THE COLUMBIAN, BLOOMSBUWi. SISSON AND STOBER SHIELD THE GRAFTERS Tried to Prevent Investigation ot Insurance Department During Extra Session. SISSON LEO THE OPPOSITION He Declared That the Pecple Had No Interest In the Question Involved and That It Was None ef the Legis lature's Business What Officials Did With the Fees. The extra pesslon of the legislature of 19(i afforded little opportunity for rolitleal or legislative Jugglery. It wni cnllo.l for the purpose, mainly, of cor recting the evils perpetrated during the regular session of l'.ioD. and the principal work of Senators A. K. Sis Ron and A. .1. Stober was to limit tho harm to tho machine to the minimum. SIsson had heroine a sort of "whin" for tho pans and was always alert. He Interposed technical objections and tricky expedients to defeat all real re forms that promised to be effective. Hut the brief session was not en tirely without political Interest. Shortly after the session began ru mors of a sc andal In the insurance de partment made their nppearance. Six months previously "Pave" Martin had become insurance commissioner, suc ceeding tho late Israel W. Durham. In his report Mr. Martin had alleged that fees to the amount of $33,191 had been collected by the actuary during the six months and withheld from the de partment and the treasury. An Inquiry developed the fact that enormous amounts had been obtained by some body In that way during the several preceding years from which the treas ury got no benefit. On the 23th of January Senator Herbst, of Berks county, Introduced a resolution into the senate for an in vestigation of tho subject. Ills pre amble quoted the statement of the In surance commissioner and added that the actuary had expressed a desire "to go on the stand before a committee of the legislature" and tell all about the matter, and the resolution asked for such a committee. Senator Brown, of Philadelphia, promptly moved to "lay the resolution on the table." That was so coarse a proposition that even the machine was astounded. Then SIsson came forward and moved that It be referred to the committee on Insur ance, which was made up of such men is Brown, Vare, Keyser and McNIchol, of Philadelphia, and others of that Ilk. In support of his motion Mr. Sisson became voluble. Ho said the money lldn't belong to the commonwealth md the people had no Interest in the Ideation, and he ridiculed the resolu lon. "It seems to me," ho added, "that we might possibly be inquiring 'nto things that do not concern the 'egislature." To avert such a thing, istenslbly, but really to delay or de 'eat the movement, he moved that It e committed. Senator Dewalt, of Le ilgh, replied: "It is a matter of $33,191 belonging to the people of Pennsylva lla, and every man upon this floor Is nterested In knowing what became of hat money. What more 1m lortant thing can there be than tho onsideration of the question in re- 'ard to the expenditure of public loney? Is tho senator (Sis on) afraid of It? Is this body of fifty lersons, representing six million and '. half of people, afraid to investigate he conduct of one of its officers? If hat be so, it is time for U3 to go ;ome." The effect of this was so obvious and -mlnous to Sisson's proposition that e "took another tack." He moved to -cfer to the committee on Judiciary eneral and promised a report from 'ie committee within five days. His urpose was so palpable, however, that le machine was afraid to adopt It, nd his motion was defeated, the ayes elng sixteen end the nays eighteen. In pursuanco of this resolution a ommlsslon consisting of three sena T8 and five representatives was ap ointed, Mr. SIsson being a member, was proved that during Durham's Iministratlon of the office of Insur nce commissioner $111,223.80 of act iry fees hail been appropriated to his vn use, and that during Martin's six onths' service $33,191 had been re ined by the actuary, all of which bo "nged to the state. It showed an Im ense padded pay roll, containing nong tho names of men who per- rmod no work one of the Salter Jur 3, a brother of former Governor ono and many others. During the Ulng of this testimony Senator Sis- - -n was vigilant in his efforts to limit e Inquiry bo as to shield the ma in?, and It is snfe to say that but t v him the result would have been o trial and conviction of a number ' those concerned In the grafting op tions and tho recovery of I he money ':egally held by them. During the discussion of this im- Ttant question Senator Stober, pres et Republican candidate for state usurer, enlightened the minds of his lleagues With this absurd but char toristic syeeeh: Mr. President I desire to