ASA SS — ————————————————————— —————— ————————————————
INK SLINGS.
-—Anyway the new State has
knocked the idea of “once a Moose
always a Moose” into a cocked hat.
_ —Pinchot is flirting with Pennsyl-
vania again. And for the sake of the
interest his candidacy injects into a
campaign we hope he enters the race
for Senator.
—We presume that the reason so
many people fail to properly regulate
‘their own lives is because they devote
too much time in the effort to regu-
late the lives of others.
—The ball clubs are heading south
for spring training and that reminds
us that unless something happens
pretty soon that snow shovel we
bought last fall was a needless in-
vestment.
- —Why get excited over the foreign
lady who is now on our shores claim-
ing to be Anastasia, youngest daugh-
ter of the late Czar Nicholas of Rus-
sia? What difference does it make
whether she is or isn’t.
—We are in thorough accord with
the idea that Lindbergh should stop
flying and take no more chances with
the fate that will inevitably overtake
him should he continue in the air, but
can’t you see Lindy doing it?
—While we have no thought of as-
persing the motives of a very emi-
nent gentleman we miss our guess if
New York city has to pay seven-cent
trolley fares as long as Al Smith is
a potential candidate for President.
—-Next Wednesday the Lenten sea-
son will begin. What self denial are
‘you going to make? Don’t do like a
departed friend of ours always did.
He abstained from beer and regaled
himself with the harder stuff and al-
ways—after boastful allusion to his
.abnegation—said: “I like liquor bet-
ter anyway.”
—Many a fellow who never saw
the inside of an arithmetic can figure
out how he is going to buy a new
car next spring. Strange, what nat-
ural born mathematicians the Ameri-
can people are. We can always figure
out a way to get what we want even
if we do juggle the figures enough to
deceive ourselves into thinking we can
afford it.
- —We dislike to question the sin-
cerity of anyone, but we can’t help
wondering whether John D. Rocke-
feller Jr., would have been so eager
for the Senate investigation commit-
tee to find out the truth if he were
not so fabulously wealthly that, as
.John Francies’ pet story reveals, “he
can even afford to drive only one horse
in his carriage.”
—1It is proper that the anniversa-
vies of the birth of the country’s
great men should be observed. Be-
sides perpetuating their memories in
the minds of youth it gives the syn-
dicate writers such a chance to manu-
facture new Washington and Lincoln
stories. What do you suppose they
will have George and Abe doing a
hundred years from now?
—When Secretary Hoover and Sen-
ator Willis get through with their
war in Ohio the voters of the Buck-
eye State will probably claim the
right of self determination and de-
cide that they prefer to have Demo-
cratic government. That’s what Ohio
usually does after such rumpuses as
‘the contending Repubiican aspirants
for President are starting out there.
—We are discouraged by the public
admission on the part of prominent
Republicans of the county that there
is lack of harmony in their party.
When we fight we want our opponent
to be a cohesive two fisted organiza-
‘tion. Grabbing off a few political of-
fices from a disorganized, mutinous
gang would be about as much of a
triumph as stealing a wilted cabbage
leaf from a blind cow.
—We have been advised that form-
er county treasurer Frank Mayes has
given up the idea of being a candidate
for the Legislature. If our informant
is right Frank must have a very good
reason for clipping the wings of the
bee that has been buzzing in his bon-
net for several years. He is a cagey
gentleman and probably isn’t going
to take a chance on its being ground
to death beneath the upper and neth-
er millstones.
—The Junior League magazine, or-
gan of the younger sets in thirty-five
American cities, is authority for the
announcement that the “flapper” is
passe. Instead of the hard-boiled
little “neck artist,” “booze hound”
and “human c¢mokestack” whose
make-up was so crude as to be ludi-
.crous, the 1928 girl is to have poise,
correct speech and be soberly cos-
tumed. Oh yes, they are also to wear
underwear. Thank God for that, all
you that have stock in textile indus-
tries. :
—The co-eds of the University of
Iowa, in an open forum, decided that
“petting” is a necessary evil and that
smoking and drinking are only sins
when done in an attempt to ‘‘be
smart.” They seem to have justi-
fied their modernistic ideas on the
double standard of morals by the con-
clusion that a girl who doesn’t do such
things is never asked for a date by a
boy the second time. The story that
comes out of Iowa City doesn’t throw
any light on the question we are about
to ask: Did those foolish virgins stop
to consider what manner of boy he
must be who could see nothing else
in them than their willingness to
“pet” and smoke and drink? And did
they see any other accomplishments
in themselves?
