8
HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH
A NEWSPAPER FOR THE H/3MB
Founded IS3I
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Telegraph Building. Federal Square.
E. J. STACKPOLE, Pres't and Editor-in-Chi?f
V. R. OYSTER, Busihjss Manager.
GUS M. SDEINMETZ, Managing Editor.
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FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 4
<*
Every man must get to heaven his
own way. —FREDERICK THE GREAT.
HUGHES OR WILSOX—THAT'S ALL
OUR Democratic brethren are
much perturbed over the key
note speech of the standard
bearer of the Republican party. They
pretend to see in this speech many in
herent weaknesses, but the outside evi
dence is all against this pretense. They
are deeply concerned over the wide
spread conviction of the strength of
Mr. Hughes as a statesman and Presi
dent Wilson himself realizes the diffi
culty of 0%-ercoming the Increasing
confidence of the people in the Re
publican candidate and his popularity
among all classes. Discussing the
Democratic situation at Washington, in
a current analysis of political condi
tions, Colonel Harvey, editor of the
North American Review, says:
The Republicans inevitably and
Justifiably, as it happens, pro
nounce "severest condemnation of
the wasteful appropriations of this
administration," but in the light of
the record of their own partv as
the most extravagant ever known
righteous indignation is far
from convincing. On the other
hand, the Democrats, for reasons
that are distressingly apparent,
prudently withhold their time-hon
ored shibboleth of economy.
JCothing has so weakened the Dem
ocratic position in this campaign as
the extravagant appropriations and the
Increased cost of the government un
der the present administration. At a
time when people are demanding econ
omy in every direction, millions upon
millions of dollars are being expended
la ways that are entirely without Jus
tification.
President Wilson's practical renun
ciation of the Democratic doctrine of
a tariff for revenue only has likewise
proven a serious handicap in the Wil
son campaign. The policy of protec
tion is so obviously in the interest of
American capital and labor that the
Democratic leaders axe compelled to
abandon their traditional attitude
which held the tariff to be a tax.
It 1$ also clearly manifest that the
series of untoward events since the be
ginning of the war in Europe and the
complications in Mexico have impair
ed the standing of the administration
at Washington even more than its
weak domestic policies.
Colonel Harvey wisely suggests that
the ultimate issue in the campaign this
year "will be one of sincerity based
upon character. Hughes or Wilson?
That's all."
Community center work has been
discussed by officials of the School
Board and Department of Parks, and
it is encouraging to hear from an ex
pert of the Playgrounds and Recreation
Association of America that Harrisburg
is admirably fitted for this sort of
work. Two or three years ago an ef
fort was made to interest the people
of the city in the use of the school
buildings for social center activities,
but it was not given sufficient public
support to make the movement a suc
cess. Enough interest was demon
strated. however, to justify some
further effort in this direction.
GOOD ROADS THE THING
' A RECEXT magazine article stated
that Governor Major of Mis-
souri, Governor Hodges of Kan
sas and Governor Cruce of Oklahoma
had put on working clothes and aided
In the construction of highways on
Good Roads Day. We rise to remark
that Governor Brumbaugh was also
on the job and is to-day giving more
thought to the road system of Penn
sylvania than to any other feature of
his constructive program for the State.
It is the Governor's sincere belief, af
ter a thorough study of the question,
that Pennsylvania will benefit more
from a system of intercommunicating
highways and main trunk lines than
from any other single activity. He be
lieves that good roads are inter-related
with more prosperous rural conditions
and a reduction of the high cost of liv
ing through easy access of the pro
ducer and the consumer.
No better example of window box
decoration can be found in the city
than the attractive plants and vines on
the Executive Mansion. It is proper
that the official residence of the Gover
nor should be thUs adorned as a lesson
to all.