express t reasons why I shall vote, for this otlon to refer the resolution to the mmlttee on Judiciary general. It Is tho purposu of giving ample tlmo the gen'l.man (Herbst) who Intro red the resolution Into this body, in tlving hlin ,lve days' tlmo, to go home to his constituents and there Investi gate the court proceedings of his coun ty. I bop by the reports from his own county that ono director of the poor was tried and found guilty of Kraft In office day before yesterday, and an other found guilty of the same offense yesterday, and not having this resolu tion reported out for five days will give the gentleman from Berks ample time to go there and make them do right. AN APPEAL TO SOLDIERS Veteran cf the Valiant "Bucktails" Givet Reasons Why Sisson Should Co Defeated. The following open letter to the vet erans of the Civil War, which applies with initial force to soldiers of the Spanish-American War, was written by a member of tho famous "Buck tails." who has always been a Re publican : "Comrades When the martyred Lincoln called us boys to imperil Ufa nnd health; to ;;o 1 .doss, armless and sightless to our graves, In defense of the Union, there went out with that call the a-surance that we should ha taken care of in our old age. What do you think Lincoln would have sai l If be could Inve se-n more than Unn.fmi) "old vets" marching to their graves on a less pension that the country pays for kcepiu;; prisoners? No doubt If he could have s"i n that he would have prayed for Heath's bullet to relieve him f''om the sight. "Pcnnsylvr.r.ln soldiers, who revere the name of Andrew G. Curtin, the pre.it war governor, the soldiers' friend, the father of our soldiers' or phans' schools, what do you think this great patriot would have said to prison house rates for the fast dying and disabled soldiers and their wid ows? Can any soldier think of It without a shudder? "What, then, should we think of Senator A. E. SIsson, who by the power vested in him, as president pro tern, of the state senate, hns nullified tho express will of the people of Penn sylvania in burying the act of tho popular branch of the legislature In the noisome recesses of his own finance committee of the senate. "That act of the legislature would have given each of the old soldiers of Pennsylvania the sum of $72 a year, to assist them in the dark, cold days of the winter of their lives. And yet Sen ator Sisson, by his own act. denied that meager relief to the soldiers of Pennsylvania and their widows and children. "When you go to the polls, on the 2d of November, before casting your ballot for this man Sisson, think of the sunshine that act of giving you $72 a year, out of the $12,000,000 surplus In the state treasury, would have con veyed to your homes and firesides, and then vote against the man who turned the Intended generosity of the state Into disappointment and wormwood and ashes. "Think of Senator Sisson voting In this committee to prevent the presen tation of the act of the lower house to the senate and then vote against him. "Old soldiers, sons of veterans and wives and widows of the survivors of the war. raise your voices and cast your votes against this man Sisson, who said the dues and good will of the Keystone State should not be extend ed to the aged, failing, fast-dying, do fenders of our commonwealth and our country. Vote against him. "Tell this man, who has desecrated the name of Pennsylvania, that he can not, by your suffrages, bo chosen to hold an honorable office In Pennsyl vania. "Think of what this $72 a year would have meant to you. In the mat ter of needed, direct relief and In the matter of your state's gratitude. "Don't vote for Sisson. He took $72 a year from you. The state had, and has, ample means to pay this. Don't vote for him. I beg and implore you not to. "A REPUBLICAN BUCKTAIL. "Bradfo.-d. Pa., Oct. 22, 1909." ANOTHER DELAY Indications Are That No One Will Be Punished For Capitol Graft. From the Philadelphia Press, Repub lican. J The action of the supreme court in allowing an appeal to the men con victed of defrauding the state in the capitol matter creates another delay In the tedious progress of this case. The crime was made public three years ago. It has been tho subject of an exhaustive legislative investigation, a long court trial, an application and argument for a new trial and an ap peal to the superior court. In every case the same conclusion was reached that the defendants were guilty, or had been properly proved guilty, of conspiracy and iraud against the state. It has been brought as a reproach against the state of Pennsylvania that no man has had to go to jail for that