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
VOL. 73.
False Rumor Completely Refuted.
It appears that recent rumor, cur-
rent in Washington, Philadelphia and
Pittsburgh, and for a day or two con-
spicuously displayed on newspaper
first pages, to the effect that “the
friendly relations” between Senator
Dave Reed, of Pittsburgh, and Wil-
liam S. Vare, of Philadelphia, had been
ruthlessly ruptured, is without foun-
dation in fact. The report was prob-
ably based on the fact that in the late
proceedings in the Senate, in the Wil-
son-Vare contest, Senator Reed has
not taken as active a part as pre-
viously and that under the new lead-
ership the tactics of the Vare con-
tingent has been practically reversed.
This implied a doubt of the wisdom of
the Reed counsel as well as the fidel-
ity of the Reed allegiance.
Other rumors, equally unfounded
in fact, yielded plausibility to the
main misrepresentation. Congress-
man John M. Morin, of Pittsburgh,
who managed the Vare campaign for
Senator in the western section of the
State, recently paid a friendly visit
to ' Philadelphia, where the Volstead
law is not too strictly enforced, This
truly amiable adventure was inter-
preted by some of the over zealous
and not too conscientious newspaper
correspondents as of a purpose to en-
list the Vare organization in an en-
terprise to run Morin for Senator
against Dave Reed and thus eliminate
Reed from public life as a just pen-
alty for his betrayal of Vare. So far
from this being true Mr. Morin states
that the purpose of his visit was to
induce Vare to entice Reed to sup-
port him for re-election to Congress.
The fact is that Mr. Morin has
“troubles of his own,” and whether
they are ascribable to his service to
Vare two years ago when the Mel-
lons were not in sympathy with the
purpose of his activities, or not, is
a matter of conjecture. In any event
he conceived the idea that under ex-
isting political emergencies Mr. Vare
might be able to influence the Mel-
lons to suppress the opposition to the
re-election of Morin and made his
visit to Philadelphia with that object
in mind. How far he succeeded in
his mission may. be measured by the
fact that Sinator Reed has renewed
his pledges of everlasting friendship
for Vare, which may carry with it at
least a temporary alliance between
Morin and the Mellons and cuarantee
Morin’s re-election to Congress.
—Mr. Hoover has become greatly
attached to the Republican party in
a brief period of time. Eight years
ago he didn’t know which party he be-
longed to.
Pinchot Might Run for Senator.
The fact that petitions are in cir-
culation to put the name of Gifford
Pinchot on the Republican primary
ballot for the office of United States
Senator is a new source of trouble
for the Mellon machine and a cause
of worry for Dave Reed. It is not
certain that Mr. Pinchot will enter
the race, for he protests that he had
nothing to do with starting the move-
ment. But it plainly shows that he
will be ready for the encounter at the
psyhcological moment, if conditions
are propitious, and that he has a po-
tential force behind him in the event
that he elects to run. The Brother-
hood of Locomotive Firemen and En-
gineers is a substantial organization
in Pennsylvania.
There are many reasons why Mr.
Pinchot might enter the Senatorial
race this year. He has plenty of mon-
ey and hosts of devoted friends, will-
ing and even anxious to join him in a
crusade against the iniquities of the
Republican organization. The machine
favorite for the office is not what one
would call a popular candidate in
the State. Even the Mellon managers
realize his weakness and exhausted
every available resource to remove op-
position at the primary election. If
Mr. Pinchot becomes a candidate the
energy and other things invested at
the recent New York conference with
Vare will be wasted. It will mean an
open and a hard fight.
For many years the Steel trust has
had one of the Pennsylvania Senators
and the Pennsylvania railroad the oth-
er. This arrangement, satisfactory
to the corporate interests, has left the
people of the State unrepresented.
Within a comparatively recent period
other corporations have grown into
important proportions and the gaso-
line interests and the aluminum trust
need protection. But the people of
Pennsylvania are entitled to a voice
in the legislation of Congress and the
opportunity to give them a represen-
tative on the floor of the Senate will
be eagerly seized by a vast majority
of voters who have hitherto been in-
fluenced entirely by party prejudice.
