should
be turned loose to unravel the mystery
as to who struck Billy Patterson.
—Only three months more and the
disciples of Izaak Walton will be renew-
ing memberships in the Ananias club.
—Look at the label on your paper
and be sure that it records the exact
time to which your subscription is paid.
—What was the matter with Fred
Gump? Was he a gump or didn’t he
have the gumption to defend himself
against Thaw’s attacks.
———Thaw isin the limelight again and
of course in mischief. But there is some
ground for hope that his last escapade
will take him out of both for many years.
——Penrose may find it impossible to
elect a Governor of his own type next
year, but he’ll hardly take another chance
with a reformer of the Brumbaugh brand.
——The high cost of living is bad
enough but the high cost of white paper
is giving the newspaper publishers more
anxiety than all the other evils of the
time.
—OQur boys came home from the Bor-
der a far finer looking troop than they
were when they left. Their experience
will be something of value to them
through all their life.
—It was so late at night that the
“Watchman” couldn’t get a picture of
our returning troopers, but, take it from
us, they all looked better on their return
than they did when they departed, and
that is saying a lot.
—Another German raider is abroad on
the seas and is reported as having twen-
ty-three victims to its credit. The Ger-
mans don’t often get a boat out, but
when they do it manages to give a pret-
ty good account of itself.
—We would not be surprised to see
Penrose jockey around until he can use
the Vares as clubs to swat both Brum-
baugh and Brown with. They would be
entirely willing, too, if there would be
more in it for them than the further sup-
port of the Governor would promise.
—If Tom Lawson is telling the truth
there is a terrible scandal to be uncover-
ed in Washington. If he is lying he
ought to be sent to prison for the rest of
his days. This thing of attacking public
officials maliciously is a serious matter
and should be dealt with accordingly.
—Everybody who has the facilities for
doing it should put up all the ice possi-
ble. Who can tell but that when next
summer comes the ice man will be tak-
ing everything from us that we have
saved from the clutches of the coal man.
This thing of raising prices has become
too popular to be monkeyed with.
—TUnless enough consumers of heat in
Bellefonte have agreed to pay the new
schedule by next Wednesday, all of us
will be notified to provide our own heat-
ing arrangements after February 1st.
With coal soaring in price and stoves
hard to get that might prove a great deal
harder than advancing money for the
steam plant for two months.
—Tuesday night, January 16, 1917, was
a much happier occasion about the Penn-
sylvania railroad station in this place,
than was Sunday morning, June 25th,
1916. The safe home coming of our
troopers had a vastly different effect on
the spirit of their friends from that so
noticeable when they went marching
away to the Lord only knew what.
—Last fall all the opposition to Wilson
was centered around the contention that
the prosperity of this country is merely
the result of the war. Now we detect
signs of using prospective peace as a
bull card on the stock market. In other
words the brokers and big business are
getting ready to admit that with the end
of the war will come greater and more
general prosperity than we have ever
known.
—A German war prisoner in an Eng-
lish camp some time ago got off the fol-
lowing epigram: “If Germany has ac-
complished nothing else in this war she
has taught the Russians how to be sober,
the French how to pray and the English
how to fight.” The truth of the epigram
must be admitted and in its trio of
truths lies the very reasons why the Al-
lies are determined to fight until their
ends have been attained.
—Harry Cooke writes from Pearce,
Arizona, that while many of the people
whom he knew when in Bellefonte are
now in the cemeteries he enjoys the
“Watchman” which he regards as a very
“estimable paper. Estimable even in its
politics, in that its perusal serves to con-
firm one in his Republicanism.” Harry
always was a stalwart, so stalwart in fact
that we are surprised that he stayed in
Arizona after it went for Wilson.
VOL. 62.
Lawson’s Floodgate of Malice.
