Bema] adn.
BY P. GRAY MEEK.
———
INK SLINGS.
mn——
—_In twelve more days spring will
be here.
—_Pon’t blame it all on Bryan. He
was bad enough, but there were oth-
ers.
—The germ theory dates back to
1863 and every year we are getting
buggier over it.
__After all the new Cabinet making
was over the President just went and
made the old one over again.
— Many a man who didn’t vote to
put him there is thanking God that
‘Woodrow Wilson is there for the sec-
ond term.
_The ground hog has one more
week in which to reign. He has had
some grip on the weather this year,
all right enough.
— The opposition press is so busy
preparing for war these days that it
is forgetting to “shoot up” Josephus
Daniels, as usual.
__If Stone and LaFollette and Cum-
mins and the ten other Senators didn’t
commit the overt act on Sunday then
it never will be committed.
—We fancy that a very large ele-
ment of our population is of the
opinion that this “pone-dry’’ business
will turn out to have been the work
of “boneheads.”
Ambassador Gerard has passed
the danger zone on his way home and
his offer to remain in Berlin for an
indefinite period is now simply a line
in the history of a tragic period.
—We haven’t heard any of them at it
but it is reported that some of the
farmers who have asked and gotten
$2 for their wheat and $3 for their
potatoes are kicking like steers be-
cause “everything is so high.”
—Make up your mind now to do a
little something toward reducing the
high cost of your own living. Plant
a few potatoes and cabbages next
spring. That will help some, even if
you don’t carry your gardening ary
further.
_A small industry is said to be
lobking for a location in Bellefonte.
That’s the kind.we want. The little
fellows that might show healthy
growth and, at the same time, don’t
shock the business of the community
if they fail.
—_ Three million tons of herring are
used in Japan every year to fer-
““filize the rice fields. The Tice Feahipe
ped to this country and sells at from
eight to ten cents a pound. Herring
seli here at eighteen cents the pound.
Strange, isn’t it.
—Really, unless the wars are ended
soon we ought to give Woodrow an-
other term. He has been sitting on a
volcano all of his first term and it
looks like the same kind of a seat for
him for a year or so more, SO that he
is entitled to know the White House
for a few years when the clouds of
war are not lowering over it.
— The “little group of wilful
men,” to whom the President referred
as having “rendered the great gov-
ernment of the United States help-
less and contemptible,” represented
one other than themselves. A certain
ambitious but disappointed gentle-
man who left the cabinet some time
ago moulded the bullets they fired.
—Dr. Surface, once state-economic
zoologist, has been elected president
of the state association of bee keep-
ers. My, what a lot of things Dr.
Surface knows about. San Jose, cab-
bage worms and honey bees. Now
we'll expect a lot of apiaristic dope on
that Martin B., that rangks about
Harrisburg. The Doctor knows some-
thing of it because he felt its sting-
er-ee some time ago.
. —Rarely in the history of this coun-
try has the inauguration of a Presi-
dent been conducted with so little pub-
lic interest aroused as was that of
Woodrow Wilson on Monday. Yet it
is doubtful if ever this country was or
will be in such a grave crisis as it is
today. Realizing this statement to
be the truth does it not seem strange
that so little excitement should have
attended the ceremonies in Washing-
ton on Monday? It can be explained
only through the fact that the coun-
try has implicit confidence in Presi-
dent Wilson and can be calm because
it feels that whatever happens he will
be at the helm.
—_ Bellefonte woke up on Monday to
learn that an electric railway line to
extend from Williamsport to State
College had been under consideration
for months in the former city, but has
been abandoned. We see very little of
interest in the story. Had it originat-
ed most any other place than Wil-
liamsport some importance might
have attached to it, but everybody in
Central Pennsylvania knows that
Williamsport couldn’t project a trol-
ley line over the sixty-five mile route
to State College when it can’t project
a state road for more than three con-
tinuous miles into any part of Ly-
coming county.
_VOL. 62.
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
BELLEFONTE, PA.. MA
RCH 9, 1917.
NO. 10.
President Wilson’s Inaugural.
