Peworriic, atc
BY P. GRAY MEEK
INK SLINGS.
—Several years ago the simple life
was a fad. Now it is a necessity.
—Talking about “keeping Lent,” it
is easier for an umbrella than any-
thing else we know of.
——While thinking of Lincoln the
other day a little sympathy for Wil-
son would have been in order.
—At Clarence on Sunday morning,
February 9th, 1908, thermometers
registered 29 degrees below zero.
—Make up your mind now that
when next summer comes you are
going to lay in your winter’s supply
of coal.
—Russia being out of the war it is
up to us to throw that much more
weight into the balance in favor of
the Allies.
—Half a loaf is better than no bread
at all and unless we speedily accept
the half-loaf proposal we are invit-
ing the time when we will have no
bread.
—Ladies! Corn bread is said to be
wonderful for the complexion. It
beats all the “beauty shop” creams
ever concocted. Eat thereof and knit,
and thereby do a double bit.
—Surprising how many Republi-
cans there are who think they are fit
to be Governor of Pennsylvania. This
is probably because in recent years
the standard of fitness has been grad-
ually lowered.
—Ten cars of coal rolled into Belle-
fonte on Monday night, but nature
had thawed us out and it didn’t look
half as good as it would have ten days
ago when the mercury was 70 degrees
lower and there wasn’t a car in sight.
—The fifty-fifty order on. wheat
flour purchases doesn’t mean that you
can buy twenty-five pounds of flour
and twenty-five pounds of substitute;
then eat the flour and go back for
more on the theory that you still have
twenty-five pounds of substitute in
your home. The purpose of the plan
is to have you get along with half as
much wheat flour as you formerly
used by substituting something else in
for the other half.
—Mayor Keister, of Harrisburg,
has blazed a trail for municipal po-
tentates all over the State. He has
construed the vagrancy law as to ap-
ply to every person who doesn’t work
and is going to see to it that a lot of
chronic loafers in his home city be-
come producers instead of continuing
as drones. More power to him and
we respectfully commend his exam-
ple to the serious consideration of our
own Burgess Walker.
—We note with satisfaction and
much of hopefulness that the leaders.
..of our party in Pennsylvania have
had their ears to the ground and have
decided against the plan of star cham-
ber nominations, so repugnant to the
ideals of Democracy. Two or three
men are not going to meet in Wash-
ington, as formerly, and then send
out the names of the nominees whom
we are to vote for. An open confer-
ence is to be held, free discussion of
the merits and availability of prospec-
tive candidates is to be permitted and
party opinion rather than individual
is to be the guide. Let us hope that
the plan is carried into execution, for
if it is we can win in Pennsylvania
next fall. If it isn’t the campaign will
be lost before it is started.
—Suppose the government, should
grow tired of begging us to gave flour
and other food stuffs. Spo it
should then go into the markst and
buy all it needs to supply our aries
and permit our allies to do the same.
What would happen: It wouldnt be
necessary to be begging and explain-
ing to us the necessity of saving, be-
cause we would then be at the mercy
of a supply depleted to the point
where we would have to consume on
less than a fifty-fifty basis or do with-
out entirely. We don’t appreciate
what the government is doing for us.
That’s the trouble. It is really trying
to make what we have go as far as
possible and at the same time keep
the price within our means. Don’t
for a moment lose sight of the fact
that flour is lower in price today than
it was a year ago or that it would
probably be two or three times as
high as it is now were the government
to go into the market and buy what it
needs, leaving us to look out for our-
selves.
—The coal famine in Bellefonte ne-
cessitated the cembination of several
churches; that is two congregations
of different denomination worship to-
gether in one edifice; the respective
pastors taking Sunday about in offi-
ciating. The result has been surpris-
ing. Instead of four half filled au-
ditoriums there are two almost crowd-
ed and there is the feeling and inspi-
ration that a revival is in progress.
The splendid singing inspires the pew
the fine audience inspires the pastor
and the service arouses a new enthu-
giasm. This accidental massing of
church going people is not without
its lesson. There is very little sec-
tarian preaching any more. Minis-
ters are all pouring out the simple
gospel of the saving grace of Jesus
Christ, for that is all the world needs,
and inasmuch as it is human nature
to want to be where the crowd is
would it not be better to have a few
churches crowded than a lot half fill-
ed. Let the word get abroad that the
S. R. O. sign is out at one of the
churches and you'll find piles. of peo-
ple who wouldn’t walk in and take the
best seat on ordinary occasions greas-
in’ themselves to try to squeeze into
the vestibule.
