Benoit
INK SLINGS.
—Four dollar wheat is a probability
that makes the fall horizon rather a
rosy prospect for the farmer.
—Wednesday ~~ afternoon’s storm
laid the wheat, corn and oats, in some
parts of the county, as flat as if 2a
road-roller had been run over it.
—Cox and Roosevelt will call on
President Wilson on Sunday morning
and in all probability there will be
more than Presbyterian dictrines dis-
cussed.
—Why shouldn’t the Watchman be
for Cox? Wasn’t it one of the very
first newspapers in which you saw
Lis desirability as a candidate refer-
red to? :
—It is just as easy to do most
things right as it is to do them wrong
but it is not so easy to correct the
effect of the things that have been
done wrong.
— Much of the grain in Center coun-
ty is in shock and the farmers have
been having considerable trouble in
picking up the stalks that have been
cut down by the fly.
__A month of good weather will
see the Bishop street paving job com-
pleted and hear an anthem of thanks-
giving from merchants and residents
along that thorofare.
— Large committees never were able
to accomplish much so we look for
very poor results from the efforts of
the Committee of Forty-eight to form
a new political party.
— Another very foolish man has un-
dertaken to go over Niagara Falls in
a barrel. As a sequence C. G. Steph-
ens is probably having an argument
with St. Peter at this very moment
over the question of having a look
in on Heaven.
— Just now the fishermen are tak-
ing more trout out of the lower end
of Spring Creek and Logan’s Branch
than are being caught in any other
part of the county. And one of those
fish, usually exceeds the weight of a
limit catch of five and six inch speci-
mens on most of the smaller trout
streams. :
—1It seems to us that no stronger
campaign argument could be advanc-
ed than a ricital of what a Democratic
administration actually accomplished
in the way of beneficent legislation,
while it was supported by a Democrat-
ic: Congress in comparison with what
it was able to do while hampered with
a Republican Congress.
—The business of making Democrats
in Gecrgia is a good bit like hauling
coals to New Castle therefore we are
amazed at the faux pas of Mitch.
Palmer in putting those Republican
girls down there in a position to tell
the embarrassing tales they are now
unfolding as to the prostitution of his
department to personal work for him:
at San Francisco.
—The “Farmer Labor Party” is the
name of the new organization effected
at Chicago on Wednesday. We
haven’t been able to go far enough
into details of its inception to learn
just who is at the bottom of it, but
we are reasonably certair. that there
are no “dirt” farmers or pick and
VOL. 65.
Greatest Achievement of All
Chairman Cummings, in his keynote
speech at the San Francisco conven-
tion, emphasized one feature of the
Democratic record which should make
an indelible impression on the pub-
lic mind. “If the Democratic party
had accomplished nothing more than
the pasage of the Federal Reserve
Act,” he said, “it would be entitled
to the enduring graditude of the na-
tion. This act,” he continued, “sup-
plied the people with an elastic cur-
rency, controlled by the American
people. Panics, the recurring phenom-
ena of disaster which the Republi-
can party could neither control nor ex-
plain—are now but a memory.” And
a most hideous and distressing mem-
ory at that.
For more than fifty years, under
Republican administration of the gov-
ernment, panics came at almost reg-
ular intervals and worked disaster and
distress throughout the country. A
disappointment in the harvest, a fail-
ure of some large enterprise or an
unpropitious season of weather con-
ditions, were sufficient excuses for
Wall Street to spring a panic in
which suffering and destitution were
sent broadcast. But the Republican
statesmen who controlled the legisla-
tion could devise no remedy or even
suggest a plausible reason for the in-
dustrial calamity. All the country
could do was bear up against the ad-
versity and recuperate through a long
period of lean business afterward.
President Wilson was inaugurated
in 1913 and set himself at once to
curing this national malady and the
Federal Reserve bank was the result
of his labors. The result is that we
have since passed through the great-
est war in history, drawn upon our
resources a heavier draft than was ev-
er dreamed of before, and emerged
from the crucial experience without
even the symptom of a panic. There
was neither a pinch nor plethora of
currency at any time but every re-
quirement of the government, of in- .
dustry and commerce was met and
every obligation, moral and material,
was fully discharged. In 1915 there
were four bank failures, in 1916 and
’17 three and in 1918 none.