There was no necessity for a review
of the record of his first term of of-
fice of President Wilson in his address
inaugurating his second term. It is
a record of achievement which
“speaks for itself.” It covered a per-
iod of vast interest and tragic
events. But it served the vital pur-
pose of qualifying the principal agent
in the affairs of the time for the more
important work that he is likely to
encounter in the present and the fu-
ture. And in his second inaugural,
delivered on Monday, Woodrow Wil-
son shows that in every particular he
measures up to the requirements of
the future. He knows what the peo-
ple of the United States stand for
and makes others understand.
Upon the verge of war this coun-
try is for peace. But the peace which
is demanded must be based upon “the
actual equality of nations in all mat-
ters.” It cannot rest upon “an armed
balance of power.” Its foundation is
expressed in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence in the statement that “gov-
ernments derive all their just powers
from the consent of the governed.”
The peace which the people of the
United States will insist on, moreover,
is predicated on the principle “that
the seas shall be equally free and safe
to all peoples under rules set up by
common agreement and consent.”
These are the conditions under which
President Wilson proposes to guide
the country in the future as he has
striven to shape it in the past four
years.
In his second inaugural President
Wilson asks for the cordial and unit-
ed support of the people in his pur-
poses thus expressed. And he should
not ask in vain or be disappointed.
We are entering upon a new era of
national life. Without being less loy-
al to our own government we are now
“citizens of the world” and must live
up to the standard of that relation-
‘ship. The President will do his part
rthe fob isa diehas inthe paste dy
is for the people to do theirs. We
may not have to fight. It may not be
necessary to even go so far as at pres-
ent contemplated. But it ought to be
made possible to go to the limit if ex-
igencies require such a step and it is
up to the people.
A ———————————
Cloture in the Senate Necessary.
The freedom of speech and the li-
cense in discussion which has obtain-
ed in the United States Senate is one
of the cherished traditions of the gov-
ernment at Washington. Since the
first session of the First Congress no
restraint has been put upon the right
of Senators to express their views
upon pending legislation. This fact
has made the work of legislation in-
creasingly difficult from session to
session. In the beginning the same
liberty of debate existed in the House
of Representatives. But the recur-
ring increase in the membership ad-
monished the leaders in that body
many years ago that some form of
cloture was necessary to prevent the
complete clogging of the machinery
of legislation.
With the addition of new States the
membership of the Senate has been
increasing until some form of cloture
has become necessary in that chamber
also. For several years this necessi-
ty has been multiplying and as far
back as twenty-five years it has been
discussed. Several times cloture pro-
visions have almost been enacted.
But upon the crucial test in every in-
stance the tradition has intervened
and prevented the necessary legisla-
tion. The memory of the past, the
devotion to. the principles of free
speech, the appeal of the right of dis-
cussion have overcome every impulse
to change the rules in the hope that
in the future abuses of privilege
would be eliminated and justice pre-
vail.
But unhappily the Senate is no
longer made up of statesmen who are
influenced by patriotism and guided
by justice. When demagogues like
LaFollette and charlatans like Varda-
man were permitted to break into the
chamber and debase its deliberations
into selfish purposes the necessity for
cloture was made compelling and itis
gratifying to know that the episode,
the most disgraceful in the history of
the country, which attended the clos-
ing of the Fifty-fourth Congress, is
likely to be followed by such amend-
ment of the rules as will prevent such
things in the future. The extra ses-
sion of the body now in session could
direct its energies to no better pur-
pose.
Germany has been fostering a con-
into a war against the United States,
the Senate defeated a plan to defend
the country against hostile invasion.
Those responsible for this perfidy are
Wm. J. Stone, James A. O'Gorman,
Democrats, and Clapp, of Minnesota,
‘friendly relations absolves the gov-
Perfidy of a Few Senators.
In the face of positive proof that
spiracy to organize Mexico and Japan
primarily William Jennings Bryan,
Cummins, of Iowa; LaFollette, of
Wisconsin, and Norris, of Nebraska,
Republican Progressives. All of these
except O'Gorman are influenced in
all their actions by Mr. Bryan. Mr.
0’Gorman imagines that he has a
grievance against England upon the
Irish question. Not one of the whole
wretched group had a valid reason
for his action.
