Democratic watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940, October 07, 1927, Image 1
INK SLINGS. ——Hindenburg now realizes that “peace hath her victories not less re- nowned than war.” - —Centre county gave one soldier- sheriff a majority of 3531 in 1923. Let us give “Dep” Dunlap a bigger one next month. = —“Vote the straight ticket” is the advice already being mailed to the Republicans of the county. Lots of them, however, would like to know Just how straight the ticket is. —We’ll all admit that Roy Wilkin- son has been a nice, courteous official in the Prothonotary’s office, but we all know that “there’s just as good fish in the sea as have ever been caught.” ——The “hooded reign of terror” in Alabama is to be investigated. Now if the “hooded reign of polities in Indiana” should be thoroughly probed a vast improvement might fol- low. LO ag —Give Senator Scott a Judge, a Prothonotary and a Treasurer of Cen- tre county and he’ll do the rest. As our Senator he’s all right, but it would spoil him if he were made our “boss. —We have a kind of hazy idea that the court house and jail are public property and we don’t quite under- :stand where Wilkinson and Dukeman ‘get the notion that they were amilt for their exclusive occupancy. —-Sinie H. Hoy came so near get- ting into the Recorder’s office four years ago that just the least little bit of a boost would have shoved him in. Let us give him a big boost this time, "The office needs a man like Sinie. —We want to serve notice right here to those who will know only too well what we refer to that if we hear of any whispering around about the “wet” and “dry” question, as it might apply in the present campaign, we're going to unspike some guns that might cause consternation in many camps. —Incidentally, Mr. Fleming hasn't been treated at all shabbily by the Re- publican party. He has been a mem- ber of the county board of road and bridge surveyors ever since he was admitted to the bar and district ref- eree in bankruptcy for at least ten years, and the latter position is one of the best political “snits” we know of. "—Having refused to be steam roll- ered out of a chance to run for the of- fice of county treasurer by the Scott- Fleming-Holtzworth-Wilkinson com- bination Charles P. Long is going to run independently. Mr. Long may not get far, but he will, at least, give mem- bers of his party who resent. Vare methods in Centre county an oppor- tunity to go on record with their votes. —Among the others who evidently ‘think they have a divine right to be permanently attached to the public ‘pay-roll is our chief of police. Mr. Dukeman has been filling public posi- tions for many, many years and now ‘he thinks he ought to repeat in the sheriff’s office. Don’t you think “Dep” Dunlap ought to have a dish of the “pap” before “Dukie” gets a second "helping ? —The longer a man lingers in a soft place the longer he wants to ‘linger there. He just naturally gets ‘the ‘habit. Mr. Wilkinson has had eight years in the Prothonotary’s of- fice and taken down approximately fifty-six thousand dollars in emolu- ments. Give him four years more and put the machine, in which he is a cog, in power in Centre county and he will stay there as long as he wants. We have no objection to anybody’s get- ting all ‘they can get, but we have a heart for other Republicans who might have ambition and ability enough to be Prothonotary of Centre county some day. —It is not often that clippings from other papers break into this column, but week’s Republican deserves wider publicity than Mr. Secretary Dor- worth’s organ has circulation to give it. We thank the friend who called our attention to it. Otherwise we might have gone on our way oblivious of ‘the rare gift the Secretary of Forests and Waters has of revealing his own character in the pen pictures he paints of others. The only sting we could possibly get out of it is that since its spirit is such a perfect likeness of him we should not be flattered if some should think it a likeness of us as well. A PREFERENCE OF HANDICAPS. It is no doubt true, as the Editor of the “Democratic Watchman” says, that the Editor of “The Re- publican” has some enemips who didn’t vote for Judge Furst. Even so, the Editor of this par- ticular newspaper never helped wreck a bank, and thereby contribut- ed toward robbing innocent deposi- tors of "life-time .savings, driving aged, helpless men and women to their graves, sending others tv in- sane - asylums, causing still others extreme poverty and distress, and then sneaked through the back door into court to prevent depositors re- covering what rightfully belongs to them. : Far better to have a few friends and some = enemies—yea, even a host of enemies—than to have te face one’s conscience at night— every night—and realize that one “is "justly despised by most persons and has deservedly lost the respect «of all. really a