It has been said that pending the |
preparatiens for our participation in
the war German statesmen looked on
complacently because they believed
that actual war would instantly pre-
cipitate a panic that would paralyze
American industry and effort. = But
‘they reckoned falsely because the rot-
ten system which had been fostered
by the Republican party for the bene-
fit of Wall Street had been supplanted |
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
Our Candidate for President.
idly growing in popular favor.
nomination was not altogether a sur-
ning. But attachments had been
formed for other candidates here and
there and while it was universally
agreed that the choice was a wise
one it required time to heal the dis-
appointment of those who had fixed
their preferences on others. Time
soon worked complete reconciliation,
however, and it may safely be said
now that no other candidate named
in the convention possessed so many
elements of popularity.
Governor Cox is not a mew entry
or a strange figure in Democratic
councils. He served with marked dis-
tinction for a period of two terms in
! Congress and is now in his third term
as Governor of Ohio. These services
have afforded ample opportunity to
acquire a thorough understanding of
public affairs both local and general.
Under our system of government
efficiency in legislation is quite as im-
portant as ability in administration
and Governor Cox has proved his pro-
| ficiency in both. But as an adminis-
| trator he excels. No Governor of any
| State in any period of the country’s
' history has achieved greater success
and few have equaled his record in
accomplishing desirable results.
We frankly own to a pre-conven-
tion preference for that distinguished
{ administrator and accomplished states-
man, William G. McAdoo, which
was ascribable more to environment
than to anything else. This is es-
sentially an industrial State and Mr.
MecAdoo’s service as railroad adminis-
trator had made him a popular fav-
orite. In the light of since developed
facts, however, we are persuaded that
the choice of the convention was the
wisest that could have been made.
It is policy to move along lines of
least resistance and Governor Cox
has more elements of strength and
fewer weaknesses than any other can-
didate considered by the convention.
His election is practically certain.
i ——Mr. Harding,
‘upon a front porch campaign, and
i Mr. Debs having declared in favor of
a front cell campaign, the important
question of superiority between these
| methods will be decided this fall.
Harding Below the Standard.
Senator Harding is not measuring
up to Presidential stature in reiter-
having decided:
BELLEFONTE, PA., JULY 16, 1920.
The Democratic Platform.
Governor James M. Cox, the Demo-| The promise of Democratic leaders
cratic nominee for President, is rap- | that the platform of the party would
His | frankly express the sentiments of the |
salient subjects has
prise for he was the first or second | been fulfilled. There is neither ambi-
choice of a vast majority of the Demo- | guity nor evasion anywhere. Its treat- ; strongest man who was before it. A
crats of the country from the begin- i ment of the question of the League |
The in-:
| sistence of the President and his sup- |
| porters in the Senate that no de--
| structive or annulling reservations be!
{ party upon all
| of Nations is admirable.
James M. Cox.
irom the Philadelphia Record.
i After an extraordinary long strug-
| gle, but one that was a perfectly clean
test of strength between the admir-
| ers of many eminent men, the San
. Francisco convention nominated the
Democrat who can be elected Gover-
nor of Ohio three times is a man of
force of character and popularity and
is more likely to carry that State in
the Presidential campaign than any
made has been fully sustained and | Other Democrat is to carry a large
question the same candor is
eration of Labor,
themselves as satisfied.
form.
subject of woman suffrage,
vote this year. Many
oft achieving this result.
States having already approved
twere well it were done quickly.”
be overlooked.
——It it be
Office.
cordially endorsed. Upon the labor
revealed
There is no side-stepping on the
either.
The party is not only committed to
the policy but demands immediate ae~
tion to the end that the womem of
the country may participate im
Dem J
would have preferred another process
That is te!
say, many construe the regulation of
suffrage as exclusively within the po-
lice power of the State. But Congress
having passed the amendment in the
legal manner and a majority of the
it
there is nothing to be gained by delay.