In the history of civilization there
has been no such betrayal of faith.
The President asked for authority to
resist a movement on the part of Ger-
many which has paralyzed the com-
mercial system of the United States.
Hundreds of ships laden with cargoes
representing ligitimate commerce are
held in American harbors because of
the menace of German submarines.
It is the bounden duty of the govern-
ment of the United States to remove
this restraint upon the commerce of
the people. But primarily it was the
duty of Congress to create conditions
which would permit the government
to fulfill its obligations and the fail-
ure to do so is perfidy. The Demo-
crats and others who brought this
condition about are guilty of treach-
ery to the country.
Among the Senators classed 2s
Democrats who participated in this
betrayal of the country, are Kirby, of
Arkansas; Lane, of Oregon, and
Vardaman, of Mississippi, in addition
to those above named. But these
jumping-jacks don’t count. Kirby
and Vardaman probably don’t know
that the Civil war is ended. Stone,
of Missouri, and O'Gorman, of New
were influenced
alien agencies which never ought to
have entered into the consideration.
As it is they have humiliated the
country and aided and abetted the
most treacherous enemy the country
has ever had. But their perfidy will
not avail. In ample time the authori
ty will be voted and their crime will
be punished.
——————————————
Senatorial Conspiracy Fails.
The conspiracy by which Senator
LaFollette and his associates in the
recent filibuster hoped to help Ger-
many in its ruthless war against
American commerce is not likely to
be more successful than that which
contemplated a war between Japan
and Mexico against the United States.
It has probably delayed the organi-
zation of armed neutrality for a few
days, but will accomplish no other re-
sult. Our merchant ships will be
equipped with arms. to destroy the
undersea craft notwithstanding the
failure of the enabling legislation. In
the opinion of the ablest lawyers the
President has ample authority under
the constitution and existing law to
act in the matter.
It has been said that under an Act
of Congress of 1819 our government
is forbidden the right of arming mer-
chant ships to meet this emergen-
cy. But that act will bear no such
interpretation. It was enacted for the
purpose of preventing privateers from
attacking war ships of friendly na-
tion. Her proclamation of January
31 of a purpose to do that which -the
government of the United States had
forbidden under penalty of breaking
ernment of the United States from
the obligation of the Act of 1819. The
attempt to incite Japan and Mexico
to war with the United States was an
overt and atrocious act of hostility.
But setting all these considerations
aside the United States has a right
to arm ships against submarines as a
measure of self-protection, the first
law of nations as well as of nature.
Germany never hesitates to take any
step required for self-protection and
in view of recent operations in Bel-
gium, Servia and other small States
she is estopped from making even
protest against such an expedient in
the circumstances. We are paying too
high a price for the ambitions of the
German Kaiser and the sooner the
President invokes the force at his
command the better. Demagogues
and traitors should not be allowed to
sacrifice the country and that fact
in their action by
Democrats are Willing to Help.
Senator Penrose announces that
after the extra session of the Senate
he will return to Philadelphia and ar-
range for the investigation of the
Governor.
ligence but not convincing informa-
tion. The recent attempt in that di-
rection expressed in the Sproul reso-
lution was not a success. The late
Mark Tapley was so hopeful that he
could extract sunshine out of the cu-
cumbers but Penrose will have to beat
him to a frazzle in order to achieve
the purpose he announces upon the
lines he usually lays for the compass
of political results. And recent his-
tory doesn’t inspire confidence in his
political predictions. In other words
he has not guessed right.
There is a way by which Mr. Pen-
rose might investigate the Governor
but it is a safe bet that he won't
adopt it. The ninety-five members of
the Legislature who voted for Bald-
win’s nomination for Speaker of the
House joined with the thirty-seven
Democrats in that body could pass
any proposition to investigate and
we have positive assurances that the
thirty-seven Democrats are not only
willing but anxious. The only condi-
tion that they present is that the in-
vestigation shall be fair and impar-
tial. Everybody knows that Brum-
baugh is culpable. No investigation
is required to prove that he has vio-
lated the laws in various and import-
ant particulars. The people of the
State would like to know all about
both sides of the controversy.