gem in last STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION. Corrupt and Proud of It. Some years ago a somewhat prom- inent sociologist described Philadel- phia as “corrupt and contented.” His survey of the community revealed a condition that justified such an as- persion. A corrupt political machine, created and supported by a meager minority, was robbing the public, de- spoiling the city and exploiting the resources of the people. It was clear to his mind that this sinister influence might easily be overthrown if the bet- ter element of the population would move to that purpose. But the bet- ter element was indifferent. The men and women who were honest and fair in their relations with other affairs would not take the trouble to make even protest against the political ini- quities about them. Because of the corrupt government and the indifference of the people the the city of Philadelphia was anathe- matized as “corrupt and contented.” That was bad enough, but what is to be said of the State of Indiana. Once as justly proud a Commonwealth as any in the sisterhood of States, In- diana could boast of the eminence of her public men. Benjamin Harrison, twenty-third President of the United States; Thomas A. Hendricks and Thomas R. Marshall, Vice Presidents, and Daniel W. Voorhees, “Tall Syca- more of the Wabash,” were names to conjure with. But recently one Gov- ernor of the State has been released from the penitentiary and his suc- cessor, now in office, is under indict- ment and certain to go there. Not long ago the Republican party boss, D. C. Stephenson, was convict- ed of a most atrocious murder and is serving a life sentence in the peni- tentiary. He is not appealing but de- manding pardon and threatening ex- posure of other crimes and criminals if it is not granted. The other day the Mayor of Indianapolis, J. L. Du- val, Republican, was indicted by the grand jury for corruption in politics and the people of the State appear to support and sustain them in their evil courses. They have even the as- surance to ask public eonsideration of the name of Senator Watson, friend [and associate’ ~of Stephenson, as a candidate ' for President. Indiana seems to be corrupt and proud of it. Pennsylvania will go Democratic next year if machine candidates in Phila- delphia and Pittsburgh are defeated this year. New Note in Public Life. In an address before the Pennsyl- an unusual note. He urged economy in the expenditure of public funds, as essential to industrial prosperity. “We have thousands urging expendi- tures along lines in which they are personally interested,” he said, “but we have none who urge economy and lesser expenditures.” He might have added that while many are sedulously searching for new subjects of taxation nobody gives time or thought to measures which might or would decrease taxation along lines that would lighten the onerous bur- dens of the suffering citizen. Those who persistently and persua- sively urge liberal appropriations of public funds for roads, hospitals and schools mean well, and as General Martin said, “it would be splendid if these good ideas could be carried into effect.” “But,” he added, “I want to urge with all the vigor at my com- mand, the absolute necessity of an organization which will take the other side and courageously consider all governmental expenditures as we con- sider our individual expenditures.” That is a key note in which all voices should be made to harmonize. Gov- ernment is costing too much. It is ‘impoverishing the people and under our system falls heaviest on those least able to carry the burden. “Co-operation between the tax-levy- ing authorities.” General Martin con- tinues, “will do more for the good of the people than all the efficiency ex- perts in the world. Good government is good common sense and any gov- ernment without good common sense is doomed to failure.” This is literally true. Good common sense counsels necessary expenses for comforts and even luxuries for the individual who can afford them. But to mortgage the muscles in order to provide luxur- ies not actually needed is folly in the individual and something worse in government. It is to be hoped that the admonition of General Martin will have a deterrent influence on the minds of those to whom it was ad- dressed. eng asda ——The female screen favorites are among the holders of big .insurance policies. Three of them are insured for upward of $1,000,000 each. BELLEFO ——— ee ———— ———Chairman Mellon is also afraid Ti me for Serious Thought. —— ee — The excitement occasioned by the recent primaries in Centre coun- ty is gradually subsiding and the voters are beginning to seriously weigh the character and ability of the candidates in the balance of cool and deliberate judgment. Times were in Centre county when partisanship and party loyalty rallied to the support of a candidate, regardless of