As our late friend Shapespeare put it
“If it were done when ’tis done, them
All in all the San Francisco platform
is a splendid speciman of political lit-
erature. It appraises the intelligence
of the average American at full mea-
sure and addresses him as a reason-
ing and rational being, capable of un- he
understanding and competent of self-
determination. In this it isin sharp
contrast with the Republican platform,
the purpose of which appears to be
to “fool all the people all the time.”
It might have been shortened a trifle,
i for long documents are not always
read with the care that they deserve.
But Chairman Glass, of the Platform
committee, has wrought with such
charm and constructed with such skill
that this only fault of his work may
true that Mr. Bryan’s
heart is in the grave there are a good
many Democrats ready to pray for a
peaceful and long continued tenantry.
Retires After Twenty-six Years in
After helping out prothonotary Roy
i State which is usually heavily Repub-
‘ lican.
The Governor is 50 years old. He
and both President Gompers and See- is at the point where the vigor of
retary Morrison, of the American Fed- | early life and the experience and ma-
have expressed ;turity that come later meet at their
It is quite
in contrast with the Republican plat-
: point of highest efficiency. The Gov-
ernorship of a great State for three
terms is the best possible training for
the Presidency. He has been success-
ful with everything he has under-
taken, and that is not a matter of
luek: He has built up two depleted
newspapers into very profitable prop-
erties, he has been successful in oth-
er business enterprises, and is the pos-
sessor of a competence made by him-
self witheut any adventitious aids.
. He has been identified with an un-
commen amount of valuable eonstruc-
tive: legislati He has served two
-im Congress, enough to give
pod understanding of national
e ion; but most of his work has
been: done in the Ohio Legislature.
The Ohio school code is generally rec-
‘as the best in the. country,
workmen's compulsory
the rural
and refer-
home rule
, the
~partisan judiciary, widow’s pen-
sions and prisen reform are all credit-
ed to him; he procured them while
was Go and in great meas-
ure shaped them.
As a good deal has been said about
the Governor's attitude toward pro-
hibition itis interesting to recall that
he was beaten by the saloon interests
in 1914 because he enforced the Sun-
day closing law. There never had
been one. He procured the law and
enforced it and lost the election, but
his party nominated him again, and
he was el , and two years ago
he was elected a third time. Govérnor
Cox will enforce any law on the stat-
ute book. If a State Legislature or
Congress does not want a law enforc-
ed it can take the responsibii.
repealing it; Governor Cox
allow a statute to become a dead let-
ter. What he approves of, and what
he will advise the enactment of, is
another matter. As an Executive the
Governor will do his duty and enforce
the laws.
For several years he has been the
leader of the Democratic party in
Ohio, which has been a very good
thing for the party and for the State.
get system, a.
school code; the initiative
endum in: State: legislation,
for cities, a country road
and it is mestly his work. The bud-
eempaetf.
SPAWLS FROM THE KEYSTONE.
—Michael Durkevich, 11 years old, of
Tyront Forge, was killed by electricity im
one of the towers of the Pennsylvania
Central Light and Power company near
his home on Sunday. He climbed up the
tower and came in contact with a charged
wire.
—The Rev. John H. Daugherty, whe
moved last spring from Sunbury to Wile
liamsport to become pastor of the Pine
Street Methodist church is rapidly win-
ning the title of the “marrying parson of
Williamsport.” One day last week he offi-
ciated at four weddings before 1 o'clock
in the afternoon.
—(. V. Pelton, road foreman of engines,
Williamsport division of the Pennsylvania
railroad, last week retired on pension after
forty-six years’ service with the railroad.
He was a native of Middleburg, and began
work on the railroad as a brakeman. For
many years he“was located at Sunbury
as road foreman of engines.