Of course the thirty-seven Demo-
cratic Representatives in the Legisla-
ture are not playing favorites and
are perfectly willing to help Brum-
baugh to stage the investigation
which he pretends to court. If we
can’t get a complete and comprehen-
sive investigation, for example, that
will take in Brumbaugh and Penrose,
then let us have one that will take in
and expose the iniquities of either of
B00 2%
sibly Penrose contemplates such an
investigation and that his statement
of his future purpose is based upon
ocrats will welcome him and guaran-
tee a job that will command admira-
tion.
Senator Snyder has introduced
a bill in the Senate at Harrisburg to
increase the minimum salaries of
school teachers in this State as fol-
lows: For all teachers holding profes-
sional or state certificates for a 7
months’ term $600; for an 8 months’
term $650; for a nine months’ term
$700; for more than 9 months, $750.
Teachers holding other certificates
are rated thus: For a 7 months’ term
$500; for the 8 months’ term $550; a
9 months’ $600; for more than 9
months $620.
Last week the “Watchman” an-
nounced that “March came in like a
lamb,” but it didn’t grow old meekly.
In fact Saturday night, Sunday and
Sunday night gave us the deepest
snowfall of the winter. By Monday
morning it was a foot deep and had
it not melted as it did on Sunday
there would have been at least fifteen
inches of snow. The snow was follow-
ed by colder weather on Monday and
Monday night.
— Some of our esteemed contem-
poraries are demanding that Congress
formally adopt the “Star Spangled
Banner” as the National anthem. But
what’s the use? It has already. been
adopted unanimously by the people of
the country and they are the highest
authority.
— The Hon. A. Mitchell Palmer
has arranged for certain changes in
the President’s cabinet to be made in
a few months. It is to be hoped that
he will give the President notice of
his purpose in time to avoid incon-
veniences.
— The plans of the President have
been postponed but not defeated.
American commerce will be resumed
before long notwithstanding that “lit-
tle group of wilful men” who appear
to be working for the Kaiser.
Senator Penrose would hav
voted for the “armed neutrality” bill
but declined to certify the fact in
writing. The Senator is too timid to
be safe.
— Well it was Zimmerman’s time
to blunder. All his associates in the
Berlin government beat him to it but
should be established at once.
he was due.
This is gratifying intel- |
such a plan. If that be true the Dem-,
|
= {of delegates to the Cong
Centre County Suffragists Held Inter-
esting Convention.
The fourth Centre county conven-
tion of the Woman’s Suffrage porty
convened at the High school building
Tuesday, March 6th, at 10 a. m. Be-
cause of snow blocked roads only a
few members from neighboring towns
and country side were able to attend
but the interest and enthusiasm of
those present amply demonstrated the
earnestness of purpose behind the
movement.
The convention was called to order
by the county chairman, Mrs. Robt.
M. Beach. Reading of the minutes by
the secretary, Mrs. John S. Walker,
treasurer's report, Miss Mary G.
Meek and auditor’s report, Mrs. Ed-
mund Blanchard followed. Then came
the reports of borough and township
leaders. These were interesting,
showing as they did obstacles encoun-
tered and overcome in the various
communities and the steady growth
in sentiment favoring suffrage
throughout the county. Mrs. W. B.
Johnston, of Howard, gave an enter-
taining account of her method of
work in securing a large number of
signatures of people favoring suffrage
for Pennsylvania women. Her ex-
periences proved nothing should be
taken for granted. Where she had
been warned to expect opposition she
frequently found hearty support. In
discussion it was brought out that the
apathy toward the issue in certain
districts was due to policy, rather
than personal opinion.
Mrs. R. S. Brouse reported the
State convention at Williamsport
and Miss Meek, chairman of the
finance committee, outlined the plan
for financing the county, state and
national organizations and named the
apportionment to each borough and
township organization in the ctunty.
The morning session then adjourn-
ed and a box luncheon was served in
the domestic science room.