At the second hearing of the Congres-
sional inquiry into an alleged “leak’ of
information concerning the President’s
recent note to European belligerents,
held on Monday, Thomas W. Lawson, of
Boston, literally opened the floodgates of
malice and mendacity. In the presence
of Chairman Henry, of the House Com-
mittee on Rules, under the auspices of
which the investigation was progressing,
he declared that Mr. Henry is the Con-
gressman who gave him the information
upon which he predicated the charge of
a “leak,” and followed that statement
with a blanket accusation against Secre-
tary of the Treasury McAdoo, Secretary
of State Lansing, Secretary to the Presi-
dent Tumulty and many others.
Chairman Henry promptly denounced
the statement so far as it concerned him.
“At no time,” he declared under oath,
“had he mentioned to Lawson the names
the financier had brought out on the
witness stand; that he had no informa-
tion then and has none now of his own
knowledge;”’ and denied generally and
completely all of Lawson's testimony
relating to him. Secretary McAdoo was
equally prompt and emphatic. “I wish
to say that no more shameless and wan-
ton lie could be conceived,” he said,
“than the rumor or suggestion thatlI
have been interested at any time and in
any manner whatever in stock specula-
tions or purchases of stock in New York
or that I have been connected in any
manner with the alleged ‘leak’ about the
peace note.” Several others of the ac-
cused promptly entered denials and all
will be sworn and examined by the com-
mittee.
Of course the examination of these
witnesses and the consequent accumula-
tion of proof of Lawson’s perjury will
end the Congressional investigation and
transfer the inquiry to the courts. Law-
son is a vicious mountebank who for
years has been making or losing money
by speculating on false rumors and wick-
ed scandals originated by himself. This
recent incident is the boldest and most
brazen outrage of the kind he has®ever
perpetrated and it should not be quieted
until he has been safely landed in the
penitentiary under a long sentence.
Happily his scandal-mongering in this
case has done little if any harm. Butit
might have had grave consequence and
it will be safe to silence him forever.
——The railroads are prospering be-
yond any previous experience but the
railroad officials are ready to send up a
howl of hard times at a moment’s notice
and with the least provocation.
Kill the Proposed Fish Bill.
The Pennsylvania Republican machine
is proceeding in its purpose to mace the
public by imposing a license tax on fish-
ermen, notwithstanding the protests that
are coming from all sections of the Com-
monwelath. A bill has already been
drafted to that end, under the auspices
of the Department of Fisheries, under
which it will “be unlawful for any person
to fish at any time in any of the waters
of this Commonwealth, or in the bound-
ary waters thereof, unless said person
shall have first procured a proper license
therefor.” The price of the license for
persons not residents of the State is
fixed at two dollars and those for resi-
dents of the State at fifty cents.
The title of the measure is “An Act
for the Better Protection of Fish in the
Waters of this Commonwealth, and in
the Boundary Waters Thereof.” How it
will achieve that purpose is left to con-
jecture. It provides for a certificate
which “shall be constantly carried upon
the person of the licensee.” Possibly it
is expected that the fish will be able to
discern this certificate, presumably
secreted in the inside pocket of the fish-
erman, and avoid any lure which he
may offer. Clearly that is putting too
much responsibility on the fish. Even
when the water is clear they can hardly
be expected to see through several
layers of cloth and unless they see the
distinguishing mark of the licensed fish-
erman how are they to avoid his enticing
appeal to their appetites.
It is universally admitted that water
powers on the stream znd pollution of
the water are the two :inost destructive
enemies of fish. The bill in question
makes no provision for the elimination
of either of these evils so far as fish life
is concerned. The conviction is forced,
therefore, that the real purpose of the
bill is not expressed either in the title
or text of the measure. It might be in-
tended to keep country boys off the
streams until the city clubmen have time
to go out and take the fish or it may be
that the creation of a few new offices is
Prostitution of Public Service.