Gertrude Kistler, 12-year-old daughfer
of Sedgwick Kistler, of Lock Haven, Pa.,
a delegate to the Democratic national con-
vention was drowned in the Mercedes riv-
er at Yosemite, Cal, last Wednesday, and
J. Plink, of Los Angeles, who went to
her rescue, slipped on a rock and fractur-
ed his skull, death resulting instantly.
—Twenty-nine years of service in the
listribution of mail was completed by
Fred Larsen, of the McKeesport postoffice
the other day. He has worked 9,570 days
and has never changed his route. It is
estimated Larson has walked 191,400 miles
and has distributed at least 10,000,000 piee-
es of mail, collecting probably half as
many.
—Walter Scranton, of Scranton, has lost
$750,000 through a decision by Judge
Freas, of the orphans’ court of Luzerne
county. The contest over the will of Mrs.
Cornelia Shoemaker was settled by the
judge. Mrs. Shoemaker left the bulk of
her $750,000 estate to Miss Isabelle C. Chal-
fonte, of Pittsburgh. Mr. Scranton, a broth-
er of Mrs. Shoemaker, claimed that her
mind was weak, and that the will was not
valid.
—A “cat nap” of ten minutes cost Ralph
Armstrong, of Chester, a pair of trousers,
with the contents of the trousers’ pockets,
amounting to $40 in cash, a gold watch,
and several articles taken from the room
in which Armstrong snored lightly. A
purse and a watch belonging to Arm-
strong’s daughter were also stolen. Arm-
strong told the police he arose at 5:40
o'clock one morning last week and decid-
ed to take a “cat nap.” Exactly at 6
o'clock, Armstrong says, he got up, yawn-
ed, reached for his trousers, but they were
gone.
—Mrs. Elizabeth Hummel, of Shamokin,
was arrested by state police at Pine Top,
Burnham, last Friday, charged with hav-
ing kidnapped Irene Hoover, an 8-year-old
child, from I'rank Hoover, in Pottsville, on
June 3. Mrs. Hummel insists that the
child is one of triplets born to her and
that Hoover has no claim on it whatever.
State policemen A. J. Burke, who made the
arrest, says Mrs. Hummel was sentenced
to six ‘months in jail recently for being
implicated in a cutting affair. She was
sent to the county jail pending a more
complete investigation.
—@Get rid of the weeds now and save
money on next year's crop, is the advice
of Fred Rasmussen, secretary of the
state department of agriculture, to the
farmers of the state. Owners of gardens
in the rural sections and in the cities are
included with the farmers. Introduction
of a noxious weed and seed law in the
legislature is promised by the secretary
to combat the weed evil, the menace from
which he declares is the worst in the his«
tory of the state. The secretary just re-
turned from a trip through the farming
section of central Pennsylvania.
—The home of D. Y. Confer, Bald Eagle,
was robbed one night recently, while the
by a system devised for the use and
benefit of the people, and it served
the purpose of abolishing panics and
strengthening the arm of the nation
to strike the final and fatal blow
against autocracy in the war. It was
a great achievement and Chairman
Cummings, of the Democratic Nation-
al committee, is justly proud of it,
as all other Democrats may well be.
family was attending a festival, the value
of the loot taken being more than $100,
including small change in the banks of
two of the Confer children. The thief
walked off with a pair of new trousers and
a vest, as well as a 30.30 rifle and a .32
calibre revolver. A rain coat and many
small articles of wearing apparel are also
missing and it is believed that the bur-
glar was pretty well loaded up when he
left the place. Confer strongly suspects a
certain individual of that neighborhood
and an arrest is likely at any time.
Wilkinson since the first of the year
David’ R. Foreman severed his official
connection with that important office
for good on Saturday, July 3rd. Mr.
Foreman enjoys the distinction of hav-
ing served for a greater number of
years in the court house than any oth-
er man in Centre county, and all of
them in the prothonotary’s office. In
fact his record shows that he served
eighteen years as deputy prothonotary
ing the absurd charge that President
Wilson dominated the San Francisco
convention and forced his views into
the platform. He is appealing to the
credulity rather than the reason of
the voters. It is true that President
Wilson, far in advance of the conven-
tion, expressed the hope that the
League of Nations would be made an
important issue in the campaign. The
refusal of the Republican Senate to
He is splendidly equipped and trained
to be the leader of the Democratic
party in the nation and to be the Chief
Executive of the United States.
shovel laborers on speaking acquain-
tance with the new party.