STILL WATCHFULLY WAITING
THE crisis which is upon the coun
try in an Impending strike of
thousands of railroad employes
does not seem to impress the fatuous
statesmen at Washington. So serious
Is the altuation that the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States has
addressed a letter to President Wilson
In the hope that he will see fit to start
an Inquiry In behalf of the adminis
tration. An amicable settlement seems
FRIDAY EVENING,
remote at this time and unless some
steps are taken to prevent a break the
business interests of the country are
likely to suffer most seriously. As it
looks now a deadlock between the
railroad officials and the various
brotherhoods is imminent, yet the feel
ing In Washington seems to be that
no crisis is impending. More watchful
waiting.
Letters from the Harrlsburg soldier
boys on the Mexican border indicate
that they are performing their duty
with a high sense of their obligation
to the Government. Assuming that
they were sent to the border on a false
alarm they are nevertheless meeting
all the expectations of their community
and their country in a difficult and try
ing situation.
| BUSQUEHAXXA BASIX GUARDS
A COURSE of swimming and life
saving has been established for
the Fairmount park guards in
j Philadelphia. It is expected to develop
J at least a score of guards as efficient
as those at the seashore resorts. The
Schuylkill river is crowded on Sun
day and every summer evening by per
sons who cannot swim and do not
know the danger of being in light
boats or canoes.
This is another thing for the con
sideration of the "Greater Harrisburg
Navy." There should be along the
"Front Steps of Harrisburg" during
the summer season two or three train
ed guards to look after the girls and
boys who are using the river now more
than ever before.
There is much for this new associa
tion organized for the development of
the Susquehanna basin to do and al
ready the various committees are hard
at work upon the matters referred to
them.
Alliances of the Hughes supporters
are being formed all over the country
and these organizations are enrolling
most of the Progressives who had not
previously become identified with th*
Republican party. Why not make it
unanimous?
AX OUTRAGEOUS TAX
THE most astounding and out
rageous development in the his
tory of the liquor business in
Pennsylvania has just come to light.
In their fight against prohibition the
Philadelphia Retail Liquor Dealers'
Association has announced, through
the national president, Xell Bonner,
that there soon will be levied a tax
on all men with whom the liquor deal
ers do business, and thus will be raised
a large fund to combat the prohibi
tion movement.
The idea is to deduct 1 per cent, of
all purchases from the bill and put
this amount into a general campaign
fund. It is to apply to merchants, drug
gists, supply dealers and every class of
trade patronized by the retailers. The
amazing letter follows:
The Philadelphia Retail Liquor
Dealers' Association, in common
with retail liquor dealers' associa
tions of other States, has adopted a
discount stamp system, the purpose
of which is to afford our friends
whom we patronize an opportunity
to help our cause by contributing in
an equitable manner toward a fund
to be used (in legitimate ways) in
protecting and defending our busi
ness against confiscation by State
and national prohibition. This stamp
proposition contemplates a volun
tary contribution of 1 per cent, dis
count—a penny on each dollar—
from invoice prices, on goods sold
to the retail liquor trade, this
amount to be deducted from bills
and invoices and discount stamps to
the amount of such contributions to
be attached to bills and invoices
when payment is made either in
cash or by check. The proceeds of
such contributions are to be turned
into a general fund to be used for
the purpose aforesaid. For the
purpose of illustrating this dis
count stamp system, subject to your
approval and consent—now and in
the future—we have deducted 1
per cent, from your invoice here
with and have attached discount
stamps to the amount of the de
duction, and are pleased to hand
you herewith our check in pay
ment of the net amount as shown
by the invoice. If the deduction
from this invoice is not entirely
satisfactory in every way, we will
thank you to so notify us, and we
shall be pleased t<* refund you the
amount. Manifestly, our interests
,in this campaign against prohibi
tion. which is continuously harass
ing the liquor industry and aims at
its destruction, are mutual.
In other words, the liquor dealers
place themselves on a par with the
government as a tax levying power.
They propose to tax all businessmen
for the privilege of trading with them.