monumental fraud against the state. It has been aired, discussed and prov ed until every Pennsylvanian is asham ed of it. Tho defendants have had abundant opportunity to establish their Innocence, but they could not. An other delay la secured. The difficulty or Dnnging to justice weaitny ana in fluent ial criminals, which is recogniz ed as a grievance and a wrong all over tho United .Stales, has this fresh Illus tration In Pennsylvania. People ask Is it possible that alter all no one will bo punished lor that colossal crime against our state.' There is a growing suspicion that some men and some influences are too powerful lor justice in Pennsylvania This is a painful thought that tho su preme cou. t should exert itself to dis sipate. Suppose It does take an hour or two of time to vote on election day, and admitting that it will require the use of a buggy for a short time to take an Invalid neighbor to tho polls, a Demo cratic victory will bo worth more than It comes to, nevertheless. It will save the state vast sums, for the machine la getting ready for another raid on the treasury, and this time It will b on a wholesale scale. POSITION OF INDEPEN DENT REPUBLICANS True Disciples ot Lincoln Are Supporting Gyrus LaRue Munscn For Jastice ot Stpremc Court, BERRY IB HILES ADDRESS Slrscn and Stsber, With the Living Bosses and Efiv cf Quay, Smile In Cynic Contempt of All Reform. The Independent Republican meet ing at Plymouth on Thursday evening was b it'i a rurprise and an Inspiration. It proved that in that section of the j state, at lo-.ist. the better clement of the Hi public an parly is finite as active i nnd altogether r.s determined against j the IVnrofe machine as they were. I four yoais no, when Mr. Berry was j triniip'iantly doited. The meeting was l.'irr.e rid enfhu.-.iar.tle. j The Fpo'iors were In harmony with ' the spirit of their audience nnd both In ; excellent form. Every strong point made wut enthusiastically applauded j and eve:y sentence expressed a strong j point. It was easily the most effec- live political demonstration in that section of tho statu this year. The speakers were Hon. W. H. Merry, for mer state treasurer, and Hen. Henry C. Niles, chairman of tho Lincoln Party state committee. Mr. Berry said in part: "There can be no confusion as to the Issues of the campaign. No ques tion as to the personal character of tho candidates U raised. No question of political significance in the slate or nation Is Involved. We are simply to consider the advisability of electing candidates selected by a thoroughly discredited leadership and thereby in suring their return to power In the state and opening the way for a re turn to the disgraceful conditions ex isting prior to 1905. "It is the duty of every Democrat In the state to actively support the nominees of their party. They are men of the highest character and ability, nominated by the free choice of their party and they deserve our support for these reasons. Moreover, the best interests of the state demand that a strong and formidable opponent of the dominant political party bo maintained In the state. Let it not be said that Democrats are apathetic or Indifferent in this campaign. "Republicans who love political vir tue more than party success can en dorse the sentiment and will vote ac cordingly unless they believe that their leaders ore repentant and will repu diate their life-long records. That they were thoroughly scared by the elec tion of a Democrat In 1905 Is certain. The hasty call of the extra session of the lepis'.atuie In 19tif, tho good work done by it and the selection of excel lent candidates at tho next election, leave no doubt of this. But recent events disclose the old spirit revived. The Quay statue is erected in a prom inent niche in the capitol pursuant to the votes of both the present Republi can candidates, SIsson and Stober. No protest or apology Is of record from them. They, with t he living bosses and the marble Image smile In cynic con tempt of all reform. "Salter, the confessed traitor, who fled the country to escape conviction for notorious ballot box stuffing in Philadelphia, returned when the dis trict attorney's office was manned by Norrls S. Barrett and Robert von Motchzlsker, when, according to Sen ator McNIchol, the Jury was fixed and Salter acquitted. Barrett was nominat ed and elected Judge by the machine that profited by Salter's crime. Von Moschzlsker was presented by them to Governor Pennypackcr for appoint ment to tho bench soon afterward, but the governor declined to appoint him. He was nominated, however, and elect ed to tho bench by the gang at tho succeeding