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
NO. 7.
yor. ¢3.
BELLEFONTE, PA.. FEBRUARY 15, 1918.
1
Russian Peace and Austrian Prospects |
Mr. Humes Justly Complains.
Good Results Accomplished.
i
Except in so far as the Russian; Mr. E. Lowrey Humes, United | The insincerity of Senators Hitch-
peace pact releases German troops
for service on the Western and Ital-
ian fronts it can afford the Kaiser
little help. Since the Russian revolu-
tion nearly a year ago that contin-
gent has been a liability rather than
an asset to the allies. Under the
peace treaty the Russian troops will
be demobilized and the German forces
on that front may be considerably de-
ereased. But the German prisoners
held in Russia will not be available
for several months and the Russian
granaries will not be accessible to
Germany for as long a time. In view
of these facts the rejoicing in Germa-
ny following the announcement that
a peace treaty has been agreed on was
rather excessive.
During the early stages of the war
hundreds of thousands of German and
Austrian troops were captured by the
Russians and since that have been
lodged in Siberia and at other remote
points. It will take a long time and
a vast amount of money and trouble
to transport them to points where
they may be of service to Germany.
Besides that the Bolsheviki is not in
control of such sections of Russia as
might be of the greatest service to
the Kaiser. The delay in getting at
the wheat supplies will be vastly aug-
mented by the danger in transporting
the wheat. Meantime the forces of
the allies are being increased rapidly
and before the peace treaty yields an
advantage worth while another treaty
may be made which will put both the
Kaiser and the Bolsheviki traitors be-
yond the power of harm.
In an address to Congress on Mon-
day President Wilson plainly pointed
a way for Austria-Hungary to escape
the further tragedies and privations
of a war instituted and prosecuted for
the aggrandizement of a selfish au-
tocracy. His tender friendship of a
tottering people may not get an im-
mediate response but if the contrary
developes before Germany gets any
advantage from a corrupt bargain
with perfidious agents in Russia there
need be no surprise. Count Czernin
has already signified his sympathy
with some of the propositions of the
President and it is not improbable
that upon a sober, second thought he
will come to desire a peace that will
endure because it is just.
——The disaster to the Tuscania
was lamentable, of course, but such
things must be expected. We are
sending great numbers of troops
across the sea and Germany is very
anxious to prevent their arrival. That
so few have been prevented thus far
is a subject for rejoicing. .
President Wilson and the Farmer.
President Wilson revealed his splen-
did attitude in relation to public af-
fairs in response to the delegates to
the Federal Board of Farm Organiza-
tions, recently in session in Washing-
ton when they called upon him. The
delegates presented a memorial urg-
ing the President to “appoint a com-
mission of nine from their body to
serve as an intermediary between the
government and the farmers in solv-
ing agricultural and labor problems.”
There is certainly great need for an
understanding between these ele-
ments. The farmers are literally
“up against” the most perplexing sit-
uations. They have their own inter-
ests to conserve and they want to
serve the country. There should be
coordination.
President Wilson didn’t undertake
to shift responsibility on this import-
ant question. He didn’t dismiss his
memorialists with vague promises of
future action. He didn't deceive them
by pretenses that he was too deeply
absorbed in other problems to give
their suggestions just consideration.
He clearly and candidly replied that
he could not, off-hand, answer so im-
portant a memorial as theirs. But
he assured them it would receive his
“most careful, respectful attention.”
He said that many of the suggestions
contained in the memorial had been
under consideration and he expressed
the belief that many of them are ap-
proaching as successful solution as he
is able to work out for them.
In the last analysis the farmers of
the country are the support of the
government. Upon them, in the end,
will devolve the duty of winning the
war. The feeding of the armies is a
vast task but only a small part of the
obligations which the farmers have or
must in the near future assume. The
families and dependents of the fight-
ing men must be supported and the
farmers must provide the materials
for their sustenance. Therefore the
President was right when he express-
ed pleasure at meeting these repre-
sentatives of the farmers, apprecia-
tion of their patriotism and confidence
in their unselfishness. And he was as
sincere as he was candid in discussing
problems with them.
——Besides that President Wilson’s
speech may create a revolution in
Germany which bayonets can't sup-
press.
-
States District Attorney for the
Western district of this State, seems
to have gubernatorial aspirations and
the right idea of selecting a Demo-
cratic candidate for that office. In a
recent interview he deprecated the
habit of a handful of office holders as-
sembling in a city outside of the State
and picking candidates for the party.