The first work of the afternoon ses-
sion was the nomination and elesti
gression and
bY
State conventions. They were na
as follows: Mrs. John S. Walker,
Bellefonte; Mrs. Jacob Hoy, Benner
township; Mrs. Frank Gardner, State
College; Miss Susan Shipley, Union-
ville; Miss Anna Dale, Boalsburg, and
Mrs. Cook Leathers, Howard. The
alternates are Mrs. Frank Fisher,
Penn Hall; Misses Grace Smith and
Florence Rhone, Centre Hall; Miss
Blanche Kunes, Blanchard, and Miss
Blanche Buddinger, Snow Shoe.
Mrs. Frank Gardner, of State Col-
lege, explained points in the constitu-
tion and Mrs. John Lyon read plans
formulated by the state board for fu-
ture effective work.
The address of the afternoon was
now given by Mrs. Edward E. Kier-
nan, of Somerset, 2nd vice president
of Pennsylvania Woman’s Suffrage
association. Mrs. Kiernan spoke of the
importance of the effective service
the various organized bodies of wom-
en throughout the country can render
for the government in the event of
war. Service made possible through
the training received in organized
work, in federated clubs, united work
for Red Cross, temperance and suf-
frage. She laid special emphasis
upon the motherly instinct, exercised,
first of all in the home but stretching
out from it to the community, the
State, the nation, even to the world
at large. That motherliness which
gives special love and care to the
weak and down trodden. She touch-
ed upon the Congress of Mothers
and Parent Teachers associations
upon which she would talk at length
at eight o’clock, and spoke enthu-
siastically of the courses in home
making in all its phases now
being given in many of the pub-
lic schools throughout the country.
Mrs. Kiernan was an earnest, animat-
ed talker who held the interested at-
tention of her audience. At the close
of her address the convention stood
adjourned. .
— From one of the “Watchman’s”
appreciated subscribers in Philipsburg
was received last week an interesting
letter regarding the farmer’s insti-
tute held there on Monday and Tues-
day. Unfortunately the communica-
tion was received too late for publica-
tion last week and it is too old now to
have any news value. Contributions
for publication in this paper should
reach this office not later than Wed-
nesday. Any time in the future that
our Philipsburg subscriber contributes
anything of interest we will be glad to
use it.
n §
—Put your ad. in the WATCHMAN.
SPAWLS FROM THE KEYSTONE.
—Fully 400 strike-breakers, negroes and
whites, from New York, were imported by
the New York Central & Hudson River
R. R. Co., to take the places of striking
shopmen at Clearfield.
—The counties of Huntingdon and Blair
and the Pennsylvania railroad have joined
hands for the improvement of the William
Penn highway between Union Furnace and
Tyrone. The road will be shortened, and
widened, and a new concrete bridge will
be built. Huntingdon borough will im-
prove the highway in that borough.
—Governor Martin G. Brumbaugh on
Friday issued a proclamation setting aside
Friday, April 13th, and Friday, April 27th,
as Arbor days. In urging citizens of the
Commonweaith to plant trees, in his proc-
lamation Governor Brumbaugh said that
“to face the task of restoring these forests
is a duty both imminent and practical.”
—Fifty-two prisoners are incarcerated
in the Northumberland county prison just
now. Of these one is a woman. She is
Mrs. James Buggy, of Shamokin, who
confessed to the murder of her step-daugh-
ter, Eleanor Buggy, more than a week
ago. Mrs. Buggy is morose and sullen,
and has little to say, according to the jail
attaches. She is being closely watched.
—C. Lawrence Shepley, city editor eof
the Harrisburg “Telegraph” has just
been elected managing secretary of the
DuBois Chamber of Commerce by the di-
rectors of that organization, to succeed
Paul Gendell, who recently resigned to ac-
cept the appointment of superintendent
of the Philadelphia office of the State Em-
ployment Bureau and the Emergency Aid.
—All members of the Franklin fire de-
partment, including chief Frank D. Grimm,
the electrician, two drivers and nine min-
ute men, resigned on Tuesday, to take ef-
fect March 15th. Council immediately ac-
cepted the resignations and advertised for
a complete new set of firemen. The fire-
men gave no reason for their actiom, but
it is understood to he the result of coun-
cil assuming general oversight of the de-
partment recently.