Tho tax is to be "voluntary," but it Is
not difficult to understand that the
merchant who declines to be robbed of
a cent out of each dollar will be soon
on the blacklist.
The liquor business thrives on the
money that should be spent otherwise.
The grocer, the dry goods man, the
clotljier, the milliner, the automobile
dealer, the ice man, the coal man—all
men who deal in commodities of the
home are robbed by the liquor traffic.
Every penny that is spent for "booze"
should go Into some other line of
trade. Yet for the purpose of piling
up a fund with which to stem the ris
ing sentiment of prohibition these
same liquor dealers propose to tax the
very man whose business they are in
juring.
This proposed liquor tax is danger
ous in the extreme. If a tax on sales
to liquor dealers, why not one on gaso
line buyers to fight the government's
antitrust suits, or on white paper pur
chasers to prevent the government
from interfering with that trade, or on
sugar users—or on any one of a dozen
commodities.
Let merchants accede to these out
rageous demands of the liquor men
and there will be no end to the "taxes"
that will be assessed against them. It
is about time that the gbvernment
takes a look into this new form of
private taxation. The thing is next
door to blackmail. If the liquor deal
ers are so anxious for campaign funds
who don't they contribute themselves
—heaven knows their profits are high
er than those of most other business
men, In these days of close margins.
Good for the Governor! He Is going
to do Just as might have been expected
in the matter of inviting tourists into
Pennsylvania through proper State
publicity.
Sir Roger's soul, like that of John
Brown, "goes marching on."
Thanks, Mr. Demaln, you are a gen
tleman and a good forecaster
TELEGRAPH PERISCOPE ~j
—"Austrlans fall back on both
wings," says a news dispatch, which
leads to the belief that they may soon
be flying.
—Even a single man can lead a
double life.
—"Women love some wickedness In a'
man," says Lillian Russell, and we arise
with the rest of the chorus to remark
that she always gets It.
—Emperor William is complaining
because the allied campaign Is designed
to carry the war to German towns
and villages to "the peril and undo
ing of our helpless women and child
ren," which is' a thought that didn't
seem to bother the Kaiser when he
marched through Belgium.
—Some of these days a Harrisburg
policeman is going to arrest a burg
lar, and then there'll be a surprise party
at the Mayor's office.
—After looking over a number of the
bathing girl pictures in the resort cata
logs we arise to remark that we don't
blame the sharks.
EDITORIAL COMMENT"
Mr. Hughes's acceptance speech is a
disappointment to the President's sup
porters solely because it is so unan
swerable. They are reduced to the old
already worn-out and threadbare cries
that he is the candidate of the hyph
enated enemies of Americanism and
that he does not tell President Wilson
what he ought to have done. —N. Y.
Sun.
Does not the price that England has
paid for unpreparedness make any
Impression upon American ultrapacl
fists?—N. Y. Sun.
BOOKS AND MAGAZINES
T. Philip Terry, the American whom
experienced travelers say has out-
Baedekered-Baedeker in the guide
book field, is coming to be regarded as
a stormy petrel in his chosen career
After years of careful preparation, he
had scarcely issued his "Handbook of
Mexico" when the present revolution
broke out in that distracted country,
and tourists' travel was abandoned.
Wishing to get as far away as possible
from the scene of his unrequited la
bors, he turned his attention to the
Mikado's Empire, where he had lived
for ten years or more. Three and one
half years of diligent work there en
abled him to issue his present book,
"Terry's Japanese Empire," but no
sooner was it on the market than the
Great War, in which Japan is involv
ed, broke out. Dazed, but still hope
ful, he turned his attention to China,
and was rapidly bringing to comple
tion a guidebook to that huge republic
when the uprisings which followed the
accession of Yuan Shih Kai to the Drag
on Throne disrupted interior com
munication. At present he is reading
peace literature at his home in Hing
ham, Mass., and is said to be perfect
ing a plan whereby upon receipt of a
retainer from harmony-loving gov
ernments. he will abstain from writing
a guidebook of the country and thus
remove at least one active possibility
of their becoming entangled in a cost
ly war!