Possibly if the few had indicated a
preference for him, he would have
condoned the offence now as he has
in the past. In fact he declares that
only because Mr. Vance McCormick
declines to run “it is necessary that
the sentiments of the Democrats of
the State should be determined in or-
der that the most available men and
strongest candidate should be nomi-
nated.” Why this distinction is not
revealed.
As Mr. Humes says “the prospects
of electing a Democratic Governor
this year are very excellent.” Every
reasoning mind is set against the
scheme of the Republican factions to
give Philadelphia over to one machine
and the rest of the State to another,
to loot. But the Democratic voters
will not vote for candidates chosen by
a small group of office holders with-
out giving them an opportunity to
participate in the choice. Mr. Humes’
protest was brought out because
Congressman Campbell, of Pitts-
burgh, had announced that a candi-
date had been picked in Washington
who would be forced on the party.
The protest was timely and appropri-
ate. Even if the most capable and
popular man in the State had been
selected under such circumstances
there would have been cause for com-
plaint.
The abandonment of the State con-
ventions was a cunning trick of craf-
ty politicians to perpetuate their con-
trol of party organizations and ma-
chinery. Since 1912 there has not
been an opportunity to discover suit-
able material for party leadership.
In the Democratic party, for example,
less than a dozen men have chosen
the candidates, distributed the favors
and manipulated the machinery since
that time. Not a single new figure
has been added to the group.or a new
thought introduced into the councils. |
Mr. Humes justly protests against
the continuance of this condition. He |
may have been moved by selfishness
or influenced by ambition. But what-
ever the cause he gave expression to
a thought which is growing in the
minds of the Democratic voters of
Pennsylvania.
—Don’t bawl your grocer out if he
won’t sell you all the flour you think
you ought to have. Look in the mir-
ror and see just what a person who
hasn’t enough patriotism to make
some sacrifices for his country looks
like.
Disappointment for Denny O’Neil.
In so far as Denny O’Neil is de-
pending upon the Vare influence to
get him the Republican nomination
for Governor he is destined to a sad
disappointment. Senator ‘ Vare is
going to support his colleague in the
General Assembly, Senator Sproul.
It may not be “a labor of love.” Pos-
sibly it will be a support reluctantly
given because Senator Vare under-
stands that the inauguration of
Sproul as Governor will mark an in-
dellible line shutting him out of the
councils of the State. But it will cre-
ate a vast reservoir of graft in the
city of Philadelphia in which Vare
may wallow like a Hog Island porker,
indefinitely. It will guarantee “the
bacon” in inexhaustible quantity for
four years’ of stealing.
And Denny O’Neil is making it easy
for Senator Vare to determine his
course in the primary campaign. His
appeal to the church, the Christian
association and the Prohibition socie-
ties is simply blazing the way through
a forest of uncertainty for Senator
Vare to march into the Penrose camp.
The liquor interests have not been un-
friendly to Vare. The purveyors of
vice and the element of evil in the
“tenderloin” of the big city have no
aversion to the Vares. A wink from
big business cautiously tipped has
never failed of a rise from the Vares.
And these potential elements in the
politics of Pennsylvania are not en-
thusiastic for Denny O’Neil. On the
contrary they are quite the reverse.
Then Denny O’Neil is gathering
about him an element with which it
would be impossible for the Vares to
affiliate. Of course they have toler-
ated Brumbaugh because he has been
a convenient instrument in their
hands during his term of office. But
when he loses his power he will for-
feit their support. And Gifford Pin-
chot! Setting him up in the face of
the Vares is like flashing a red flag
in the face of a mad bull. In view of
these incidents it will be easy enough
for the Vares to let Dave Lane, Har-
ry Mackey and kindred spirits in the
Philadelphia Republican committee
steer them away from the O’Neil can-
tonment and into the camp of Penrose
and the support of Sproul.
{ cock, Chamberlain and others in nag-
ging the President and incidentally
conveying information to Germany, is
revealed in their opposition to the
Overman bill. They professed that
their only reason for demanding a
War Council and Minister of Muni-
tions was to centralize authority and
coordinate the work of preparing for
war. They protested that a War
Council of three persons and a Minis-
ter of Munitions would compass the
result. The Overman bill provides
for even a closer corporation in this
direction. It vests in the President
full authority to do the work they de-
clare to be necessary, absolutely free
of the danger of disagreement.