election." Following is a summary of Mr. Niles' speech: "The state ticket that is this year labeled Republican Is in no honest sei;se the ticket of the Republicans of Pennsylvania. "They are urging the Republicans vhc believe In honest government and pure politics to vot-? for their selection for the lmpoitant offices of g'atc treas urer, auditor general and justice of the suprcne court. "There Is no moral, legal or politi cal obligation so to do. "So Ion? as the crime and fraud of one Philadelphia ward Is permitted to defeat the will t.f the honest anti-graft Republicans cf whole counties of the ttate, the nonluecs of such metho.la are not cn.l;lcd to our Ruppo t. "Sinco the d f'eat of I'lummor, In 1905, the b::"?cr have pretended to an unusual goodiu ' s. ','Tlicy are now ti;e:l of even the ap pearance cf reform. "Their temporary restrained hunger for the spoil has become Irresistible Rnd they are now engaged In an ef fort to resume control of the money and tho auditing of the state. "The candidates who have been given the Republican label have al ways been for and never against the corrupt methods which have been Pennsylvania's shame. They are satis factory to those bosses. UNEQUAL APPORTIONMENT OF JUDGES The Vast Part- ot Pennsylvania Is Misrepresented on tho Supreme Court BenchFor Just Representation In That Court Yote For Munson. L,, I', t , v -7Mpi I """" , I I T. J r-A"'" ) fss jf -17 r i fi Hhi DIoi dott in map r.aiat, Lumtcr D.tlrtetc. Ui - IN THC SUPflCMt COURT. "Therefore, they are not satisfactory to the true Republicans, and ought to be defeated by them. "In 1903 the duty of Independent Republicans was to elect Berry, the Democratic candidate. "This year, for the same reasons the duty of the same class of patriotic In dependent Republicans Is to elect the Democratic candidates. Klpp. for state treasurer; Clark, for auditor general, nnd Munson, for the supreme court." CHAIRMAN DEWALT MAKES STRONG APPEAL In Personal Letter to Committeemen, He Urges Activity on Elec tion Day. The Democratic state committee has made a most thorough and apparently effective campaign. No opportunity to create Interest In and arouse enthu siasm for the candidates of the party has been overlooked. It has been an exceedingly quiet campaign so far as "blaring trumpets and tinkling cym bals" go. But every party worker In the state has been directly appealed to and personally urged to effort. One of the lust appeals of the cam paign was in the form of a personal letter of Chairman Dewalt to the chair men and members of the Democratic county and city committees. There are about 10,000 of them, all told, but not one was neglected. Following Is the text of this letter, which will be of in terest to all Democrats: Democratic State Central Committee of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg. Pa., Oct. 21. 1909. Mv Dear Sir A thorough organiza tion of our forces throughout the state at this time will result in a substantial victory at the coming election, but this organization cannot be obtained unless I have the individual aid of every county chairman and every ceunty committeeman in the commonwealth who Is a Democrat. The wonderful canvass that has been made by our state candidates, and the reports that we are receiving ut headquarters, con vince us that victory is not only a pos sibility but a probability, and this as surance will be made certain If 1 can obtain from you and the rest of my committeemen throughout the com monwealth substantial aid. Tho Republicans, up to this time, have not been alarmed by our quiet efforts, uud it is well that we do not arouse them to activity. Our oppor tunity Is whilst they are apparently asleep, l Know that In every district in this state there are hundreds of Democrats who are not In the habit ot going to the polls. This is largely because the committeemen who are In charge have failed to Induce them to go there. The best way, In my judg ment, to do this is to see and assure each voter. If possible, that victory is in the air and that by his vote and tie vote of his fellow Democrats it will be made a certainty. Let me then, at thl3 time, implore you as never before, to put your shoul der to the wheel. I know whnt indi vidual effort in this direction amounts to. The people of this commonwealth are not only unwilling to continue the rule of the Republican gang, but they are willing to aid honest government if they believe that there is a chance for success, and the only hone of sue- cess lies in the work that Democrats illce yourself may do. Personally, the Democratic chairman cannot see the individual voters and lie must depend upon the countv chair