The details of Governor Brumbaugh’s
shameless prostitution of the public serv-
ice is gradually dripping out. The Har-
risburg correspondent of the Philadel-
phia “Public Ledger” contributes to the
illumination of the subject by reciting
some of the facts leading up to the resig-
nation of Banking Commissioner Smith,
who, according to the correspondent, was
appointed to the office by Governor Stew-
art on condition that “he would keep the
Banking Department out of politics.”
Governor Tener reappointed him on the
same conditions and he kept the faith.
When Brumbaugh reappointed him the
incident was touched with the hypocrit-
ical habit of the Governor. After com-
mending the Commissioner’s record in
office he reappointed him adding “God
be with you. Do your duty and fear no
man.”
That is Brumbaugh’s way. The Ger-
man Emperor is not half as unctious in
patronizing the Deity or near as wicked
in perverting power. Soon after the ap-
pointment the Governor remonstrated
because the Commissioner was working
too hard and after complimenting his ef-
ficiency said, “I love you as a brother, so
now do as I tell you.” Subsequently
Public Service Commissioner Magee, of
Pittsburgh, called and asked to see the
list of employees of the Department for
the reason that “some of the men in
your bureau have not been with us and
are not loyal to the Gevernor.” Upon
stating that he was sent by the Governor
Mr. Smith proposed that they go to see
the Governor. That closed the incident.
Following in turn T. Larry Eyre, then an
adherent of the Brumbaugh faction, and
Insurance Commissioner J. Denny O’Neil
importuned him to convert his office
into a political machine but without suc-
cess.
Finally Senator Vare, Philadelphia mu-
nicipal contractor and the most potent
force in the Brumbaugh office brokerage
firm, appealed to the Commissioner.
With characteristic assurance he demand-
ed a complete reversal of policy and an
entire change in the force.
these bank examiners from up-State,”
he declared, “and put in a lot of men
from Philadelphia.” Some of his ash-
cart drivers were out of jobs, presuma-
bly, and Vare wanted to put them on the
State pay roll. But Smith was obdurate.
He paid no more attention to Vare than
to the other conspirators and the Bank-
ing Commissioner was asked to resign.
He might have refused, put up a fight
and won as Penrose won in the Speaker-
ship contest, but he yielded, more’s the
pity.
Logical Ending of a Farce.
While the war between the Republican
factions of Pennsylvania over the Speak-
ership of the House was raging and Sen-
ator Penrose was hurling hot shot at the
Governor and Attorney General we pre-
dicted that there would be no actual bat-
tle. Penrose did say that the Governor
committed perjury and that the Attor-
ney General was a shyster and a scoun-
drel. Asa citizen and party leader it is
clearly his duty to eliminate from official
life men of such character. In positions
of honor and responsibility they are a
menace to public morals. But we felt
certain that Penrose would not take the
steps necessary to dispose of them. He
said he would but he didn’t mean it. He
was insincere and untruthful.
Now it transpires that our conjecture
on the subject was literally accurate.
Last week, after a prolonged session, the
Penrose war board arrived at the con-
clusion that it is better to affiliate with
scoundrels than expose their iniquity.
Exposures can’t be confined to one side.
In the case in point it might have result-
ed in the impeachment of Brumbaugh.
It might have consigned Attorney Gen-
eral Brown to even a worse fate. But it
would, in all probability, have retired
Penrose into an infamous oblivion, and
upon the broad principle of “safety first,”
the now acknowledged party leader has
determined to let well enough alone and
renew his affiliation with the rogues.
Of course, as we predicted, Brumbaugh
and Brown will be humiliated. They
will be allowed to serve their terms in
office and draw the salaries to which
faithful public officials are entitled. But
they will be stripped of all power to in-
all time. The Vares will be reinvested
with their licenses to loot the people of
Philadelphia through the medium of mu-
| nicipal contracts, most likely, but upon
| condition that they obey orders and be-
come the servile followers of the ma-
i chine that they once were. It is the log-
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
BELLEFONTE, PA.. JANUARY 19, 1917.
terfere with the plans of the boss for !