If there was any merit in the prop-
osition to create a War Council it is
preserved in the Overman bill. A
War Council would have been in di-
rect conflict with the provision of the
Federal constitution which declares
the President shall be commander in
chief of the army and navy. He has
no option in the matter. The provis-
ion is mandatory and if he desired to
“pass the buck,” as the German sym-
pathizers like to put it, he is forbid-
den. But the Overman bill points a
way by which the purpose or the
functions of a war council may be met
within the limits of the constitutional
authority. It authorizes the President
to so adjust or organize the depart-
ments and bureaus of the government
that the desirable coordination may
be obtained.
But the traitorous Senators are not
willing to put their own methods into
operation without humiliating the
President and violating the constitu-
tion. We can see how Senators who
were opposed to the Hitchcock and
Chamberlain scheme might consist-
ently object to the Overman bill. It
is drastic and if misused might work
disastrous consequences. At its worst,
however, it couldn't be any worse than
the Chamberlain plan and it would
have the merit of being within the
constitution while his proposition is
not. It may not pass but has already
served an excellent purpose. It has
exposed the hypocrisy of certain Sen-
ators and left them in the lime light
as contemptible traitors.
——General Pershing says that “if
the French line holds the Germans
back until April or May my predic-
tion is that nothing can stop the allies
from breaking through the German
lines and bringing the Kaiser to his
knees.” And while he isin that
prayerful attitude a swift kick under
the chin might send him to the grave
in proper shape.
Penrose Must Pay the Price.
It seems that the terms upon which
Senator Penrose has purchased the
temporary co-operation of the Vares
are more humiliating than were at
first indicated. The Senator is re-
quired to accept John R. K. Scott as
the candidate for Lieutenant Gover-
nor. Not long ago Senator Penrose
made public his estimate of Mr. Scott.
He described Scott as a sort of
“spawn of the slums” who has grown
rich by levying tribute upon vice. A
debased Quarter Sessions lawyer, the
Senator intimated, his clients are
drawn from the red-light section of
the city and his professional activi-
ties limited to that environment. To
have such a candidate forced on him
would be intolerable to an honorable
man.
But Senator Penrose seems to be
equal to the emergency. Not long
ago Theodore Roosevelt denounced
him as a moral monster unfit for as-
sociation with decent citizens but he
is now hobnobbing with Roosevelt as
the most promising source of party
spoils. Of course Roosevelt and
Scott have no cause to worry. They
have sounded the depths and even if
their estimate of Penrose previously
expressed remains unchanged they
lose nothing by the combination. You
can't make pitch blacker any more
than gold can be improved by gild-
ing.
of Penrose to the level of these polit-
ical pirates is surprising. He was
well born, well educated and ought to
do better.
The Vares have set the price of
their services to Penrose, however,
and laid down the conditions upon
which he may affiliate with them. The
city of Philadelphia must be turned
over to their predatory purposes and
John R. K. Scott named as the candi-
date for Lieutenant Governor. It is
a high as well as a humiliating price
but.it must be paid “or else.” It is a
trifle hard on Sproul too, whose so-
cial and moral status has been on a
higher level. But Sproul is “between
the devil and the deep blue sea” and
must accept the conditions presented
or give up his long cherished ambi-
tion to be Governor. It is not a the-
ory that confronts him. It is a hard,
horrible and humiliating fact which
must be met.
—Just thirty-four days until the
first day of spring.
But the voluntary degredation:
“This is War!”
From the Lancaster Intelligencer.
While the loss of the Tuscania is
not a disaster of the appalling sort in-
dicated by the first despatches, it
missed being that by a very narrow
margin, and only because there were
plenty of vessels at hand to rescue
the human cargo under favorable
weather conditions and near to a
friendly shore. Even so, the number
of lives lost is great enough to make
a profound impression throughout
the country, re-awakening that dread
of the lurking submarines which had
so long been slumbering lulled by the
assurance that our troops were going
over without let or hindrance from
the subs; so careful and thorough
were the measures taken for their
safety. :
Now it will be remarked that it
was a British transport under the con-
voy of British war ships and some
will assume that an American vessel
under our own naval convoy would
have been safer, but there is no war-
rant for that, the British having an
unbroken record for the safe trans-
Atlantic movement of Canadian
troops. The disaster will serve to
urge even more elaborate and thor-
ough precautions against U-boat at-
tack and for life saving in the event
of attack; also redoubled energy in
offensive search for the German subs.