"Tish," Mary Roberts Rinehart's
best known character, promises to
make almost as many friends when
she appears in book form, as she has
done through her career in the maga
zines. The advance orders for the
book, which will be published by
Houghton Mifflin Company, in August,
have necessitated a second printing,
bringing the total number of copies up
to 25.000.
Governors Dig Roads
Farm and Fireside, in discussing good
roads, relates how Governor Major of
Missouri, and Governor Hodges of Kan
sas, put on working clothes and helped
to build good roads. It says:
"In working clothes and with prop
er equipment, Governor Major and Gov
ernor Hodges were foremost among the
laborers, helping to make bad dirt
roads into good dirt roads.
"It was at a banquet In Kansas City
shortly before Missouri's first good
roads days that Governor Major banter
ed Governor George H. Hodges, of Kan
sas, and Governor Lee Cruce, of Okla
homa, to come to Missouri to see good
roads built. Governor Hodges agreed
to come if Governor Major would fur
nish the overalls. Major accepted the
offer on condition that Hodges work
after he put on the overalls. Governor
Hodges not only came and worked,
but he started good roads days in Kan
sas, which have been continued since
his term of office expired.
" 'I would rather," Hodges reclared,
'see more money go into the permanent
constructon of roads and less into bat
tleships and things of that sort. Let's
bring it right back to Kansas. Let us
begin the construction of a great per
manent system of rock roads all over
the United States, uniting every capi
tal and every city of consequence in
these United States of ours.'"
The Lesson of the Primary
(Kansas City Star)
The voter who sought to discharge
his party obligations today by helping
to select the best men who are candi
dates at the primary election hafl an
object lesson in the absurdity of the
present elective system. He found the
names of three or four candidates for
some twenty-eight principal offices.
Many of the names were unfamiliar to
him and many of the officers he per
haps had never heard of. When the
ballots are counted it will be found
that thousands of voters did not vote
on many of the candidates for these
lesser places.
It is obvious of course, that the sys
tem of making mere administrative
offices elective tends to the advantage
of machine politics and to the disad
vantage of efficient local government.
It is impossible that the voters should
by this hit or miss method succeed in
picking the best men or that there
should be responsibility anywhere for
the performance of the officials who
owe their election to this kind of a
lottery. To fix such responsibility all
these minor offices should be made
appointive, and the appointive power
would be responsible to the people for
the conduct of the men appointed.
WHAT THE ROTARY CLUB
LEARNED OF THE CITY
[Questions submitted to members of
the Harrisburg Rotary Club and their
answers as presented at the organisa
tion's annual "Municipal Quiz."]
"Who is the Superintendent of Streets
and Public Improvements? His term?
His salary? what departments are un
der his direct supervision?
William H. Lynch. His term,
two years. Salary, $2,500.00. De
partments over which he has direct
supervision: Highway, City Engi
neer and Public Works.
HARRISBTJRG TELEGRAPH
'folltlc* IK
• "pen-KOijCccuvta
IT the Ex-Committeeman
Governor Brumbaugh's sudden de
parture from tli'.s city yesterday after
noon following a series of conferences
with heads of departments about re
placing men not in political favor with
others who are aligned with the Gov
ernor and his friends has not relieved
the tension which has prevailed at the
Capitol since Private Secretary Ball
began making up the "beheading list."
The Governor had planned to remain
hero until to-morrow, but decided to
spend to-day »si Philadelphia in con
ference with friends. He denied re
ports that his coming here was
prompted by fears of a railroad strike
or difficulties over the National Guard.