——————————
—If Mr. Hughes cannot persuade
the Pan-American delegates with his
logic he ought to impress them with
his whiskers.
BELLEFONTE, PA.. FEBRUARY 17. 1928.
From My Old Home, A Letter.
The postman goes his usual round,
Heavy footed and weary,
The sky is o’ercast with clouds
The day is gray and dreary.
My little girl comes running in
“He brought this paper, only.”
Thank God, it is the old home sheet
Come to an exile, jonely.
And then I read how Johnny Smith
Is getting in his clover,
And how the farmers all rejoice
Because the rains are over.
And Grandma Beck is very sick
And Grandpa Hale’s improving
And how unto the county seat
The Calahans are moving,
I read the editorials,
The wisdom of the sages,
And how the Blue-rock quarrymen
Are asking higher wages.
And all the births and marriages
And all the charivaring
And, maybe, in the divorce court
Some couple disagreeing.
And then I come unto the deaths:
Ah me! How time is flowing
For one by one my dear old friends
Across the line
are going.
And month by month and year by year
It still grows better, better,
And comes three thousand miles to me
From my old home, a letter.
NOTE—Since “one by one” his ‘dear old friends across the line are going”
a word as to the author of the above soul expression in verse might interest the
younger readers of the Watchman.
Will Truckenmiller is a native of Centre
county, having been born in “Rag” valley, back of Hublersburg.. The cross he
has had to carry, by way of physical
have ever known a human being to bear.
—perhaps it has been because his body
soul takes such wonderful flights into
affliction, from birth is as great as we
Yet, withal, he has lived above it
has been so terribly shackled that his
the realms of beautiful thought. Mr.
Truckenmiller has been a random contributor to the Watchman since his boy-
hood in Nittany valley. The late John
I. Thompson, of Lemont, had a complete
collection of his stories in verse and regarded it as one of his greatest treas-
ures. Mr. Truckenmiller is now living
at Blackfalls, Alberta, Canada.
Fine Sport of Millionaires.
Expressing contempt for the United
States Senate is becoming a popular
sport of the “malefactors of great
wealth.” Colonel Frank Smith, of Ill-
inois, for whom Samuel Insull bought
a seat in the body a couple of years
ago, has given a second manifesta-
tion in this direction and it remains
to be seen what will become of it.
While the question of the ratification
of Mr. Insull’s purchase was pending
Colonel Smith somewhat insolently
refused to obey a summons to plead
and was subsequently and properly
thrown out. The other day he re-
signed or relinquished what had been
adjudged an invalid claim and pro-
poses to come back on an executive
appointment. It is up to the Senate
for determination.
Harry F. Sinclair, whose lease of
the Teapot Dome oil reserve has been
declared by the Supreme court as cor-
rupt and therefore invalid, was de-
clared in contempt of the Senate more
than two years ago and except paying
the expenses of litigation has suffered
no punishment. Tom Cunningham, of
Philadelphia, was declared in con-
tempt of the Senate a year ago and
has paid no penalty. The president
of the Standard Oil company of In-
diana was declared in contempt of the
Senate a few weeks ago and no great
harm has come to him. Thoughtful
people will soon come to the opinion
that contempt of the Senate is a form
of decoration that conveys distinction
without danger, unless conditions
change.
But Colonel Smith is not likely to
find the matter so easy. As chair-
man of the Public Service Board of
Illinois he had been serviceable to Mr.
Insull, who controls most of the util-
ity corporations of that State. In
view of contemplated legislation in
restraint of electric monopoly Mr. In-
sull, who has extended his activities in-
to that field, needs him in the Senate.
But Senator Norris, of Nebraska, says
that “in view of the Senate’s rejec-
tion of Smith I do not believe his ap-
pointment by Governor Small is le-
gal,” and added “it is an insult to the
Senate for Smith to attempt to do
indirectly what he could not do di-
rectly. If he comes down and ap-
plies for admission the Senate will
reject him again,”
ETS SE ——
—Dr. Mayo, famous physician of
Rochester, Minnesota, complains that
scientists searching for cures for can-
cer are too secretive. There may be
reason for this complaint,
ee —
—Having completed his good will
tour Colonel Lindbergh is now among
friends at his starting point. He has
shown those Missourians.