Guardsmen on the Mexican Border.
National Guard, who has just returned
one,” he said to a newspaper correspond-
ent in Harrisburg, on his arrival there,
the other day, to be mustered out of the
Federal service. “Pennsylvania soldiers
will return home healthier and better
men and more prepared to fight the bat-
tles of life,” he added. That is acomplete
and comprehensive answer to the grouch-
es who have been knocking.
That is only a small part of the bene-
fits to the country of the expedition to
the border by the Guardsmen of the sev-
eral States. If they had not gone there
when they did and in the spirit they
showed, we would now be involved in a
costly and prolonged war with that un-
happy country. At the expense of thous-
ands of lives and millions of treasure we
would conquer Mexico in time. But the
expense would be so great as to make
even the thoughts of it appalling. Be-
cause of their service on the border it is
safe to predict now that this calamity has
been averted and that in the early future
Mexico will be in the enjoyment of a last-
ing peace and a stable and just govern-
ment.
General Clements is himself a Republi-
can but he shares none of the evil thoughts
respecting the Mexican service which
politicians are endeavoring to spread
among the people. “Not only from a mili-
tary training point of view have the sol-
diers of Pennsylvania had a successful
campaign in the South,” he added, but
“the discipline in camp will make them
more regular in their living as citizens.”
“It made them healthier,” he continued,
‘and more economical as is revealed in
their habits now as compared with the
period of their enlistment in the Federal
It is to be hoped that those who
segs o t !
“Get rid of | El ‘been iryrag to spread discover
among the men will profit by General
Clement's view.
——“The Curse of the Forest” is
the title of a motion picture which has
just been completed by the Vitagraph
company in co-operation with the State
Department of Forestry. The picture
was taken during a fierce forest fire on
the South Mountain, near Mont Alto,
Franklin county, last spring, and is to be
used to educate the people of the State
in the matter of preventing forest fires
as one of the first steps in the means of
forest conservation. :
——7Junius Brutus Alston, the Chester
county negro under sentence of death for
the murder of another of his race, was
granted a respite on Sunday just on the
eve of going to the electric chair. He
was brought to Rock View last Friday
evening and on Sunday afternoon depu-
ty warden Healy got word to postpone
the electrocution. On Wednesday the
Governor granted Alston a respite until
the week of February 26th.
——Saturday night brought snow, rain
and slush and a cold wave on Sunday
morning covered the pavements with ice
and frozen snow, leaving them in the
worst condition they have been this win-
ter. Cold weather has prevailed ever
since but the weather man promises a
rise in temperature the remainder of the
week.
——Possibly “no good can come out of
Nazareth,” but if the recent bout between
the Republican factions of Pennsylvania
will permanently put Attorney General
Brown on the political scrap heap some
good will have been realized from that
dirty enterprise.
——The Johnstown Leader has been
forced into a receivership owing to finan-
"cial difficulties occasioned by the high
price of paper. The publication of the
paper, however, will continue until the
plant can be sold or put on a paying
| basis.
|
——The Progressive party has opened
‘ permanent headquarters in New York,
. but probably the purpose is only to pro-
vide a meeting place for Mr. Perkins and
Senator Penrose when our senior Senator
visits the metropolis.
{ ——The presence of the Grangers in
Harrisburg during the session of the
. Legislature may have a wholesome influ-
ence upon the work of the body, but we
| suggest that they will have to “watch as
. well as pray.”
——Meantime what will be done with
the purpose. It would certainly work ical ending of an atrocious farce in which the Indiana demagogue who served as
both these results and they are alike 3]| concerned are hypocrites. But itis a catspaw for Tom Lawson by introducing
sinister. Consequently itis a good bill page betrayal of the people to a horde of a scandalous resolution without any facts
to support it?
to kill.
crooks.