how much he might merit the office he sought or what qualifications for it he possessed. In this day of broader thinking’ only a few remain who are so blind as not to see that the fundamental principles of either of our great political parties have no application whatever in the functioning of county offices. There isn’t the remotest opportunity for any of the men who will be chosen at the election in Centre county in November to abrogate or exemplify a single fundamental principle of Democracy or Republican- ism, other than to reflect credit, by faithful service, on the party that gave them the opportunity. From the position of President Judge of the Courts down to that of there isn’t an obligation of service constable of the smallest township that a Democrat, a Republican, a Prohibitionist or any other party man could not subscribe to, if he is a good citizen. In local elections there is but one excuse for yielding to the ancient plea of “stand by the party” zation. It is our belief that zations, but there - stronger than their and that is to support the party organi- parties would soon die if they had no organi- is very grave danger of organizations parties and thereby turning the political conviec- becoming tions of the electorate to the aggrandizement of the selfish interests in control of them. For years Pennsylvania has been the pawn of political manipula- tors. Its delegates in national conventions have been thrown to this or that candidate for presidential nomination who promised most to the boss of the delegation, personally, State might hope for. regardless of what the voters of the Our Governors are the get ‘of just such concep- tion and gradually the system is reaching out to subvert the county, town and township elections to the ades as party organization. relatively free counties of bondage of machine politics will of the machine that masquer- It is not a far look to see Centre and other the State as completely enmeshed in the as are Philadelphia and Allegheny. That calamitous situation will appear the instant the majority of our voters blindly rally to a party banner that tives are merely self exploitation. The campaign in Centre ‘county, You have witnessed the the casual voter realizes. is being held up by one whose mo- that is now on, means more than fight of two would- be bosses to put their personally selected candidates for Judge of your Courts over. Money and the used to corrupt the electorate. single tenet of Republicanism. the camps of the rival factions that vania, promise of public offices were openly Why ? It was all done to determine whether Senator Scott or Secretary Dorworth would Certainly not to advance a deliver Centre county into are contending to control Pennsyl- The office of Judge, is the one most desired and useful to an aspir- ing political dictator, especially if he knows that its incumbent owes his seat on the bench to his aspiration. The next Judge of the Courts - who fits into Senator Seott’s . Centre. county will either be. one “to le our Vare or Leslie, or W. Harrison Walker, whese candi acy means nothing else than a de- sire to serve you. Aside from the fact that a Judge has no legislative function that might vitiate a political principle Pennsylvania Republican that the selection of a Judge for Centre 1s so overwhelmingly county couldn’t hgve any effect whatever on who will be the next President. Surprising Request of Senator Watson. “guide, Senator Watson, of Indiana, whose philosopher and friend,” : Stephenson, is serving a life sentence vania Association of County Commis- 5 ? s sioners, in session at Harrisburg last | Possession of the Philadelphia and week, Auditor General Martin struck | Pittsburgh Vare-Wilson ballots now in in the penitentiary, is reported as making “a friendly attempt to secure custody of the Reed Slush Fund com- mittee at Washington.” The purpose of this gesture is not hard to surmise. The administration Republican Sen- ators imagine that a partisan com- mittee, with an expert political man- ipulator at its head, might be able to recount the ballots without exposing any of the frauds which they know were perpetrated in the Senatorial election in this State last year and are fearful that the Slush Fund com- mittee will reveal them. The importance of the result of this investigation may be accepted as the reason for the desire of the adminis- tration managers in the Senate to shift the service from the non-parti- san Slush Fund committee to the packed partisan committee on Priv- ileges and Elections. If Vare is not admitted to the seat, pending the in- quiry, the political complexion of the chamber will be “a tie,” and a major- ity adverse vote will keep him out altogether. If he is accorded the seat, pending the inquiry, the Repub- licans will have a majority of one and it will require a two-thirds vote to expel him. It is not likely that any- body