Perhaps it may also urge the long-
discussed policy of a great allied na-
val offensive against the German sub-
marine bases; a policy which many
American naval experts have favored
from the moment when we entered
the war; attack of that sort, regard-
less of probable losses, being in har-
mony with all our naval traditions
from the sea fights and lake battles
of our revolution in 1812 to the days
of Farragut and Dewey. There is
reason to believe that a great naval
offensive by the British, French and
American fleets has only been await-
ing the right moment for effective co-
ordination with military operations.
Particularly as success might give a
new base for an army.
At any rate, the sinking of the Tus-
cania will further inflame the war
spirit throughout the land. Our
troops already on the front will be
eager to score against such savage
foes and those who are going over will
be none the less earnest for realizing
more keenly the danger of the cross-
ing. Once again we are reminded
that “this is war.”
Turn On the Light!
From the Johnstown Leader.
After all the fault finding as to de-
tails, the country now knows that
Uncle Sam did a big job in a big way
—and didn’t shout it from the house-
tops while he was doing: it.
It appears now tha“ instead of being
negligent in the matter of making
heavy artillery, we are playing the
game according to agreement with
our Allies—letting them make the big
guns for us.
As shipping is the crucial thing in
winning the war, the tonnage saved
for other purposes, by having the Al-
lies make our big guns, is vastly im-
portant. It means more food, supplies
and more American soldiers transpor-
ed.
It is enough to know, however, that
our part of the general Allied pro-
gram has been and is being complete-
ly performed. We are doing what
our Allies want us to do, all that they
expect us to do and the way they want
us to do it.
We believe it would be good policy
in the future for the War Department
to make public all the information it
possibly can about the conduct of the
war. Yes, it would be well to give the
public information even if some of it
does reach Germany.
The people are well united in sup-
port of the President. They want to
back him up to a victorious finish.
But they ought to know enough about
the war to enable them to avoid the
snares laid for their judgment by any
who want to play politics with the
war.
If Secretary Baker persists in the
policy of frankness adopted in his last
appearance before the Military Affairs
committee, the people themselves will
attend to the politicians, no matter
what party claims their allegiance.
War in Earnest.
From the New York Sun.
War 3,000 miles away is we see,
close at hand in the very center of our
hearts, when comes the slaughter of
American troops. We had expected
it would be in the field. It is on the
sea. None the less it strikes home.
Now the nation will be aroused as it
has not been since the Lusitania atroc-
ity, although we have been under
arms for nearly a year. At last we
shall know what this war means. We
shall buckle down to the biggest job
of fighting the world has ever known.
The American people will go to their
war with all that is in them.
Mark Tapley at the Bat.
From the Omaha Bee.
Other evidence to the contrary, this
has been the shortest winter in our
national history—we have been short
of wheat, short of meat, short of fu-
el, short of clothing and short of
about everything but hope and cour-
age.
——The Kaiser appears to have a
special aversion against American
soldiers and unless the signs are mis-
leading he will have greater reason
for his hatred within the next few
months.
SPAWLS FROM THE KEYSTONE.
—While Joseph Rovito, of Shamokin,
was negotiating for renewed fire insurance,
an oil stove explosion burned ‘his store,
at $5000 dead loss.
—For his official services during the
month of January, Burgess J. Calvin, of
Hollidaysburg, tendered a bill to the bor-
ough council for 30 cents. The burgess re-
ceives his compensation on a commission
basis and the business done in his depart-
ment for a month aggregated only $3.
—Another case of smallpox has develop-
ed in South Philipsburg, Mrs. Matt Ren-
wick being the latest victim. Quarantine
was placed on the house Sunday morning
and all precautions have been taken. The
schools of South Philipsburg have been
closed for two weeks to avoid any further
spread of the dreaded disease.
—With the refusal of the Shamokin bor-
ough council to grant them a wage in-
crease of $10 a month, the entire force of
patrolmen, including chief of police and
house sergeant, Wednesday night gave
Chief Burgess Zimmerman ten days’ no-
tice of their resignations, if council. fails
to reconsider the refusals. The patrolmen
receive twenty-one cents an hour for an
eleven hour day.
—Robert Patton Habgood, of Bradord,
twice a member of the House of Represen-
tatives and formerly president of the Re-
publican State League of clubs has an-
nounced his candidacy for the gubernato-
rial nomination at the Republican prima-
ries next May. Mr. Habgood declares him-
self a friend of the proposed Prohibition
amendment and of Woman Suffrage. He
says factionalism in his party has gone to
seed.
—Deputy Attorney General Hargest has
advised Secretary of Agriculture Patton
that under the dog law of 1917 county
treasurers are not entitled to extra pay
for the work imposed upon them by the
statute, but that a county treasurer has
authority to employ clerks necessary to
carry out the provisions of the act. The
Secretary of Agriculture is also advised
that persons wanting dog taxes forwarded
to them by mail must pay the postage on
them.