—The Altoona Times-Tribune re-
marks that “Governor Clement, of
Vermont, seems to be a survival of
the sixteenth century.” Then a few
paragraphs further down its “Edi-
torial Notes” wonders “what is the sin-
ister influence that is exerting every
effort to postpone or prevent universal
suffrage?” Why doesn’t the Times- |.
A Winning Candidate.
From the New York World (Dem.).
By the nomination of James M. Cox
the San Francisco Convention has giy-
en its party a leader well verse in
the principles of democracy, a candi-
cree pe ee eee.
Tribune ask Governor Clement.
—Cox and Roosevelt have determin-
ed to carry their fight into every State
in the Union. And well they should,
for all ground is debatable ground
these days. The voters are looking
for the right men as they have never
done before and in the Democratic
standard bearers they are likely to
find just the types of virile, sensible
Americans they are looking for.
—It has now come to the point
where if the women get a chance to
vote next Fall they will have to
thank the Democratic party for that
opportunity. Republican Governors of
States that might have completed the
ratification of the amendment have
refused to convene their Legislatures
in extra session for that purpose.
North Carolina and Tennessee are go-
ing to do it.
—We rise to remark that at the or-
ganization of the Democracy of Cam-
bria county last Monday there were
some thoughts written into the resolu-
tions adopted there that smack so
much of Democratic fundamentals
that we have hope that the principles
of Jefferson and Jackson are to live
and not be smothered under the ava-
lanche of untenable doctrines that lat-
ter-day dreamers have been trying to
make the party father. It is a Democ-
racy we are trying to maintain. We
are not aiming at Utopia. If that were
to be attained here there could be no
hope of a hereafter.
—How soon things are forgotten?
Already cargo after cargo of German
commodities are arriving in our ports
and being snapped up with
avidity. Many of the toys
our children will play with
next Christmas may not bear
the “made in Germany” stamp, but
that is where they will come from all
the same. Schools and colleges are
teaching German as they always have
done and nearly everyone has forgot-
ten that only a little over two years
ago a portion of excited Bellefonte
thought that the German text books
used in our public schools should be
fuel for a bon-fire in the Diamond.
Mr. Pinchot’s Reformers.
Those discontented if not altogether
distinguished gentlemen who assem-
bled in Chicago last Saturday to
“launch a new party,” are having
all sorts of troubles.
figure in the movement is Mr. Amos
Pinchot, of New York and Pennsyl-
vania, and most of those participating
in the proceedings are what are com- |
monly called “high brows” or “advanc-
ed thinkers.” The preliminary work
of the body consisted of speech mak-
ing, and according to the press re-
ports was exceedingly lively. Each
member of the convention had a well-
defined plan of his own but no two of
them agreed on any point or concur-
red in any opinion.
These well-meaning gentlemen
ought to be encouraged in their pur-
pose to reform the universe and re-
construct the government on a purely
utopian basis. But it is a difficult
matter to undertake. If you speak
favorably of the plan of one you en-
counter the opposition of all the oth-
ers and after a waste of considerable
precious time get nowhere, just the
destination that the convention had
reached when last heard from. Mr.
‘Pinchot has lost his most valuable
colleague, his brother Gifford, whose
recent appointment to an important
office by Governor Sproul, of Pennsyl-
vania removed his further ener-
gies from reform lines to those
of practical politics.
It can hardly be hoped that these
earnest gentlemen will succeed in or-
ganizing a force for righteousness of
sufficient strength to materially in-
fluence the vote in the coming Presi-
dential election. But there is no
harm in their trying. In fact, they
are entirely justified in trying. Most
of them appear to have been associat-
ed with the Republican party in the
past and the record of that organiza-
tion is so atrociously bad that every
right-thinking man who has been con-
nected with it ought to join in an
effort to put it out of commission for-
ever. It is not likely that much will
be done this year, but “there is hope.”
The principal |
ratify the treaty made that inevitable.
The people want permanent peace and
the Republican machine wants recur-
ring wars. The action of the Senate
drew the line and the convention ac-
cepted the issue.
But President Wilson did not force
his views on that or any other sub-
ject on the convention. There was
no administration lobby in San Fran-
cisco during the sessions of the con-
vention. The President asked no dele-
gate to vote one way or another on
any question of principle or upon any
candidate. Democratic conventions
are not thus controlled. The Demo-
crats of the country have the highest
esteem for President Wilson, and
cheerfully follow his leadership along
lines that are in accord with Demo-
cratic principles and traditions. But
no self-respecting statesman of any
party will say that the President forc-
{ ed his opinions on the San Francis-
| co convention. Only demagogues talk
i thus loosely. 3
i The leaders of the Republican party
' have freely acknowledged that the Na-
i tional convention of that party was
coerced by Senator Penrose and oth-
. ers of the Senatorial cabal into nom-
inating Senator Harding and adopt:
ling an equivocal platform which
| means nothing and they have discov-
i ered that the fact has made a bad
| impression on the public mind. The
| attempt to put the odium of bossism
upon the Democratic party is for the
{ purpose of counteracting the effect of
their own action on the popular mind.
But it will fail of its purpose. In the
first place there is a vast difference
between Woodrow Wilson and Bois
Penrose and it will be impossible to
make a parallel.
——Senator Penrose is greatly dis-
tressed because Tammany supported
Cox at San Francisco, and a lot of
other Republicans are worried because
Penrose nominated Harding at Chic-
ago.
——Vermont and Florida refuse to
| ratify the Suffrage amendment but
Tennessee can turn the trick.
and eight years as prothonotary.
terms, or six years in all.
ed under Mr. Kimport then in 1911
was elected and re-elected in 1914;
serving two terms
January he naturally retained Mr.
man has finally retired.
prothonotary’s office that he had ev-
Mr. Foreman has a nice home in
purchased a good farm at Potter’s
Mills and for a time, at least, he will
devote his time to looking after his
personal interests.
future is not known at this writing.
——General Wood has assured Sen-
but the value of Wood's support van-
ish when his slush fund disappeared.
Germany now.
His first appointment was under L.
A. Schaeffer, who went into office the
first Monday in January, 1887. Mr.
Foreman went to work as his deputy
about the first of March the same year
and was with him during his two
William
F. Smith was elected prothonotary in
1892 and Mr. Foreman was deputy un-
der him for two years and a half. He
also served two years under M. I, Gard-
ner, who succeeded Smith, and when
Arthur B. Kimport was elected to suc-
ceed Gardner he retained Mr. Foreman
as his deputy. For seven years he serv-
came out as a candidate for the office,
or eight years.
When Mr. Wilkinson took hold last
Foreman until he got acquainted with
the run of the office, and now at the
expiration of six months, Mr. Fore-
Naturally with his long service in
the office and his varied experience
in all matters relating to the work of
the court he had acquired such an in- |
timate knowledge of all records in the !
erything right at the “tips of his fing-
ers” but his greatest qualification for
the office was the good humored wil- |
lingness with which he would always |
respond to a request for information,
be it in person, by mail or telephone.
Bellefonte and several years ago he
As to whether he
has anything else in view for the
ator Harling of his cordiar support,
——1If the treaty had been promptly
ratified by the United States Senate
there would be no dilly-dallying by
date who has the pleasing habit of
carrying his own State and ‘a man
who in high office has demonstrated
his capacity to legislate and to govern.
Three times elected Governor of
Ohio, being the only successful repre-
sentative of his party on the State
ticket in 1918, his record in that res-
pect is unique. It was largely through
his successful administration that
Ohio in 1916 gave its electoral votes to
Woodrow Wilson and this insured his
re-election. With Governor Cox at
the head of the Democratic ticket this
year, a Commonwealth which never
before failed the Republicans in a
national election, except as a result
of the Taft-Roosevelt split in 1912,
will again become debatable ground.
As Governor of Ohio, Mr. Cox has
to his credit public service of the
highest order. It was largely due to
his influence that the archaic State
Constitution was reformed and fifty
or sixty statutes needed to modernize
the laws and practice of the Common-
wealth, especially as regards educa-
tion, taxation and the rights of work-
ingmen, were enacted. When he took
office all of the old hard-and-fast in-
justices that in certain cases practi-
cally denied to labor even a hearing
were unchallenged in the courts.
eee lee
Favors a “Dirt” Farmer for the Job.
From the Philadelphia Record.
Governor Cox’s announcement that
he intends to appoint a “dirt” farmer
to be Secretary of Agriculture has not
the slightest reference to the incum-
bent of that office. Mr. Meredith is
a practical farmer, though he has also
an agricultural publishing business
and other commercial interests. Still
less does it imply any departure from
Democratic precedents. Mr. Cleve-
land appointed J. Sterling Morton, of
Nebraska, than whom no man has
done more, in private life and as Sec-
retary of Agriculture, to promote the
farming interests. Mr. Morton was
the father of Arbor Day, was known
a generation ago as the foremost prac-
tical exponent of farming in the coun-
try, and pretty much made the De-
partment of Agriculture. Mr. Wilson,
who held the office in the Cabinet of
Presidents McKinley, Roosevelt and
Taft, did not make the Department;
he just continued the work of Mr.
Morton. :
—Ex-Judge C. R. Savidge, of Sunbury,
has disposed of his holdings of coal land
in Centre and Huntingdon counties, at a
price of from $200,000 to $300,000, repre-
senting a very handsome profit. The land
which was purchased at comparatively low
figures, was found to be rich in coal veins.
Having retired from the coal business,
Judge Savidge will raise pure-bred cattle
on the fertile West Branch farms which
he has purchased, one of them from James
C. Packer estate, and another from Rine
the florist. s son, Preston M. Savidge,
has been successfully engaged in hot house
flower cultivation on the Rine farm for
the past few years. ?
—A change of venue has finally ‘been
granted by the Supreme Court of Pennsyl-
vania to George C. Tompkins, convicted
murderer of the Edmund I. Humphries
family near Carrolltown in 1917, who will
be given a new trial in Blair county. This
decision was handed down by the Supreme
Court .two weeks ago. The order was
made by Chief Justice J. Hay Brown, of
the State Supreme Court. The Hon. John
W. Kephart, Justice of the State Sup-
reme. Court, of Ebensburg, did not take
part in the decision, granting a change of
venue. Tompkins will be given a trial in
Blair county before strange jurors and a
strange Judge. The change of venue was
granted upon petition of Tompkins’ coun-
sel, Attorneys John H. McCann and John
F. Evans. both of Ebensburg.
—A remarkable reunion was held at the
home of Mrs. Helen Ray, aged 85 years,
of Onberg, Indiana county, when she had
among her guests, two sisters, Mrs. Jacob
Mumau, aged 79, of Dixonville, and Miss
Milton Streams, aged 81, of Kellysburg.
It was the first time in 25 years the three
sisters had been together. The three
women are daughters of the late George
Ray, of Rayne township, who lived to be
96 years of age. They have two brothers,
John K. Myers, of Homer City, who is
83 years of age, and W. R. Myers, of
Niagara Falls, who is 77.
—A suit case containing a gold watch,
silk dress and other valuables was stolen
from the automobile of a Sclinsgrove man
at Rolling Green Park, Sunbury, on Mon-
day night. The case was fuund in a clump
of bushes a quarter of a mile from the
pavilion Tuesday by special officer G. H.
Herman. The contents with the exception
of a large bottle of toilet water were
intact. Quite likely the thieves were thirs-
ty and were only in search of liquid re-
freshments.