cares much for Vare but there is great concern on the part of the administration to preserve the major- ity of the Senate. Senator Watson admits that unless Senator Reed consents to the shifting of the custody of the ballots now in possession of the Slush Fund com- mittee it will be impossible to secure the partisan advantage he desires. In view of that fact it may be set down as certain that he will be dis- appointed. Senator = Reed, of Mis- souri, has gone to great pains and ex- pended a vast amount of labor in ex- posing the iniquities of the Republi- can machines in Pennsylvania and Illinois in the strife to retain control of the Senate and he is not likely to relinquish the advantage he has ac- quired by compliance with the sur- prising request of Senator Watson. He will fulfill his duty by finishing his job. —— lp e—— ——Harry Mackey, Vare candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia, seems to be striving for the title of “champion hokum spreader.” Flimsy ‘Excuse for Crime. Philadelphia computing court judges excuse delinquent election officers for making fraudulent returns may not the principal source of ballot cor- ruption in that city but it is unques- tionably the whole reason why Mr. Vare insisted, while ballot reform leg- islation was pending in the recent session of the General Assembly, that “criminal intent” must be proved in order to convict election officers of fraud. In every case in which fraud- ulent returns were revealed by re- count of the votes the defaulting members of the election boards promptly protested that they had no intention to commit crime and the judges as promptly exonerated them from blame. In the Sixth division of the Forty- first ward, for example, the recount en votes. Mr. Mackey, the Vare candidate for Mayor, was credited with forty votes more than he receiv- ed and Mr. Moore, the independent candidate, was cut thirty-seven from the actual poll. The election officers having been summoned to explain this return declared that they were too tir- ed to make a correct count. One of the judges replied that he couldn’t see “how it could have been possible to make such a return” but imposed no greater penalty than to require the officers to recount the ballots of the division for all the candidates voted for. Maybe that made them tired again. In several other divisions of the Vare wards similar discrepancies were shown and the same excuses were of- fered and accepted as grounds for complete exculpation from blame. “No criminal intent has been shown,” the court declared, and the culprits were not only excused this time but en- couraged to do the same thing when- ever opportunity is given them in the future. No doubt the election officers were tired, for they had to count the votes instead of estimating them, as has been the custom in recent years. But weariness is no excuse for crime and it is surprising that judges should take such a view of the question, and still more so that representatives of the Committee of Seventy should con- cur. ——An esteemed contemporary asks us to “be proud of our State.” How can’ we with the election scan- dals of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh fresh in mind? NTE, PA.. OCTOBER 7. 1927. ! I | | 1 § i ! i ! showed a discrepancy of seventy-sev- |’ More Political Hokum. From the Philadelphia Record. “The campaign to be made against me will be a campaign to belittle Philadelphia,’ said Harry A. Mackey to the South Philadelphia Business Men’s Association the other night. That is another bit of olitical ho- kum, well worthy to rank. with the argument that opposition to Mackey in 1927 will endanger the chances of a Republican Presidential - candidate in 1928. Those who oppose the election of Mr. Mackey to the Mayoralty sincere- ly believe that they are waging a campaign to enhance the greatness of Philadelphia. They do not ‘identify the personal fortunes of Mr." Mackey with the welfare of the city. They feel that the re-establishment of self- government here, the repudiation of an arrogant boss who has presumed to dictate the names of all men to be Slected to office, will be a forward step. i It is quite possible that <when former Magistrate Rowland was sent to jail for extorting money from vio- lators of the law he considered him- self a victim of a campaign to belittle Philadelphia. : Election officers caught in the act of manipulating returns in favor of Mr. Vare’s organization doubtless feel that Philadelphia is being belittled Then they are exposed and prosecut- ed. Citizens who fear that municipal ex- travagance and waste will further in- crease their taxes, and who ‘protest against neglect of the city’s streets, are evidently, in Mr. Mackey’s opinion, belittling Philadelphia. : ; Seriously, is there any truth at ‘all in the representation that the citizen who refuses to recognize the will of a political boss as