—The attorneys for Hickman, hav-
ing lost, are now laying plans to gain
notoriety for themselves.
# The LaFollette Resolution.
The value of the resolution declar-
_ing “it is the sense of the Senate that
| the precedent established by Wash-
‘ington and other Presidents of the
| United States, in retiring from the
Presidential office after their second
term, has become, by universal con-
currence, a part of our republican
system of government,” is variously
appraised in Washington and else-
where. Some Senators profess to in-
terpret it as equivalent to an amend-
ment to the constitution, while others |
estimated it as a wholly futile gesture '
for political effect or some other ul-
terior motive. But it was taken ser-
iously by friends and foes and pro-
voked a prolonged and somewhat ac-
rimonious discussion.
The vote of the resolution, 56 to 26,
indicates a decided opposition among
the Senators upon the question of a
third term for the Presidency and
probably accurrately measures the
sentiments of the people of the coun-
try on that subject.
the tradition was evidence enough to
convince reasoning minds that a ma-
jority of the Republican voters are
averse to the proposition, and as no
Democratic President had ever as-
pired to a third term, it may be as-
sumed that the voters of that party
are a unit in opposition. Yet there
is a fear in the public mind that big
business might be able to put a fa-
vorite across if it seemed desirable to
do so.
The LaFollette resolution was in-
troduced in the Senate, and supported
by nearly two-thirds of the entire
membership, as an admonition against
such a contingency. It is universally
conceded that Mr. Coolidge could, and
would, have been nominated by his
party if he had asked the favor, not
because of his popularity with the
people but for the reason that big
business wants him continued in the
office. He has been faithful to the
interests of that element and those
in control are not entirely confident
that another will serve them as well.
The Senate action was intended to
prevent his yielding to the importun-
ities of big business, notwithstanding
his “do not choose” declaration of
August.
fp lpi
—Herbert Hoover probably im-
agines that the public is fed up on
Ohio Presidents. Yet President Hard-
ing, of Ohio, put Hoover onto the
political map.
—There were 528 deaths as the re-
sult of automobiles during January
in the United States. The railroads
of the country were less destructive.
cr———— ne ee———
—The farmers of the middle west
are not likely to draw much hope from
Hoover’s statement that he desires to
continue the policies of Mr. Coolidge.
Hp:
The failure of
both Grant and Roosevelt to break
: NO. 7.
Big Business at Last Condemns a
Wrong.
From the Philadelphia Record.
The appearance today of John D.
Rockefeller Jr., as a voluntary wit-
ness in the oil scandal inquiry is one
of the few reassuring incidents in a
shocking record. One of the most
powerful of the representatives of fi-
nance and industry, he will aid in
undoing and punishing a great pub-
lic wrong. But his intervention is
equally important as the first sign of
i condemnation from big business for
policies of chicane, corruption and
criminality practiced by some of its
foremost exponents. For hardly less
astounding than the lawless acts re-
vealed and thz callous defiance of the
perpetrators has been their protec-
tion through a conspiracy of silence,
evasion and deception on the part of
eminent business men.
During the “trust-busting” period of
25 years ago the name big business
was a term of reproach; it suggested
to the public mind antisocial policies,
methods of exploitation, monopolistic
conspiracies. Today big business has
won general support as an agency of
economic progress. A corporation, or
combine, no longer invites suspicion
i merely because it is large and pros-.
: perous; on the contrary, mergers are
‘tolerated, even encouraged, as a
! means of promoting economies and
| efficiencies from which the nation
| benefits. i
| If this favorable attitude should
i appear, if business should once more
. be subjected to harrassing investiga-
i tions and hampering enactments, that
unfortunate result will be due to the
| stubborn folly of some of its own
leaders. Far more damaging to it
than the perfidy of a Fall and the
corrupt dealings of a Doheny or a
Sinclair have been two specta-
cles revealed—of trusted corporation
executives participating in erooked
transactions, and of the tacit approv-
al given py their associates to their
breach of faith and their obstruction
of justice.