Major General Charles M. Clement, |
Commander of the Pennsylvania division, |
from service on the Texas border, has a !
soldier’s idea of the value of the work of |
the men who have so freely dedicated
themselves to the service of the country |
there for a period of eight months. “It:
has been successful in more ways than a : C
i only when Prussian militarism is destroy-
‘ed and full reparation and restitution
NO. 38.
Peace Terms of Entente Powers.
From the Harrisburg Star-Independent.
The Entente Powers have stated to
President Wilson on what basis they
would consider negotiations for peace.
There appears to be little hope that there
will soon be an end to the terrible conflict
in Europe, according to the demands Ger-
many’s enemies insist shall be satisfied
before the latter will consider the possi-
bility of a cessation of hostilities. The
Allies’ note says that peace can come
made. While the demands in their entire-
| ty are drastic, there is reason to believe
| Germany will accede to a reasonable por-
tion of them in efforts to terminate the
war, but when the Entente Powers, in
addition to the terms as made known
through President Wilson, state “their
objects in the war will not be made
known in detail with all the equitable
compensations and indemnities for dam-
ages suffered until the hour of negotia-
tions,” it is reasonable for neutrals to ex-
| pect that the sword will be employed for
many more months in the terrible
slaughter of humans.
As to the restoration of Belgium, Ser-
bia and Montenegro; the Teuton evacu-
ation of invaded territories of France,
Russia and Rumania; the restitution of
provinces or territories (which probably
includes Alsace-Lorraine) wrested in the
past from the Allies by force or against
the will of their populations, and the
liberation of Italians, Slavs, Rumanians
and Tcheo Slavaks from foreign domina-
tion, it may be possible Germany will
agree. But besides this the Allies are in-
sistent that the Central Powers make full
reparation and pay all indemnities incur-
red through the invasion by the latter of
the territories above mentioned. Can any
person believe that Germany can take
upon herself the liability to pay all the
damages inflicted upon her enemies dur-
ing the war? Will the German people
ever submit to bind themselves to such
an agreement when they know upon the
face of it that they could not liquidate
this indebtedness in a century? We
rather think not. And it is believed by
neutrals that on this very point the war
will be long drawn out.
As to liberation from Prussian militar-
ism, domination by the sword, there is no
difference between Germany and other
nations that are constantly increasing
their naval and military forces in time of
peace to prepare for eventualities. If
world-wide disarmament were invoked
and peace guaranteed to all nations alike,
militaristic forms of government would
be a ching of the past, but not hwid'then.
No nation in the world has anything. in
common with Turkey, excepting Ger-
many now, of course, since the former
has been a powerful ally of the latter in
the conduct of the war. But if the expul-
sion from Europe of the Ottoman Empire
be accomplished as a result of the pres-
ent war, an achievement will have been
attained that has signally failed for near-
ly a half thousand years.
A Probe for Stock Gamblers.
From the Johnstown Democrat.
Tom Lawson is right in at least one
particular. While it is eminently proper
for the Congress to probe around and en-
deavor to find whether State Department
“secrets” are being used by stock market
manipulators, itis very desirable that the
stock exchange should be likewise inves-
tigated. It would appear that Wall street
gamblers have been admitting quite too
much. They say that some one some-
where whispered something to some one
else and that straightway some men
became paupers while others became
millionaires. Of such things is the mar-
ket composed. A breath, a whisper, a
murmured word of gossip and securities
tumble, values are affected and a bear
raid is in full swing. Were the men who
lost money because of the Wilson note
men who were betting that no such note
would ever appear? If so, are they en-
titled to any sympathy because they had
the wrong end of the wager? It is charg-
ed that a few insiders had a tip as to
what was going to happen at Washington
and therefore were able to play safe. It
is not denied that what happened would
have happened when the general public
learned of the Wilson note in the regular
way. A different set of men, perhaps,
would have been the ones who would
have profited. It is all very well to locate
and if possible punish all those who
attempt to capitalize advance information
concerning executive or judicial action.
But there should likewise be a rod in
pickle for the gamblers responsible for
the stock exchange itself.