It was expected that the Governor
while here would name a successor
to Colonel John P. Wood, commander
of the First Cavalry, now at El Paso,
as a member Of the State Industrial
Board. The colonel is not in favor
because of opposition to child labor
and other policies of the adminis
tration and as hh term was up in June
he is a "holdover." The Governor has
not reappointed Forestry Commissioner
Robert S. Conklin. whose term ended
some time ago, which is attributed to
his displeasure with Congressman
W. W. Griest.
One of the things which was ex
pected was the appointment of some
one to the managership of the State
Insurance Fund at $7,500 per year.
The impression has been that W. J.
Roney, Jr., of Philadelphia, had the
inside track, but Albert L. Allen, the
assistant manager, and Paul N. Fur
man, of the Bureau of Statistics, are
also in the race, with the always pres
ent possibility of a dark horse.
Taken altogether, the Governor's
visit has stirred up no end of political
excitement at the Capitol, and as he
is believed to have approved some
removals, there are some gentlemen
looking for "pink slips."
—While Secretary Patton was get
ting Governor Brumbaugh's sanction
of the Invitation to Professor J. G.
Sanders, of Wisconsin, to become State
zoologist as successsor to Dr. H. A.
Surface, the orchard growers' asso
ciation of Lancaster county was yes
terday passing resolutions of protest
against Surface's removal. The Gov
ernor left the city without giving much
heed to the Surface protest or demand
for a hearing and will not return from
Maine until long after August 15,
when the term of Dr. Surface will end.
The Philadelphia Inquirer to-day
makes editorial protest against the re
moval of Dr. Surface.
—lt is understood that Professor
Sanders will be here about the end of
the month and will assume direction
of the work of the bureau. Dr. Sur
face has not er.nounced any further
plans, but members of the Commission
of Agriculture are wondering what he
will do next.
—Mayor Armstrong, of Pittsburgh,
has approved the action of Director
Swan in coping with the strike sit
uation among the city's street and park
workers. Swan "fired" them when
they refused to work for what the
city offered.
Mayor Kitts, of Erie, yesterday
broke ground for the flood prevention
work in that city. There was consid
erable ceremony and many prominent
men attended.
—The Philadelphia grand jury to
day started in to hear about the gam
bling, of which there must have been
considerable, judging from the reports
which have been going around.
—The Philadelphia Record to-day
says: "Frank J. Gorman, for years
secretary of the Keystone and other
antimachine parties, and for two
terms a county commissioner at $5,000
a year, has been appointed registrar
of the Bureau of Water at $2,400 a
year. He succeeds Joseph A. Carlin,
who resigned to enter business in
Cleveland. Gorman was selected as
the personal appointee of Mayor
Smith, who had previously considered
his name for the position of superin
tendent of the Bureau of Charities and
chief of the Bureau of City Property.
The appointment at this time is re
garded as a recognition of D. Clarence
Gibboney, who gathered the evidence
for the tenderloin raids at the instance
of the mayor. Gibboney and Gorman
remained in control of the old Key
stone party remnant until its death
with the last municipal election, when
Gorman was defeated for re-election
as city commissioner. Gibboney has
been pressing Gorman for consid
eration by ths Smith-Vare organ
ization machine since the election.
Gorman will have to observe the for
mality of a civil service examination
to gain a permanent appointment."
—The action of the Progressive con
ference at Tndianapoils yesterday In
deciding not to have a ticket will prob
ably lead to numerous withdrawals of
men now candidates on Washington
tickets throughout the State. The
Democratic machine men, who had
counted upon keeping the third party
movement alive in order to complicate
district elections for their own ends,
were bitterly disappointed to-day and
lost no opportunity of saying so. The
withdrawal of Washington district
candidates which is being reported
from the Capitol Is sad news for South
Broad street and Market Square.
—Democrats In this section are still
sore from the wallop handed to the
Democratic national program by Sen
ator Penrose on Wednesday in the Sen
ate. The Senator pitilessly showed up
the Democratic extravagance and the
failure to provide adequate defense.
—The fact 'hat In spite of the snort
ing nnd carrying on here a few weeks
ago by the third party men who ob
jected to the course of the Colonel
they did not send any spokesman to
the Indianapolis conference is regarded
as significant. John C. Parker, of
Louisiana, spoke for Pennsylvania. All
the gineer appeared to have been used
up at the conference held here. Not.
even the new noisy Dauphin county
third party crew spent any money for
fare to Indiana.
HOW ABOUT THIS!
By Wins Dinger
Dear reader, it occurs to me
There's something we should do
That would mean much relief to us—
I'll put It up to you.
At this time of the year, when we
Need coin with which to go
Vacationing, tax bills come due—
Which means a double blow.
And frequently the surplus fund
Won't stand the double strain—
And we must give vacation up,
Which causes us much pain.
So why can't we together get
And ask the powers that be
To change the tax-due date so that
'Twill suit both you and me.
I think we could enlist a host
In trying to achieve
This consummation which the strain
On each one would relieve.
Of course, It wouldn't do at all
To name December, for
That's Christmas month, which taxes
all
Our exchequers full sore.
I don't know Just what time of year
I can suggest, but if.
We get together and put up
A fight that's mighty stiff,
It may be that the powers that be
We will completely rout,
And they'll decide that 'twill be best
To cut all taxes ou»
THE CARTOON OF THE DAY
NOW TO PUT UNCLE SAM ON THE MAP
—From the Baltimore American.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
IS LOCAL OPTION- A MORAL QUES
TION?
To the Editor of the Telegraph:
Harrisburg Aug, 2, 1916.
In order that the writer may not
be misunderstood, it is stated at the
outset that he is not opposed to local
option; but, on the contrary, is ready
to vote for it. It may be a debatable
point with him whether it is a con
stitutional method of dealing with the
liquor question. Eminent lawyers have
always held that the provision of the
constitution which says, "The legis
lative power of this Commonwealth
shall be vested in a General Assem
bly," prohibits the delegation of such
power in every form to the people.
Even the Supreme courts of nearly a
dozen states, including that of Penn
sylvania, have so decided on other
local option measures. But as the peo
ple seem disposed to assume such
power until the Supreme court speci
fically decides otherwise, all are will
ing to acquiesce, and to advocate, or to
oppose,local option on the liquor ques
tion on its merits. Yet it must be con
ceded, that he who believes it to be un
constitutional will have justification in
voting against it. He would be sus
tained by Judge Cooiey. who says,
"One of the settled maxims of consti
tutional law is that the power con
ferred upon the legislature to make
laws cannot be delegated by that de
partment to any other body or au
thority."
What is local option? It is a species
of referendum. It is a method of leg
islation by which the people vote, not
to confirm an act of the legislature,
but to decide whether or not a partic
ular act shall be operative in a given
area. It thus transfers legislative au
thority from a representative body to
the voters at the polls. That this is
political action is beyond dispute, ac
cording to all recognized authorities
on the subject. Whenever a question
at issue is to be decided by the peo
ple, for the people, and to be enforc
ed upon the people. It is political.
There is compulsion, and not moral
suasion, in every act of the General
Assembly, or enactment by referen
dum. There is a sword sheathed in
every statute. Local option on the
liquor traffic refers to the sale or fur
nishing, and sometimes also to the
manufacture and importation, of in
toxicants. Governor Brumbaugh has
said, "The country Local Option Law
will enable the people to decide for
themselves by their own votes wheth
er or not license for the sale of in
toxicants shall be issued in the several
counties of the State." Men are to be
forced to abandon the sale of intoxi
cants. It is the voice of authority
which speaks, and not the voice of
persuasion and of reason. It is also a
question of the best public policy,
which involves other than moral reas
ons. Indeed, neither in the Brooks
High License Law of 1887, nor in the
Local Option Bill of 1915, is there a
solitary hint at any moral element
or consideration. Neither in the nine
teen sections of the former, nor the
six sections of the latter, is there one
word about temperance. Reasons for
or against either are left to the indi
vidual voter. The' Brooks High License
act has this title: "To restrain and
regulate the sale of vinous and spirit
uous malt of brewed liquors, or any
admixture thereof." The Local Option
bill relates entirely to the granting of
license to sell intoxicants. Nothing
about the use or the drinking of them
as a beverage. The question thus not
only pertains to the science of govern
ment, but It concerns tho very admin
istration of government in this one
particular. It Is an important part of
the functions of government, consist
ing of the enactment and the adminis
tration of law. It thus conforms to
the best definitions of what is politi
cal.
Now, government, or politics, does
not directly concern itself with what
is moral or immoral in itself. It does
not submit a proposition to the vote
of the people because it is morally
right. It is too far removed from
heathenism to seek to determine by
popular vote who shall be its gods.
Politics concerns itself with the ad
ministration of public affairs and the
enactment of laws in the interest of
the peace, prosperity and safety of the
State. Incidentally some these meas
ures may have a strong moral ele
ment, as politics in its better sense is
a brand of civil ethics. So with Local
Option. It is approved or opposed, not
because It Is morally right or wrong;
but as a measure of public policy for
the safety, prosperity and welfare of
the people.
Let the Issue be made clear, and
freed from all ambiguity. Local Op
tion is only one among the three pre
vailing methods of dealing with the
sale or furnishing, the manufacture
and importation of intoxicants. The
other two are Prohibition and License.
The latter Is Prohibition with excep
tions. Local Option gives the voters
the privilege of choosing between the
other two in given units. And in either
case the law relates exclusively to the
sale or furnishing, the manufacture
and the importation of Intoxicants.
AUGUST 4, 1916.
The use of these liquors as a bever
age is not involved. Accepting the
Scriptures as the ultimate moral
standard, it must be admitted that
the excessive use of intoxicants is mor
ally wrong: the moderate use is not.
The Bible is not a prohibition book;
the Koran is. No one can intelligently
and honestly base such extreme total
abstinence views as were entertained
by the aquarians of the early Christian
centuries upon the Bible. Methods of
restraining and regulating the sale
and furnishing of intoxicants may dif
fer. Hence, men of high moral stand
ing are found on both sides of all
methods of control and regulation.
Some favor one method rather than
another because, though not absolute
ly the best, yet it produces the best
results. They can conscientiously say,
as did Israel's God on reviewing the
legislation he had given his people:
"Wherefore I gave them also statutes
that were not good, and judgments
whereby they should not live." But all
systems of governmental regulation of
the liquor traffic are legislative and
political. They necessarily imply a
more or less elaborate system of regu
lation, inspection and control which
interferes with the moral liberty of
the citizen. Local Option, the writer
assumes, is at present the best method.
Yet it has its defects. These In some
instances are of so grave a character
that many sincere, conscientious citi
zens are opposed to it. They even claim
that the "greatest of its defects is its
rotten basis as to morals, where its
presumptuous elective system appears
most audacious." That "Local Op
tion, as a principle, is the ignoring of
the moral in law." The prohibitionist,
therefore, regards it as a wicked thing
to vote for Local Option. Perhaps the
best method of regulating, or of abol
ishing, the liquor traffic remains to
be solved.
But in contradiction of what has
been here stated, it is contended that
Local Option is in the interest of pub
lic morality. Nevertheless it is not be
fore the people as a moral issue. For
the elector it has a moral element in
It. So has every queston on which any
moral agent may be called to act.