The issue arises, of course, from
that secret and shabby resale of oil
of November, 1921, in which a group
of corporation heads divided $3,000,-
000 of illegitimate profits. Not only
did this fund supply the money with
whieh Fall was corrupted, but it was
procured by company executives at
the expense of their own stockhold
! Yet the odious deal was a;
"boards of “directors and the"
‘pants still defy the law, and to this day
the industry has not condemned, or
: even deprecated, their violation of the
"principles of honorable business.
Two of them fled to Europe and
have remained in exile for four years
rather than aid the prosecution of cor-
ruptionists. One,
death, disgorged his gains of $800,-
000; but his former associates, in-
stead of denouncing the wrong to the
stockholders which the restitution
proved, continued to protect him.
Moreover a half dozen of these of-
ficials, dragged reluctantly to the wit-
i ness stand, have sullenly defended the
whole illicit transaction. Forced to
admit that it was irregular and the
source of corruption, they have shown
no penitence over a breach of trust
and no concern except to obstruct the
processes of justice,
It is for these reasons that the in-
tervention of Mr. Rockefeller is of
vital import. The correspondence
that led to his unexpected appearance
on the witness stand shows that one
group in big business, at least, will
no longer remain an accomplice in
the concealment of detestable prac-
tices. In response to a challenging
appeal from Senator Walsh, he not
only declared that “widespread suspi-
cion in regard to the transaction” re-
quired that “all the facts should be
brought to light,” but wirtually or-
dered the principal witness, head of
a Standard oil corporation, to aban-
don his evasion and tell the truth.
“Nothing short of the fullest state-
ment” he wrote to this man, “can
remove the cloud of suspicion which
hangs over the entire oil industry. No
desire to protect those who may have
been guilty of wrongdoing justifies
the withholding of any slightest fact
that will help to clear up the situa-
tion.” And when that official con-
tinued his defiance Mr. Rockefeller
publicly expressed his regret and
promptly agreed to go on the witness
stand himself. Furthermore, he an-
nounced that the proffered resigna-
tion of his subordinate would be “con-
sidered as the matter develops.”
While it is unlikely that Mr. Rock-
efeller can reveal anything new, his
attitude is significant and helpful.
Even he accepted too readily excuses
for indefensible acts; but though his
condemnation of them is belated it is
genuine and forceful, and therefore
will help in some measure to restore
the repute of big business, which has
been impaired by a policy of condon-
ing public wrong and protecting the
offenders.
—Automobile makers predict mile-
a-minute machines in the future and
promise greater safety. That is levy-
ing a high tax on credulity.
—Mr. Edison doesn’t like men
“when they're too good.” There is
danger lurking in too much piety.
renee fe msec.
—It’s a great pity that John D. Jr.
hasn’t more control of his subordin-
ates.
in the fear of
SPAWLS FROM THE KEYSTONE.
—P. Kinperts Wilson, of Cherry Tree,
by, his attorney W. Wallace Smith, is su-
ing Clearfield county for $3,000 damages
to his farm near Burnside, occasioned by
a change in grade made necessity when
the present State road was built down the
river,
—Three youthful bandits from Balti-
more who staged a series of daring store
holdups, at Scranton recently, were sen-
tenced to serve from fifteen to thirty years
in the eastern penitentiary when they en-
tered pleas of guilty before Presiden
Judge E. C. Newcomb.
—~Charles Bonitz, 40, an employee of the
Lackawanna Railroad shops, at Scranton,
«| dropped dead on. Monday from acute indi-
gestion soon after he reached a street car
for which. he raced on his way to work.
Bonitz formerly lived at Gouldsboro, but
moved to Moosic recently.
—The body of Martin Krotovick, 43, was
found hanging in the jail, at Mount Car-
mel, last Friday, by two men who had
sought lodging in the institution over
night. He had made a noose of his neck-
tie. Krotovick was arrested Friday night
after he had attacked his wife during a
quarrel.
—Returning from his work, Earl H.
Anthony, of Walnutport, near Allentown,
found the body of his wife with their
four-weeks-old baby clasped in her arms.
Mrs. Anthony apparently had been in
good health when he left for work. The
wailing infant and the fact that Mrs. An-
thony was not about attracted the hus-
band’s attention. He discovered that his
wife had apparently been stricken while
asleep.
—J. E. Fornwalt, of Altoona, was held
up by two bandits on the streets a few
nights ago, who fished from his pocket
what they supposed were a lot of bills.