—With a roar that was heard all over
the village and with a crashing of glass
in every house within 2,000 feet, the Shef-
field plant of the Interior Oil and Gas com-
pany let go shortly after nine o'clock last
Tuesday morning. How the accident hap-
pened or what caused it is unknown and
George Gray, the only person on the prem-
ises, was blown through one wall of the
building and escaped unhurt. Fire follow-
ed the explosion and destroyed the plant,
with a loss of $20,000, and a neighboring
house with a loss of $500.
——Mrs. Catherine Duffy, of Jenkintown,
was seriously and possibly fatally burned
at her home in that borough last Tuesday
afternoon, when she attempted to thaw
out a frozen pipe, using rolled newspapers
for the purpose. Her clothing was ignit-
ed and her screams brought a son, James,
who was on another floor. The woman
was a veritable torch when the son reach-
ed the bathroom. The son’s hands were
burned as he tore the clothing from his
mother, stamping out the flames to pre-
vent the house being ignited.
—J. F. Kline, aged twenty-three years,
is in a critical condition at the Mary M.
Packer hospital, Sunbury, suffering from a
bullet wound in his chest following an af-
fair which occurred Saturday night at the
establishment of S. F.- Rooser, near Nor-
thumberland. Rooser was arraigned be-
fore a justice of the peace of Sunbury on
Monday morning and held pending the
outcome of Kline's condition. It is al-
leged that Kline made an effort to force
an entrance to the place when Rooser ap-
peared upon the scene. A fight ensued
and the shooting followed.
—John R. Thompson, of Salona, has a
Holstein cow which gave birth to twin
calves on Saturday, February 2. On the
following Wednesday another thorough-
bred Jersey cow in the same herd on Mr.
Thompson's farm gave birth to another
pair of calves. In each pair one is a male
and the other a female and one is red and
the other black. The only way of account-
ing for the rapid increase in Mr. Thomp-
son’s herd is the fact that he is chairman
of the Agricultural committee and a mem-
ber of the Finance and Livestock commit-
tee of the Clinton county
committee.
Public Safety
—Pennsylvania will not only have a rec-
ord breaking maple sugar crop, but one
which will be very valuable in the present
shortage of sugar, according to informa-
tion received by officials in Harrisburg,
who have been hearing from various coun-
ties where the tapping of trees will soon
begin. The State Forestry authorities are
being asked by many people for informa-
tion as to the way to get the sugar. Last
year the production of the State, accord-
ing to the Department of Agriculture was
1,000,000 pounds of sugar worth from fif-
teen to eighteen cents a pound and 400,-
000 gailons of syrup worth from $1 to $1.50
per gallon. Somerset county is probably
the best maple sugar producing county in
the State.
—Benzine flowing into the Schuylkill
river from a leaking tank at the Philadel-
phia Rubber works became ignited Sun-
day night and caused one of the most
spectacular fires in the history of that
city. For more than half a mile the edge
of the river was ablaze, flames from the
stream of fire at times shooting fifty feet
into the air. Many boathouses along the
front and a number of motorboats and
other small craft were destroyed. The
plant of the rubber works was badly dam-
aged and the Baltimore & Ohio bridge over
the Schuylkill was put out’ of commission,
seriously delaying traffic to and from the
south. Although no estimate of the finan-
cial loss was available, it is said to be
considerably less than $100,000.
—A man giving his name as Albert
Smith, who is believed by the police to be
implicated in the murder of Frank Hurley
at Blue Ball, near Philipsburg, two years
ago, was captured at Slab Run on Sunday
by chief of police Painter, of Falls Creek.
Painter was informed that a man who
knew something of the Hurley murder
had been hanging around the Slab Run
locality for several weeks and quietly slip-
ped in and got him Sunday afternoon. He
gave his name as Albert Smith and ad-
mitted that he had been in the neighbor-
hood of the murder and had seen the blood
of the man on the railroad tracks; also
that he had traveled forty miles that night,
partly by automobile, to get out of the
section.” Smith was taken to DuBois and
Sheriff Gorman, of Clearfield county, no-
tified, who went to DuBois on Monday and
took the man to the Clearfield jail for a
further investigation. Frank Hurley was
beaten to death. His head was smashed
to a pulp and the body placed on the rail-
road tracks in an effort to cover the mur- :
der. No arrests had ever been made.
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ener