men and county committeemen to do this work for him, and In these last days of the campaign I appeal to you In this personal letter to make a thor ough canvass of your district and ar range to have every Democratic voter at the polls. This will win. I am, verv respectfully yours, ARTHUR O. DEWALT, Chairman. Wo have sadly failed In our pur pose as well as fallen short of our duty if we have failed to make clear to any Intelligent mind that tho Dem ocrats of Pennsylvania can have an eusy ami glorious victory thl: fall. A full Democratic vote will give tho can didates of tho party an overwhelming majority. Ninety per cent, of a full vote will give them a largo majority and eighty per cent, of the vote for Mr. Bryan last fall will guarantee their election. It will be Impossible to get out tho full vote In the cities, where peiscnal registration Is requir ed, but a full vot3 In the country dis tricts will bi'lr.j t'.te total up to ninety per cent, of t'.ie Bryan aggregate. Let every Democrat strive for this rsult. v- ) - i.?w letatlon cf fcupftm Court Jui, TWO m rt"twlilphi. Dark Lin iliowi 40 Crvntlvf unrenratTMts In Sam Court D VotMMchtlafctr't Vtlltyft f th Llah. 8chuym.ll. Swcqutnanna Ml Ai'cohci? Fthtfa, alt th AntnMC'1 rertl or the AotraJ &fttln 4B41 lhyfr of KioiHifoo - MINISTERIAL ASSCCIATIAM ENDORSES C. L. MUNSON Clergymen of Williamsport Declare Their Esteem For Democratic Candidate. At a largely attended regular monthly meeting of the Ministerial Association of Williamsport tho fol lowing resolution was passed: Whereas. Cvrus LaRue Munson. of this city, has been nominated for the olhce of justice of the supreme court, and Whereas. We know him to bo a Christian gentleman, who In a long lite in this community nas cxiuuneii a high moral character, a broad philan thropy and a church activity which have won the admiration and confi dence of us all; he it Resolved. That we. the Ministerial Association of Williamsport, endorse Mr. Munson for this great otllce, and earnestly hope that the citizens of the state will take advantage of the oppor tunity to secure the services of a man of such character and attainments. If the Democrats of Pennsylvania fall to elect their ticket this year it will be for the reason that they haven't sufficient civic virtue to Influ ence them to perform the plain duty of good citizenship. The Re-publican machine has done everything possible during the campaign to help the Dem ocrats. They have outraged the pub lic conscience by nominating a ticket composed of servile slaves, they have forced the effigy of Quay, the arch corruptionlst, Into a niche In the corri dor of the capital to the Insult of pub lic and private morals and finally they have compelled the supreme court to Issue an order which will give the capitol grafters Immunity from Just punishment for all time. These things, treading upon each other's heels, have disgusted the better element of the Republican party and if the Democrats are faithful to their admirable candi dates they will be elected by an over whelming majority. According to information gathered with care, the Democrats have very much the better of the registration in the cities of the third class. In other words, while there has been a consid erable? falling off In the registry as compared with the last year, the Re publican party will suffer much more than the Democrats in the diminished vote. This fact ought to encourage Democrats In the boroughs and town ships, whore personal registration Is not necessary, to get out a full vote, so that they may share, in full meas ure, with their political friends In the cities in the victory which will bo achieved as a result. Get out the vote. It will be an hon or to the people of Pennsylvania to elect such men as Munson, Clark and Kipp to important public offices. There is an adage that "men are Judged by the company they keep" and It is equally certain thnt communities are measured by the standard of the men they choose to represent them In pub lic life. If Sisson. Stober and Von Moschzlsker are elected to the offices for which they have been nominated over Clark, Klpp and Munson, the im pression will be Justified that tho peo ple of Pennsylvania prefer evil to good, that they would rather have un fit than fit public servants. Every faithful Democrat In Penn sylvania will give Eufllcient time on election day to cast his ballot. Such action will result In a complete Demo cratic victory and that will bo worth 811 it costs, no matter how much time and labor It requires. If the Republi can pr.rly had been voted out ten years ago we would have had no capl tol graft and tho people would