having the force of law, who wants a voice in the selec- tion of his own public servants, who wishes to effect improvements in the conduct of municipal ~ business is a traitor to his city? Or are the real traitors, the actual belittlers of Phil- adelphia, those who are 'resmonsible for the evils the existence of: which are acknowledged by Mackey himself ? el tmtesstamae. A Pinchot and Bell. Irom the Philadelphia Public’ Ledger. In ing a pardon for Is nah, SPE pein a bezzler, whose illness has prevented the beginning of his term of impris- onment, former Governor Gifford Pinchot says he will lay before the Board of Pardons the man’s complete criminal history. Since there is no question about the gravity and extent of Bell’s offenses, which have brought ruin to a host of persons in the Pitts- burgh district, Mr. Pinchot can con- ge m- 8 The complacency with which the . tribute no essential facts not contain- ed in the court records. Bells pecu- lations extended even to the savings of the poor and the school children’s pennies. Except by his personal coun- sel, there has been no attempt to ex- tenuate his offenses. Bell’s physical condition is the only ground for mercy. Physicians appoint- ed by the court say he is afflicted with paralysis, is wholly helpless and in the penitentiary would require the same constant care he has been receiving in a hospital during the last several months, It is true that some suspi- ciously rapid recoveries have. been made by criminals after being par- doned. Applications alleging per- manent invalidism must be examined with special caution. The question for the Board of Pardons is whether the public interest will best be served by putting Bell in prison or accepting the statements as to his physical con- dition. A salutary moral effect was produc- ed by his conviction, despite powerful political influences. Unfortunately, Mr. Pinchot’s intervention will be widely construed as not entirely free from political considerations connect- ed with ancient personal animosities. which should have no place in the present proceeding. a — Homeward Bound. From the Harrisburg Telegraph. The tumult and the shooting have died, the captains and the kings have departed, and the Second A. E. F. is packing its kit bags and preparing to embark for home after as inspiring a gathering as has been witnessed by Paris in many years. Nothwithstanding the warnings and the wails of those who believed the American Legion's convention in the French capital would cause bad feel- ing if not rioting, the Legionnaires decided to carry on and carry on they did, with a vengeance. And the stor. ies coming back from the pens of many war-time writers indicate as clearly as anyone might wish that our citizea-soldiers have done a splendid piece of work in the diplomatic field. From the opening day of the con- vention at the Trocadero, when Foch and Pershing sat side by side on the platform, through that soul- stirring parade whose passing brought tears to many eyes as they thought of the silent and invisible ranks marching phantomlike along the Champs Elysees, to the final “beau geste” ‘of the Legion in calling upon Clemenceau, our ambassadors without portfolio have done their task well. The Legion’s gathering of 1927 will not be forgotten for many, many years. —Subscribe for the Watchman, SPAWLS FROM THE KEYTSONE Robert Levy, of Punxsutawney, Pa., has filed . suit in- Erie court for $200,588 damages against Cletis Tranbley, of Erie, as‘a result of an automobile accident near Ridgway township. June 5, 1927. Levy alleged he was permanently injured. _ —Two children were burned to death in a fire which destroyed the home of Robert Kibe at Harrisville, Mercer county, Mon- day’ night. Five other children and the mother escaped unhurt but Mrs. Kible suf- fered a nervous breakdown after the trag- edy. sibel —The death of Andrew Popovich, 43, a Hannastown miner, was foretold in £ dream of his wife, it was brought out at a cormer’s inquest at Greensburg. Mrs. Popovich testified she had dreamed her husband was killed at work, and the fol- lowing day, September 21, had begged’ him to remain at home, He failed to heed her pleas and was killed in a fall of slate. —Policeman Thomas Mencer, of. Tyrone, halted’ an dutomobile when he shot through’ the gas tank and alse shot a tire, but he found the auto driver to be a party whom" he didn’t want. Seeking a defendant on a bootlegging charge he got the wrong car. Paul Hewel. Tyrone, brought a charge against the officer, alleging felonious shoot- ing with intent to kill Bail ‘was furnish- ed. —While placing personal effects in a satchel, Noah H. Beck, 69, of York, Pa., accidentally pushed the satchel against a floor gas valve late on Monday. Although he turned the gas off when he detected its presence, he became ill and died a short time later from asphyxiation. The victim was found dead by his son