—About 500 shopmen walked out of the
Avis shops, at Jersey Shore, at noon Wed-
nesday of last week, when the New York
Central Railroad company refused an in-
crease in wages. At 11 o'clock Friday
morning orders were received to abandon
the shops, board up the windows and ship
all machinery to other points. Work on
dismantling the machinery was begun at
once. It will be a serious blow to Jersey
Shore if the shops are dismantled for good.
—Theodore Roosevelt's offer of himself
and his four sons for service in the army
in the event of war was completely over-
shadowed this week by the announcement
of William Albright, of Clearfield county.
Mr. Albright has fourteen sons and seven
daughters, and he offers the services of
the entire family to the government if war
comes. “The girls will enter the Red
Cross service,” he says. Another son was
killed in an automobile accident last year.
—Big Soldier, the thriving mining town
two miles out of Reynoldsville, was the
scene of a fire late Saturday night that
totally destroyed the tipple of the Jeffer-
son & Clearfield Coal & Iron company, to-
gether with valuable machinery, entailing
a loss of $30,000 and throwing over 400
men out of employment for several weeks.
The fire also means that close to 1,000
tons of coal will be withdrawn from the
market daily, as this is the output
SoRIIeF Bites: rR ig ia a
— While workmen were engaged in tear-
ing down an old shed at the Muth ware-
house on Bainbridge street, KElizabeth-
town, on Monday afternoon, they found a
tin box hidden under one of the logs and
when opening it found it contained a lot
of checks, receipts, ete., of the Pennsylva-
nia Railroad company. Station Agent C.
J. McLaughlin was notified and upon in-
vestigation it was found to be the effects
that were stolen from the safe that was
blown up some time ago in the Elizabeth-
town depot.
—-Attorney Jobn C. Forsyth, of Clear-
field, has entered suit against the United
Mine Workers on behalf of the Potts lun
Lumber company, operating mines at
Boardman and Maple Run for violation of °
the district agreement as to the price for
coal mining. These suits grew out of
strikes at the points mentioned where the
men went out after demanding $1.00 per
ton instead of the 75c. price agreed upon
when the scale was signed. The suits are
brought against the local unions at these
points and each individual member is
named as defendant.
—Ray, the 14 year old son of Mr. and
Mrs. Samuel Hartzfeldt, of Brady town-
ship, Clearfield county, was shot in the
stomach and almost instantly killed on
Wednesday night, February 28th. About
twenty youg men were serenading John
Miller and bride, and following a custom
too common in country districts, guns
and revolvers were used to make a noise.
There was much promiscuous shooting,
and unfortunately young Hartzfeldt, who
was also taking part in the celebration,
got within range of one of the weapons
and met a tragic death.
__R. J. Mattern, assignee of the Hunt-
ingdon bank, will begin on Monday next
the payment of the third dividend to the
creditors of that institution, which failed
and closed its doors June 10th, 1911. The
present distribution of ten per cent.
amounts to $56,000 and goes to about 2200
individuals and firms. The payments will
be made by check. The coming distribu-
tion is the third, making a total payment
of 3214 per cent. to the depositors. As-
signee Mattern expects to be able to pay
another dividend, about 7% per cent., be-
fore the affairs are finally wound up.
__After several trips to the Isle of Que
in the Susquehanna river just opposite
Selinsgrove, where the big elk that had
formerly been holding forth in the Lew-
jstown Narrows is at present established,
Game Protector J. J. Slauterback, of Lew-
isburg, will attempt a recapture of the
big animal. The warden expects to have
a high stockade constructed into which
the elk can be driven and then captured.
After capture the animal will be put in a
big crate and shipped back to Centre
county, from the wilds of which it es-
caped two years age.
—A verdict in the sum of $685 was re-
turned by a jury in the Clearfield county
court last Thursday in favor of James
Read, against members of the Golden Ea-
gle Lodge, of New Millport. The verdict
is against the defendants as individuals
and not as Lodge members as it was held
that the degree through which they were
putting young Read when he was killed
was not a part of the ritual of the Order.
Leon Read was killed on November 2nd,
during an initiation into the mysteries of
the Order. Nine men tossed him up in a
blanket and he fell off it and received in-
juries which resulted in his death.
he tsi