have been saved tho ten or more millions stolen. The Independent Republicans are a unit for the entiro Democratic state ticket and they could hardly bo other wise. The gentlemen who composo that ticket represent the highest man dard of civic virtue and intellectual and moral fitness. Their election will res cue the state from the Republican ma chine which has planned a new cam paign of spoliation. xJ 'Un iMt th hrtMnll M Pnnaylifa: ar much th BlU.mlnewn Cal ric'an, 1 C'l rlng I. nto oraui bo uMltflllslNi LQ, THE ISSUE DEFINED Mr. Niles Presents the Points Forci bly and Clearly. From the Harrisburg Patriot.) No one can read the speech of Hon. Henry C. Niles at the Pottsvill.) uiasi meeting without being Impressed !iv his sincerity, the power of his logic and the clarity of his statement of th" facts of recent political hi.story in Pennsylvania. Calmly, without any suggestion of rancor or ill-uumur, Mr. Niles presints the Issue of this cam paign so forcibly that he who runs may read. Spcwking of the candidary of Judge von Moschzlsker, Mr. Niles trenchantly declares: The chief reason for the general opposition of the bar of the statu to Judge Robert von Moschzisker Is that he Is the product and Hie candidate of the Philadelphia ma chine, if he were the most learned nnd able lawyer In the state, tin! fact that the influence of his learn ing and ability has never been against, but always in support of the sordid spoils system of poli tics, which is our disgrace anil shame, were sufficient to make t pause. Such logic Is Inescapable. Men da not look lor the champions of decent government among the adherents and beneficiaries of that machine that fat tens on bad government, substituting for the good of the people the good of a little coterie of contractors. A wan Is known by the company he keeps in politics as well as In private' life. The duty of the independent, pa triotic Republican is plainly pointed out by Mr. Niles when he says of the Democratic candidates: They should be supported by tlio same Independent Republican sen timent and vote that supported John Stewart for the supreme court, nnd Berrv lor the treasury In 1905. The highest duty of tine Republicans in 1905 was to vow (iL-aiiist Plunimer and elec t !! riy. Tho highest duty of true Kejiubll cans In 19(9 is to defeat the can didates nominated hy the Phila delphia gang, and vote for Mun- 1 son, Kipp ami Ciarl;, who are free from taint. When he declares that the Bern cratlc candidates are free from taint Mr. Niles puts his fkiK'T upon the very core of the 'ruth in this cam paign. Sisson. Stober an 1 Vol Moschzlsker all have reeods of alle giance to the machine through thick and thin that brands them with the stamp of the spoils system. The politi cal preferment they have received at the hands of the machine has been In payment of service' rendered, not to the people but to tho men who spend their lives In debasing the machinery of democratic government to their own selfish ends. The late Senator Quay once wrote that Justrces of the supreme court UaJ been catapaulted Into their seats to serve the purposes of the political mv chine and they never fulfilled their sinister obligations more completely thau they did the other clay when they granted the speol-alloeatur to re view the capitol graft cases. It was never Intended that any of those graft ers should be punished and this action of tho court of lust resort will guaran tee them Immunity. A new trial and acquittal are the certain consequence of the review, because, as Mr. Nil''3 says, the Republican machine manag ers "are now tired of even the ap pearance of reform," and will go bold ly Into tho courts to prevent convic tion at a subsequent trial. It was hardly a friend of Robert Von Moschzlsker who conceived the idea of publishing portraits of the Repub lican and Democratic 'candidates for Justice of the supreme court side by side. The picture thus made Is a striking one, beyond doubt, but it doesn't create a favorable impression Of Von Moschzlsker. It calls to mind fhe scene in the play in which Hamlet reproves his mother for her Iniquities by comparing his father, whom tho has abandoned, to his uncle with whom she has taken up. It la a fair cam paign argument, however, and ought to be effective. An esteemed contemporary remark that the supreme court might as w have Issued an order for the acquittal of Dr. Snyder and Mr. ShumaUcr the convicted capitol grafters, and Is right. With Quay's memory honor ed by a marble effigy the punishment of grafters whom he taught to be cor rupt would bo Incongruous and 6r tesque.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers