«smoking compartment Be Deworraiic adm. ——————————————I INK SLINGS. — Cheer up! Ground hog day ap- proaches and maybe he'll decide that we need six more weeks of winter. —Wheat is up to two dollars and while we are not advising anybody to sell we do assert that it’s a very good price. * —_The eclipse will be in first con- ‘tact at 7:58 tomorrow morning. At ‘9:11 it will be total and at 10:32 the contact will end. — President Coolidge thinks it isn’t quite so reprehensible to be the man with a little “on the hip” as it is to be the boot-legger who supplies it. —Congress has been in session since early in December and nobody is pointing with pride to anything it has done, because it has done nothing. —Surely the women are getting us a place on the map. Since they start- ed to smoke the grand old U. S. A. has climbed to leadership of the nations in the consumption of cigarettes. — Wheat is still going up, but the administration doesn’t have anything to do with the rise. The world crop is short. People must have bread and those who can pay most for it get it. —_The Hon. Holmes didn’t get much by way of choice committee assign- ments for his vote for Bluett, but then new Members, like new councilmen, usually draw little else than nuisance committee assignments. —The four horsemen of the Legis- lature—Baker, Vare, Leslie and Grun- dy, are in a fight to political death among themselves, but before they kill themselves off they'll be sure that Pinchot’s ghost stays downed. —The attempt of the Republican Senators to white-wash Fall, Denby, and their fellow conspirators in the Teapot Dome scandal was frustrated when the Insurgents joined with the Democrats and adopted the Walsh re- port. If Vare and Grundy succeed in chasing Harry Baker clear out of the Republican councils in Pennsylvania then, indeed, will the State need to be pitied. Baker is a politician, of course, but he’s not of the self-seek- ing, “public be damned” kind that Grundy and Vare are. If any of our frieends are think- ing of taking a nice long trip and pine for a companionable traveler we in- vite correspondence. Don’t start writ- ing, however, until after you see 1n this column announcement of the fact that we have won one of the thousand dollar cross-word puzzle contests. We're all ready and set to go some- where. We've made up the itinerary, stored in the old bean a lot of good ng. stories and all that remains to be done is have our only pair of trousers pressed and win the thousand. —Take a walk out to the Evangel- ical church on Willowbank street. Look carefully into what the commit- tee in charge of that work has done for $24,000 and then wonder, like we do, why the hospital building program can’t be carried to completion for three times as much. The church builders had excavation all the way 1n solid rock and our guess is that they have more cubic feet of building than the hospital enlargement specifies. A comparison of actual cost in the one project with bids made for the other is illuminating, to say the least. —As a member of the committee on.law and order of the Legislature our Member again finds himself be- tween the devil and the deep blue sea. When the Governor's prohibition meas- ures get before the committee Mr. ‘Holmes will have to go on record one way or the other. It is significant that in the first published nose count on the wet or dry complexion of the committee he was listed among those counted “doubtful.” Where the Har- risburg correspondents got the inspi- ration for such a classification we know not, but certainly it couldn’t have come from Mr. Holmes, himself. —The School of Education of The Pennsylvania State College releases, for this week’s publicity, this informa- tion: “When a large majority of Pennsylvania’s public school teachers are not in the class room they spend a good part of their time studying for the improvement of their service to the community.” We publish the hopeful information hopelessly. No one will believe that who knows more about the public school teachers than the School of Education at The Penn- sylvania State College. Many teach- ers are spending their time in the class room, and out, hunting for a word of three letters that describes those of them who voted for Pinchot because he was going to keep Finne- gan, and the rest are working on oth- er cross-word puzzles. —Dr. Ellie Potter was probably right when, in defending her regime, she recently stated that State aided hospitals had more money on which to operate in 1924 than they ever had before. She was certainly wrong when she stated that her system of accounting had anything to do with it. That is a drain, not a help, to every small institution in the State, for it costs much and saves little. Further- more, if any hospitals have had more funds on which to operate since she became the big cheese it hasn’t been because she or Pinchot, as represnting the State, furnished it.. It has been because they have forced local boards of trustees to make private room rates well nigh prohibitive to any but the ‘can and keep very rich and every community to milk itself dry in order to make up deficits. > “ = emo I 9 Vv STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION. 70. VOL. Chairman Baker Bumped Again. As might have been expected Re- publican State chairman W. Harry Baker got another rude bump in the assignment of honors and favors of the Legislature. He asked for the as- signment of W. Clyde Harer to the chairmanship of the committee on Ways and Means and the bosses hand- ed the plum to Philip Sterling, of Philadelphia, a follower of ‘Grundy. The Bucks county boss didn’t ask for the appointment of Sterling. He urg- ed the selection of Aaron Hess, of Lancaster. But Sterling will serve his purpose quite as well. He will op- pose and prevent the effort to levy a tax on manufacturers and thus defeat the movement of the farmers to equal- ize the burdens of the government. This issue of a more or less acrimo- nious conflict between Grundy and Baker is necessarily humiliating to the State chairman but as a matter of fact he is not the principal victim. The country members of the Legisla- ture, who have been cruelly robbed of a just share of the party favors, the farmers who have been striving for years to shift a fair share of taxation from their shoulders to those others much better able to bear them, and the people of the State generally who be- lieve in clean politics and equality in burdens as well as opportunities, are the real victims of the Grundy victo- ry. It may cost Mr. Baker a brief moment of disappointment. It will cost them hard earned money. Mr. Grundy has no sentimental in- terest in politics. He serves no party on the basis of principle. He is a Re- publican because that party indulges him in largesses that no other party will tolerate. His fight against Harer, for chairman of the House committee on Ways and Means, was inspired by Mr. Harer’s vote during the last ses- sion in favor of a tax on manufactur- ers. He is a millionaire manufacturer and such a tax would exact from him a considerable sum of money. With an obedient chairman of that commit- tee he may avoid that expense and that is the measure of his obligations as a citizen. His idea is get all he all he gets. “Every fel- tow for himself and the devil fake the hindnfost.” The solution of the problem of the Ways and Meaans committee is not exceptional. Every step in the organ- ization of - the Legislature expressed. the selfishness of the bosses. The conquest of Governor Pinchot is final and complete. He is a “dead duck in the pond” and so mutilated as to serve | It was | as a deterrent in the future. the hope of Vare and Grundy that Baker might be similarly disposed of. He is a Republican and a bitter parti- san but not of their type. He would justify his party faith by public serv- ice if possible. They have no concep- tion of such conduct. To them party organization is simply a means to ac- complish selfish purposes, - and a bought majority is as good as an eara- ed one. —In a decision just handed down by Justice Kephart, of the Supreme court of Pennsylvania, we find the following that every motor driver might well ponder over: “Some au- tomobile drivers imagine a ‘go’ signal gives them a clear right of way” at a street intersection. “The responsibil- ity rests with the automobile drivers so to handle their cars as not to in- jure those walking across the street.” EE —When “Ma” Ferguson®was inau- gurated Governor of Texas, on Tues- day, she wore a gown of black kitten’s ear satin. It was fitting that “Ma” should go in in the garb of a kitten because by the time she is ready to go out most of the Texas women will probably be saying: “Ain’t she the cat.” — At the annual meeting of the First National bank of Philipsburg, on Tuesday of last week, John E. Fry- berger was promoted from the posi- tion of cashier to president, while George H. Barnes was elected cash- ier and John C. Hoffer an assistant cashier. —— Without actual authority to! speak for either we feel safe in pre- dicting that the present Governor of Texas will not give Governor Pinchot her hat to throw into the ring. The Memorial bridge at Har- risburg, too long delayed, is under discussion in the State capitol, but it will probably have to wait until Pin- chot retires. ——The Philadelphia “neck” and the Pittsburgh “strip” are still work- ing in harmony, and law-abiding leg- islators are getting ready to call the police. ——1It is whispered in the ‘inner circles” that if the Governor would throw his Secretary of the Common- wealth overboard all might be for- given, BELLEFONTE, PA. JANUAR Blame on Pinchot’s Head. If, as now seems probable, the trend of legislation runs in the direction of “wet” interests during the present session of the Legislature, the respon- sibility will be on the head of Gover- nor Pinchot. The Anti-Prohibition News, a publication recently removed from Shamokin to Harrisburg, in its last issue declares that “Pinchot’s de- feat in the Speakership fight indicates no more enforcement bills will be passed.” In other words, in the opin- ion of this inspired organ of the boot- leggers and rum-runners, the election of Mr. Bluett, of Philadelphia, to the office of Speaker of the House of Rep- resentatives marked the end of legis- lation favoring enforcement of pro- hibition laws. | If Governor Pinchot had invested all his influence in support of the elec- tion of Mr. Bluett to the Speakership some other candidate might have been elected, for the majority of the mem- bership is openly against the Gover- nor. But if he had joined his forces with those of chairman Baker in sup- port of Mr. Harer, of Williamsport, the result could have been different. Mr. Harer is as strongly in favor of prohibition law enforcement as the Governor’s candidate, Mr. Goodnough. But the Governor refused to support Harer and insisted on his own candi- date, with the result that Bluett was elected, which indicates that “no more enforcement bills will be passed” at this session of the Legislature. Governor Pinchot pretends and hopes the people will believe that he was influenced to his action by a de- sire to promote the interests of pro- hibition legislation. But he will be disappointed in this expectation. If he had been concerned for prohibition law enforcement he would have sup- ported Harer, who had a good chance of election. But his concern was foi his own political estate and ambitions. Harer is a good enough “dry” man but not sufficieently servile to Pinchot, and in order to prevent the election of a dry man who was not wholly ser- vile, or as the Governor puts it “loyal to the administration,” he split the dry vote and elected a “wet” candi- date.” Tt-fs andther expression of hy- | pocrisy. E ee aes Ay Ace aan ——Nothing worries the machine managers so much as the seeming un- concern of the Governor. They say Gifford is an’ accomplished actor or else he knows his defeat is complete. Warren Worth Bailey’s Contest. At a public meeting held in Phila- delphia last Thursday evening, one of the speakers declared that “three of the judges joined hands in the robbery of Bailey because of blind partisan- ship, if not corruption.” He referred to the action of the Supreme court of Pennsylvania in the contested election case of Warren Worth Bailey and An- derson H. Walters, of Johnstown. On the unofficial returns Walters had a majority. In computing the official returns some ballot boxes were open- ed with the consent of both judges, and the count showed a majority for Bailey. Lawyers for Walters then protested that the court had no right to open the boxes. One of the judges thereupon reversed himself and the court divided. Another Republican judge was call- ed in who joined with the Republican on the bench and directed the certifi- cate of election be issued to Walters, the defeated candidate. Mr. Bailey appealed to the Supreme court and upon the question of jurisdiction that court split even, thus defeating his purpose. An appeal to the Supreme court of the United States was subse- quently dismissed on the ground that it had no jurisdiction. In obedience to the crder of the Cambria county court a certificate of election was is- sued to Walters and on the fourth of March he will take the seat which has been stolen by judicial process from Mr. Bailey. It was against this out- rage the Philadelphia speaker pro- tested. The custom from the beginning of the government of the United States has been to elect Congressmen at reg- ular State elections and with the ma- chinery and by the processes of con- ducting State elections. The State courts have always had authority to open ballot boxes under certain con- ditions and the law requires that the certificate shall be issued to the can- didate having a majority so determin- ed. In the case in question all these conditions were fulfilled but the cer- tificate was issued, by partisan influ- ence, to the defeated candidate. The only remedy against this outrage is an appeal to Congress and Democrat- ic voters ought to contribute freely to a fund to meet the expenses of such appeal. If W. Harry Baker isn’t careful he will withdraw himself from public life. : Vv ———— A ———— —Read your own “Watchman” and | zet all the news. Coolidge Understands Borah. President Coolidge is not likely to be diverted from his purposes by the rumored opposition of Senator Borah, of Idaho, chairman of the Senate committee on Foreign Relations. The President’s mental eye doesn’t pene- trate a millstone deeper than that of the average man but his experience in official Washington has taught him that Senator Borah’s bark is more menacing than his bite. The Idaho statesman is a ponderous person and like our own Governor Pinchot makes loud professions of political independ- ence. But that is the end of his re- calcitration. After that he “roars as | gently as any sucking dove.” He: fools himself, probably, by thus pos- turing, but deceives nobody else. It is somewhat surprising that Sen- ator Borah has been able to maintain his pretense of independence so long. During the Taft administration he was always protesting and stood in the Senate as a perennial interroga- tion point but when Taft was nomi- nated for re-election he promptly leap- ed into a front seat on the band wag- on and rendered yoeman service against his former fellow-protestants, Theodore Roosevelt and Hiram John- son. In the recent campaign much of the confidence of the LaFollette party was based upon the expectation that Borah would “roar so loud and thun- der in the index” as to frighten the Republican machine into a stampede for shelter in the tall timbers. But nothing of the kind happened. Mr. Borah simply took his accustomed place in the ranks of the expectant place grabbers and even perverted the investigation of the campaign expens- es into a praise meeting of chairman Butler's skillful and successful jug- gling of figures. Mr. Coolidge wiil not be scared at the shaking of Bor- ah’s shaggy mane. He probably un- derstands Borah and will lead him peacefully and in the end contentedly up to the “pie counter’ ’to browse in rich pastures. The majority of Ber- ah’s constituents being Mormons, with two or more families to support, a generous supply of public favors fill prove hetero. and the Lord helps ose who help themselves. ah ——The country members of the Legislature are likely to learn more about running a road roller in Harris- burg than they ever dreamed of on the farm. : Highway Revenues to be Divided. It may safely be predicted that the Legislature will enact a law dividing the revenues of the State Highway Department with the cities of the Commonwealth. Heretofore the pro- ceeds of automobile licenses and oth- er sources of revenues accruing to the Highway Department have been ap- propriated to the construction and maintenance of state highways, leav- ing the cities to take care of their own streets. Four years ago Aaron Hess, Representative for Lancaster, now chairman of the committee on Roads, introduced a bill providing that the Department pay for a highway through Lancaster city. It was de- feated by the country members. But the idea found favor in the eyes of Representatives of the big cities. Two years ago a Philadelphia mem- ber offered a bill requiring the High- way Department to contribute to the cost of streets in all cities. That was also defeated by a combination of the country members. But the scheme is still fondly cherished and ever since the election the Representatives of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have been striving to put such a measure across this year. It is believed that it would be a great boost for Vare and has been cordially endorsed by Grundy since his “unholy alliance” with Vare was consummated. And it may be added that the ma- chinery to accomplish the result has been set. Mr. Hess has been made chairman of the House committee on Roads and Clarence J. Buckman, of Bucks county, Mr. Grundy’s “handy man,” holds the same office in the Senate, thus giving Grundy absolute control of legislation affecting the state highways. Grundy made pre- tense that he wanted Hess as head of the House committee on Ways and Means in order to direct tax legisla- tion. But it is now believed that was only a jesture to mask his real pur- pose to control highway legislation. Vare’s man Williard will take care of Grundy’s interests in tax legislation. S———— I ———— —The reply of Secretary Hughes to the complaints of Senator Hiram Johnson is suggestive of a big stick in the White House. ——The combine is working smoothly at Harrisburg now but most of the leaders are trembling for the future, There was no fight over dis- pensing favors in the Senate. All the Senators are under complete subjec- Y 23. 1925. tion. NO. 4, Bluett Shows His Hand. From the Philadelphia Public Ledger. Speaker Bluett, of the State House of Representatives, has lost no time in revealing the purposes for which he was elected. His letter of thanks to the Members is a naive disclosure of a deliberate program to wage faction- al warfare upon Governor Pinchot from the very beginning of the ses- sion. It is also a direct confirmation of the report that it is the intention of the Vare-Grundy-Leslie combination to attempt to take full control of the State budget by ignoring the recom- mendations of the Administration in the matter of the appropriations to State owned and aided institutions. This is to be accomplished by re- versing the usual legislative proced- ure with regard to the appropriation bills. These measures have heretofore been left to the end of the session, and th bills themselves went to the Gover- nor for the pruning process that was inevitable under the old order. The sessions having ended, the Governor had the last word about the allotments to the various institutions. But if the bills are sent to him while the Leg- islature is in session, he must sign or veto them within ten days, and the Legislature has then the opportunity —if necessary votes can be mustered —1to0 override the Governor’s veto, and thus make its own will prevail over Ya of the Executive in these mat- ers. It is plain, therefore, that when Mr. Bluett calls upon the members of the House to hurry up with their requests for State money for hospitals and oth- er State-aided institutions he is count- ing on the ability of the Vare-Grundy- Leslie coalition to command a majori- ty sufficient to override a vefo. And, of course, in asking the members to perform a duty which the law specif- ically imposes upon the budget officer in the preparation of the budget, he also has in contemplation the passage of the supply bills in advance of the day of adjournment so that opposition from the Governor can be nullified. It is plainly the purpose of Mr. Blu- ett and those for whom he speaks to ignore the recommendations of the Executive concerning the charity ap- propriations. If this means anythin at all, it signifies a return to the o vicious log-rolling system appropriations went Ze less, of : need and. > lowances were granted or withheld as a weapon over the heads of members who showed any inclination toward in- dependence and judgment. > The success of this scheme depends upon the power of the combine to muster the necessary two-thirds to override a gubernatorial veto. Wheth- er they possess this power is still doubtful. The budget principle is in- volved, as well as the immediate in- terests of the tax-payers, who must pay when extravagance is the guid- ing motive of legislation. Show It in Worth While Results. From the Pittsburgh Post. The news that State Senator M. G. Leslie, of Allegheny county, expects to be an extraordinary figure in this session of the Legislature will, of course, set his opponents to renewed efforts to thwart him. Irrespective of factional or other political considera- tions, however, it may be set down now that leadership shows itself only in the accomplishment of worth while results. Mere bossism goes no fur- ther than the attainment of selfish ends. Allegheny county today presents many opportunities for the members of its legislative delegation to distin- guish themselves. There are such prospective measures as those provid- ing a jury system for this community in keeping with its size and to do away with duplication of work in the assessment of taxes. If there is lead- ership in the delegation it will show itself in getting behind these meas- ures. If there is no leadership mere questions of patronage or matters of factional prestige will be the main consideration. Whether it should be Mr. Leslie or one of his opponents who furnishes such a leadership, the one able to bring about worth while results from the public standpoint will be assured of proper recognition. Let such results settle the question of leadership. Arms Parley Not Viewed with Favor. Fram the Philadelphia Record. President Coolidge very naturally feels that the European situation is not favorable for an arms parley. If any is called it could be called more appropriately and with better prospect of success by the League of Nations than by a nation that would not join the League. And Europe must com- pose itself to a more pacific state of mind before it will give much atten- tion to a reduction of armaments or the prohibition of international trade in munitions. While the Allies remain in possession of German soil, especi- ally a part that the Versailles treaty promised should be restored January 10, and Russia’s hand is against every nation, and political conditions are un- settled in Germany and Hungary, and Rumania and Hungary are at odds over Transylvania, the composition of quarrels as they occur is the most that could be hoped for. Even partial dis- armament is not likely to receive gen- eral and serious consideration. —Subserite for the “Watchman.” by which AYO fegard- al - 1 SPAWLS FROM THE KEYSTONE. —Mayor Allen Sterner, of Lock Haven, is under arrest for allowing gambling de- vices on his property. —The grocery store of Frank Hatko, of Wilkes-Barre, was entered by burglars and a 400-pound safe containing cash, jewelry and checks amounting to $300 was remov- ed. . —On day after attending the funeral of her son, Guy Ritchey, at Bennscreek, Cam- bria county, Mrs. Elizabeth Ritchey, aged 75 years, of Blueknob, was found dead in bed. “a —His abdomen pierced by a protruding pipe while he was riding on a motor in the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company's No. 12 shaft at Tamaqua, Wallace Sneddon, aged 26 years, was instantly killed. —James C. Duysart, Hollidaysburg phil- anthropist, has given $67,500 to the Pres- byterian Home for Aged Women in Holli- daysburg, to complete the first unit of the home, which will be named in his honor. —John Dobson, of Mount Carmel, who languidly admits that he is the laziest man in the world, toiled this week. He was sent to the Nerthumberland county jail for failure to send his two boys to school, and warden Reitz put him on the boiler firing squad. Dobson and his family were found quartered in an abandoned coal mine near Mount Carmel. —M. F. Hamill, 75 years old, cashier of the Parkesburg National bank, which clos- ed its doors October 3, after an alleged shortage approximating $100,000 had been discovered, was arrested on Monday at the home of his son-in-law at Wayne, ra,’ Philadelphia suburb. The charge prefer- red, at the instance of the Parkesburg school board, was misappropriation = of more than $5,500 of the funds of that body. —Tdmund L. Cohick, aged 50 years, of Williamsport, died on Sunday from car- bon monoxide gas poisoning. Mr. Cohick had spent the most of the morning in the garage working on his car. He left the house for that purpose about 9 o'clock. He was able to go to the house and met his wife at the door when she returned home from Sunday school about 11 o'clock. He informed her he was sick. He died about 1:50. Willis C. Smith, 19 years old, of Wil- liamsport, was arrested lasts week on charges of wholesale coal thefts. Smith was taken into custody while delivering coal in the motor truck owned by the company from which he was stealing the coal. He is said to have “borrowed” the truck nightly to make his deliveries and had a large ‘order list’ ’ on his person when taken into custody. —The State Supreme court last week res fused to grant a petition of a number of defendants convicted in connection with a fatal riot at Lilly, Pa. during a Ku Klux Klan demonstration, for an appeal from the decision of the Superior court. The defendants were sentenced to two years imprisonment each, by Judge Finletter of Philadelphia, specially assigned to preside at their trial in the Cambria county court at Johnstown. y —Falling from the cage as he was com- ing out of the mine at the close of the day’s work, John M. Antella, of Cresson, dropped 300 feet to his death on Saturday: evening at No. 9 shaft of the Pennsylva- nia Coal: and Coke eeompany’s workings. Four other workmen made the trip up- ward with Antella. They did not know of the accident until they had gained the sur- face and discovered Anella was not in the cage. Investigating they found his man- gled body at the bottom of the shaft. —Major David B. Simpson, a former Philadelphia newspaper man, has taken up his duties as the new commander of the soldiers’ home at Erie, succeeding Captain A. W. Anderson. The new commander of the home saw plenty of action with the Twenty-eighth division overseas, being a captain and earning promotion in rank by reason of his service. The first big task confronting him in Erie is the reorganiza- iion of the system under which the home has been conducted. Present facilities there are not modern. —Burglars early on Monday broke into the store of Paul Rupert, at Bloomsburg, wheeled a safe out of the front door, load- ed it on a truck and made their escape. The safe contained $100 in -cash, a gold watch, deeds and insurance - policies. "It was the tenth time in the ‘past several years that the store has been burglarized.: Special officer Trump on his way home at 5 o'clock, reported seeing a truck . drive away from the place, but was too far. away, to identify. the occupants. He thought nothing of the incidént and did not learn of the burglary until later. #52 sh i — Pleading guilty to embezzling more than $12,000 from six building and loan as- sociations, Thomas B. J. Kenny, 35 years old, of Philadelphia, through counsel, con- tended in quarter sessions court that he had thereby done them a favor. Specula- tion with the embezzled funds, his counsel stated, had turned out successfully and Kenny had repaid the entire sum together with a bonus which the funds would other- wise have never earned. Sentence was de- ferred. In addition to his building and loan association work, Kenny was a mail carrier. Fr : —While intently pouring over a Cross- word puzzle on Monday night, Miss Vir- ginia Martinette, 20 years old, of Charle- roi, met her death when a pistol in the hand of William Pehl, 26 years old, acei- dentally exploded, according to police to whom Pehl surrendered. Miss Martinette had been visiting at the Pehl home and in company with Mrs. Pehl, the arrested man's wife, had been engaged in working the puzzle. Pehl returned home during the evening and, according to the story he told police, he was twirling the pistol on his finger when it discharged. The bullet severed Miss Martinette's jugular vein antl she died instantly. Pehl is being held by the police pending an investigation. ——An old lawsuit was directed non-suit- ed by the Northumberland county court on Saturday. Ten years ago Mrs. Preston N. Seyler disappeared from a Reading Rail- way train near Snydertown while travel- ing from Centre county to Pottstown. She was last seen alive approaching a vesti- bule of a day coach and later her body was found along the tracks. Suit for $26, 000 damages was instituted and the case dragged in the courts for a tenth of a cen- tury. The conductor of the train has since died and the court refused to admit a con- versation between the conductor and a brakeman relative to a vestibule having been left open. Without this testimony the case fell and a non-suit was entered, as no evidence existed as to the cause of the accident. ,