Prayer as a Last Resort.
From the Philadelphia Evening Ledger.
Harrisburg is entertaining the notion that
the one prayer delivered in each branch
of the Legislature at its opening session,
which cost the state $29+, was too expen-
sive. The State can be exonerated from
extravagance. Prayer was its lastresort.
Our Industrial Juggernaut.
From the Harrisburg Patriot.
Pennsylvania kills eight of her work-
men every day. That sounds almost
like a casualty list from the Somme
front.
A Quiet Day in Gotham.
From the Philadelphia Record.
New York papers remark on the fact
that gold has been carried through the
streets without being stolen.
Where Even the Ticker Talks.
From the ‘Washington Star.
Wall street has added to its reputation
! as a somewhat gossipy old thoroughfare.
~——Put your ad. in the WATCHMAN.
SPAWLS FROM THE KEYSTONE.
—Harvey J. Moore, editor of the Oval “Ledg-
er,” and former postmaster, charged with dis-
crepencies in his postal accounts, was found
guilty.by a jury before Judge Charles B. Witmer
in United States court last week and sentenced
to thirty days in jail.
—A week to the hour after their hold-up of the
express messenger at Tarentum, Daniel King,
Carl Scwartz and John Hummell were sentenced
from five to ten years in the western penitentia-
ry for the crime. All of the $10,000 of the pay
roll has been recovered.
—Safe-blowers entered two motion picture
theaters at Uniontown early on Sunday, blew
open three safes and escaped with $1,300 in
money and valuable papers. The robbery was
committed during a blizzard, which it is believed
prevented sound of the explosions when the safes
were blown from being heard, and falling snow
covered the tracks of the robbers.
—The Lafayette hotel at Nant-y-Glo was burned
to the ground on Friday and the residence and
store of James Dunwiddie, formerly of Philips-
burg, were damaged, though not seriously. The
fire started in the hotel, and several of the occu-
pants had narrow escapes. The building was
owned by Mrs. Joseph Maxwell, and her loss
will be about $10,000. Mr. Dunwiddie’s loss will
be slight.
—Commissioner of Health Dixon has detailed
Assistant Engineer Drake to make an immediate
investigation of the outbreak of typhoid fever in
Etna, Allegheny county, where nineteen cases
have appeared since Christmas. It was stated
that over 1,000 vaccinations had been made in the
industrial section of Allegheny county as the re-
sult of discovery of smallpox in Braddock and
Turtle Creek.
—Major John Groome, superintendent of the
State Police in his annual report submitted to the
Governor on Saturday asks for at least 22 more
men in order to meet the demands made upon
the force. The force covers 45,000 square miles
and during the year received 5,188 requests for
assistance. Arrests totalled 3.027 for 82 different
sorts of crime. Convictions resulted in 80 per
cent. of the cases.
—Joseph D. Ferry, owner of a garage in Har-
risburg, and Alvin M. Hornberger, of Mohnton-
Berks county, were arrested and held under $10,-
000 bail by United States Commissioner Wolfe
on Tuesday, on the charge of making and pass-
ing counterfeit federal reserve bank notes. Ac-
cording to the secret service agents $15,000 worth
of bogus notes were made and $1,200 of the notes
put into’circulation.
—The Glen Hope Coal Mining company is the
name of a new operation recently opened in or
near Glen Hope, on the lands of John W. Patchin
and optioned by Alton Shoff, of Madera, and who
sold the lease to Campbell Bros., J. F. and Pat"
rick, for a good substantial sum. The lands
acquired by the Campbells is more than 200
acres underlaid with a vein of Moshannon coal
a trifleover four feet in thickness and increas-
ing as they drive.
—At a meeting of the State Board of Education
held Friday afternoon at the capitol in Harris-
burg, resolutions were adopted favoring an in-
crease of $50 per year in all salaries of public
school teachers and an appr opriation of $18,500,-
000 to the elementary and High schools of the
State for the next two years. Secretary Becht
was instructed to take up the matter of securing
the State’s share of the national appropriation
for vocational schools.