when he returned home. A pulmotor failed to revive him. ‘ —Judge Thomas C. Hare, of the Blair county Juvenile court, last Friday hand- ed out unusual sentences to George New- man and Harry Frielan, 14-year-old Phil- ipsburg, Pa., boys, who ran away from home when they “tired of school.” Arrest- ed for stealing foodstuffs at Duncansville, Judge Hare reprimanded the runaways and handed each 50 cents to buy a meal. In the meantime, he communicated with their parents. The boys were returned home. —After a lapse of 44 years, John H. Seitz, of Mountville, York county, is again in possession of a land turtle he found in 1883 at which time he carved his name and address on the shell and liberated it. . Mr. Seitz then lived in Central Manor, two miles distant from his present home. Sat- ‘urday Jacob Newcomer, who lives on the opposite side of the street from the Seitz home, found the same turtle in his garden and presented it to Mr. Seitz The name and date are still quite legible. —Lawrence W. Kightlinger, 20, died at the Titusville hospital Monday night from burns sustained in an explosion of gas in the cellar of his home about ten miles north of Titusville, early on Saturday. Young Kightlinger went to the cellar to ’ start the Delco Lighting system and the explosion followed, throwing him through - the house to the yard with his clothing in flames. Although terribly burned from head to foot, he directed his young wife in operating the automobile in which he was brought to the hospital. : Sixteen yemrs ‘ago, Richard 1. Schrads er, of Shamokin, lost his footing and fell under a loaded mine car, a wheel of which passed over his body. Since that time, he has gone to the operating table 140 times. Recovering slowly from the initial accident, he was left with an affliction that has steadfastly refused to vield to operations. The 140th operation was per- formed at the Jefferson hospital, “in Phila- delphia, which is one of a dozen or more hospitals to which he has been admitted during the years of his suffering. —The voltage of an ordinary household electric light line was sufficient to elec- trocute Thomas Wertz, a contractor, in the cellar of the warehouse of the Farm- ers’ Exchange, Inc.. at New Freedom, Monday. The line, it was said, carried only 110 volts. H. D. Frank, manager of the exchange, who tried to rescue Wertz, was twice knocked to the ground when he attempted to force the line out of Wertz's hands. The victim of the electrocution was a lifelong resident of New Freedom. He was 60 years old and has a wife and daughter at home. —One of the features of the new First National Bank building at Huntingdon, opened to the public on Saturday, is a unique device known as the “night de- pository” which affords business men an opportunity to place their day’s receipts in safe keeping after banking hours. Mer- chants wishing to use this apparatus are given a numbered canvas bag, with a safe- ty lock, and a key to a cylindrical open- ing in the outside wall of the building. When this key is inserted, the eylinder is rotated so that an opening appears in which the canvas bag can be placed. The cylinder then is turned back and the mon- ey slides into the safe. The next day the merchant can return and make his deposit. —Despite the frantic efforts of her lit- tle son to prevent her act, Mrs. Wilfred Long, 45, wife of a section laborer, of Lewistown, threw herself in the path of a bassenger train on the Lewistown and Milroy branch of the Pennsylvania rail- road and was killed Friday night. The tragedy occurred at the Walnut street crossing in the residential section of Lewis- town. Mrs. Long had been melancholy for some time past, members of her fam- ily told Coroner W. Arthur Barr, and a few days ago had tried to end her life by taking poison. A close watch had been kept over her to prevent further attempts. Members of the locomotive crew said that the woman waited until the train had al- most reached the crossing and then threw herself in front of it. Her body was thrown several feet ahead of the train. —AIll her clothing burned from her body when the balcony at her home collasped on Monday and she fell on a torch she was using to destroy cocoons, Mrs. Effie Graffius, 44, widow, of Lewistown, is in a critical condition at- the Lewistown 'hos- pital. Mrs. Graffius had gone to the see- ond floor balcony of her home in West Fifth street about 7 o'clock Monday morn- ing. Fastening some rags on a pole she saturated them with kerosene to make a torch, lighted it and began to burn co- coons which had been made recently by caterpillars. While she was destroying them the balcony collasped. . As it dropped to the ground she was partially dazed and fell .on the blazing torch which ignited her clothing. Regaining consciousness Mrs. Graffius screamed for help, but by the time neighbors reached her the clothing had been burned from her body.