With the exception of a $20 bill they were
cigar store coupons, but the bandits did
not notice the bill among the coupons and
threw them away. Andrew Gable, a shop-
man, found the bill among the coupons
the next morning on his way to work
and learning of Fornwalt’s misadventure,
returned the money to him. >
—Approximately 90,000 persons travel
each day between Philadelphia and New
Jersey points in motorbuses operating
over the Delaware River bridge, accord-
ing to the latest traffic survey made on
that structure. This survey has been car.
ried on for the last three weeks by traffic
counters working 24 hours a day in three
shifts of eight hours each. The purpose
of the check is to ascertain the proportion
of the number of persons traveling over
the bridge as compared with the number
using the ferries. :
—Emmanuel’s Reformed congregation of
Hazleton, awarded to Ralph Woelfel the
contract for a three-story Sunday School
building of steel and granite for $91,277.
George Savage, of Philadelphia, is the
architect. This culmination of years of
work finds as chairman of the building
committee, James A. Sechler, who years
ago started the movement by handing out
quarters to all Sunday school members
with the instructions to use them as ‘tal-
ents” and make them grow. One girl
leading the race the first year won a prize
by turning in $90, made by selling peanut
butter, having bought five bags of pea-
4 nuts. with the first guarter.
—It cost two men $1208.06 for shooting
two rabibts in Upper Hanover township,
Montgomery county. The men were O. 8,
Miller, living near Lansdale, and John
Jabs, of Bucks county. The sentence was
passed Friday morning by Judge Knight,
who a few days ago handed down a de-
cree in which he refused an apepal taken
by the men from the decision of a Magis-
trate who adjudged them guilty of viola-
tion of the gunning laws. Miller and Jabs
were each fined $25 and costs for gunning
on the Sabbath day and each was fined
$500 and costs for using artificial light
in seeking game, it having been charged
they used a flashlight.
—Chairman W. D. B. Ainey, of the Pub-
lic Service Comimssion, estimated that 17,-
700 new rural customers were added by
Pennsylvania electric companies in 1927
under provisions of the commission's or-
der providing for rural electrification.
This involved the construction of about
1441 miles of transmission lines at a cap-
ital cost of approximately $3,000,000. Dur-
ing the year, there were 567 requests re-
ceived by the commission concerning elec.
tric service and facilities, of which 81 per
cent related to rural extension and the
remainder to facilities of power compan-
ies. The total number of consumers in-
volved thrcugh the rural extension re-
quests was upwards of 2500.
—Miss Elizabeth Bitzer, daughter of Dr.
Newton E. Bitzer, a prominent physician,
of Lancaster, directed police in the cap-
ture of Robert J. Hess, 19, sought in con-
nection with four robberies at the Bitzer
home within a month. Miss Bitzer saw
the youth, formerly employed by her fa-
ther, in the southern section of the city,
and immediately informed police, who had
suspecting him of forcing entrances into
the home and also of stealing Miss Bit- -
zer's automobile. He was caught after a
short chase. Police said he admitted hav-
ing entered the Bitzer home four times,
always gaining entrance through a ceilar
window. Familiar with the interior ot
the house, he easily found secluded money
and blank checks, some of which had been
signed by the physician. Hess filled out
the majority of the checks and cashed
them at grocery stores, according to po-
lice.
—An autopsy on the body of “Sam”
Shockey, 27, murderer and escaped con-
viet, which was found Saturday in the
mountains of Franklin county, revealed
three bullet wounds, causing police to be-
lieve Shockey was killed by some person
and that his death was not due to sui.
cide or accidental shooting, as at first be-
lieved, but to the bullets of an avenger.
When found the top of the man’s head
was blown off as if caused by the dis-
charge of the shotgun which was found
near the body. which contained an empty
shell. The autopsy revealed a bullet
wound under the right arm and another
in his chest, the latter bullet piercing his
heart. An inquest will be held by Cor-
oner Shull, when officers hope to clear up
the shooting. Christian Shockey, a broth-
er, who found the body, told police he was
on his way to meet “Sam” when he came
across the body. The brothers had ar-
ranged the meeting the day before, and
Christian was to cut “Sam’s” hair, after
which: he was going to Waynesboro to'
give himself up to the police, Christian
Shockey told police.