—Interests said to represent the Cambria Steel
company are preparing to install one of the larg-
est coal plants in Indiana county, in the Saltsburg
section. About 7,000 acres of coal, of the Pitts-
burgh seam, are to be developed, it is said. The
erection of a large number of houses is said tobe
included in the plans of the company. The Penn-
sylvania Railroad company is building a line into
the field. The new road will connect with the
Conemaugh division at Saltsburg.
—Some miscreant, name unknown, is charged
with creating a stink in the vicinity of Allenville,
Mifflin county, last Thursday night, when he or
she dug a hole under the fence and liberated 175
skunks at the farm of Frank Pecht. Mr. Pecht
has been in the skunk growing business for the
furs for several years and had just succeeded in
getting his area of land well populated with the
little animals. He was looking forward to a lu-
crative year in pelts when some one maliciously
liberated his breeders.
—When a horse owned by Eddie DiMarca,
prosperous Acosta, Somerset county merchant,
arrived home about 10 o'clock Saturday night
without a driver search was made for the owner,
whosedead body was found along the road a
mile from Acosta, a bullet hole through the lung.
Di Marca owned two stores and had spent the
evening at his place of business in Bell, three
miles away. In his pockets were $107 in cash.
Officers are looking for three men in an automo-
bile seen in the vicinity during that evening.
—State Highway Commissioner Frank B. Black
has issued a notice extending the life of the 1916
automobile license plates to February 1. The
prison labor commission is running behind on de-
liveries of 1917 tags to the department and this
new notice was necessitated by their failure to
catch up on deliveries. The Commissioner also
issued a notice to holders of non-paid operators’
licenses warning them not to destroy or throw
away the postal registration card being sent
them this year instead of the card formerly sent
in an envelope.
—Judge Charles E. Terry, of Wyoming county,
sat at Wilkes-Barre Saturday to hear arguments
on the motion to lift the non-suit order in the
$50,000 slander action of Councilman W. J. Cul-
len, of Hazleton, against Evangelist Henry W.
Stough. He refused to set aside the non-suit.
Counsel for Cullen argued that the statements
made by Doctor Stough during his Hazleton re-
vival were slanderous in that they charged Cul-
len was responsible for vice conditions in the
city. Lawyers for Stough argued that no crime
was imputed in the statements, and that the
charges were, therefore, not actionable.
—An examination of applicants for places on
the State Police force will be held at the rooms
of the Police Department in the capitol at Harris-
burg on February 1. There are fifteen vacancies
to fill. The list of vacancies is getting larger
every day, caused by the men resigning to take
better positions. Their pay from the State is
$75 per month, but many of them have resigned
to take places paying them from $90 to $100 per
month, giving as the reason that the State pay
is not sufficient for them, owing to the high cost
of living. Since the organization of the force
the pay has not increased and the cost of living
has doubled. Many of the men are snapped up
by the big manufacturing and munition plants as
foremen and captains of the guards.
—Fire of unknown origin last Thursday after-
noon destroyed the barn and entire contents on
the farm of Fred Dennison, near Point, Bedford
county. Mr. Dennison, in trying to save his
stock, was terribly burned about the face and
upper part of the body and the injuries may be
of a very serious nature. The loss will reach
$6.000 and the only insurance was $1,500, held by
the Bedford Urban Mutual Fire Insurance com-
pany. The barn was valued at $2,000, but the
great loss is on the contents, consisting of 2,000
bushels of corn (worth $1.25 per bushel),
600 bushels of wheat at $2, all farm ma-
chinery and implements, a new corn husker,
three horses, several cows, 120 hogs, 40 of which,
weighing 200 pounds apiece, Mr. Dennison had
sold to a Windber firm, to be delivered this
week, and 100 tons of hay.