There is a moral element in street
sweeping. One man does it very im
morally. Others do it as service to
God. Even the question of the coin
age of silver at 16 to 1 had a moral
element in it. The voter, hence, needs
to consider whether Local Option is
morally right or wrong. He must also
ask whether as a measure of public
policy it is a wise method of dealing
with this great problem. Will it abol
ish more and greater evils than it will
foster? Will it promote the public wel
fare, give increased efficiency, insure
greater safety to life and property,
and eliminate other evils? No con
scientious voter can avoid these ques
tions on this or any other subject up
on which he may be called to act. Up
on these questions he will need all the
light he can. get. Not the guidance
of authority, but the light of authentic
facts and of truth. And even then men
will differ in their views and opinions
on the question of Local Option. Men
of all religious faiths, and no faith,
will with like honest hearts be on op
posite sides. Neither priest, nor
preacher, nor politician can dictate
a man's course.
As a political question Local Option
rests on political grounds, and upon
their merits it must be decided fear
lessly, but with due regard to the
moral considerations which should
ever be present with the conscien
tious voter.
While Local Option is necessarily
political, it nevertheless is non-parti
san and non-religious in its charac
ter. It should also be free from all
the artifices, tricks and frauds so
frequently characteristic of political
campaigns. The "purloining" of votes,
the raiding of parties, the deceptive
appeals, the king of ecclesiastical and
ministerial authority to ensnare the
unwary and to coerce the timid, and
kindred practices are too Jesuitical to
be approved. So must all false logic
be discountenanced. To say that Pro
hibition, apd therefore Local Option,
"is popular assent to the divine law,
and expresses the consent of men to
the Tightness of that law and willing
ness to keep it," is, as Job virtually
puts it, "lying for God." It is also
true, that "Local Option would sit in
a higher than Moses' seat." The end
does not justify the means, as the
practice of too many would lead one
to believe. While, therefore, advocat
ing Local Option, it is well to be
charitable; nay. rather to be Just and
fair, to those who oppose it, and nev
er to consent to do evil that good may
come. All laws, and especially Local
Option laws, must be the outcome and
expression of the free will of the peo
ple. To be effective any law must have
behind it the deliberate judgment of
the people, and not be the result of
the Influence of a small percentage of
minds of a higher class to give im
pulse to the rest, and thus control and
rcgu!ate their exercise of the elective
franchise. In such a case the re-awak
erilng of contrary ihipulses will again
make them dominate over the higher,
and make tnc law a dead letter. Thus
tbe latter end will be worse than the
former.
(Signed) £UJDIA.
lEiumtnrj Gtfjal
"Three-fourths of the counties of the
State are enforcing the dog licence law
and are affording real help to farmers
and sheep and cattle raisers and there
is no reason why the others should
not do likewise," declared Dr. Joseph
Kalbfus, the State game commission
secretary, to-day. "The State has r«*
quired dogs in the boroughs and in the
townships to be assessed and licensed
the same as in the city and there are
men who would be glad to pay the lt«
cense fee if the authorities would be
stir themselves. The point is raie«4
that the act is unconstitutional, -C-s£
the attorney general's department n:«
ruled otherwise and we have a unitA
demand for the enforcement of the law]
which will do more toward helping
sheep raising than any other from the
farmers, the State Grange and other
organizations. You will Hnd that far
mers who have raised sheep for years
declare that stray dogs are the worst
enemies of cattle. The license act will
not only enable people to spot unlic
ensed dogs, but also bring in revenue.
What many object to is the fee to bo
paid constables for killing dogs. But if
dogs kill sheep they cost the county
money just the same. I look for the
time to come soon when every dog,
whether city or country Owned to be
licensed and it will be a lasting ben
efit to everyone owning sheep or in
terested in game propagation."
Officers who are on recruiting duty
throughout the State report that in
spite of good wages and good posi
tions quite a number of men who have
served in the United States army or in
National Guard organizations are ap
plying for re-enlistment. Some of the
men who have been recruited have
served in the very country in which
the Pennsylvania Guardsmen are sta
tioned and are very particular as to
what organizations they are assigned.
The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, which
has Just celebrated its one hundred
and thirtieth birthday, has the unique
distinction of preserving its name in
all that period. In an editorial on the
subject the Pittsburgh organ of Re
publican principles says: "John Scull,
the founder, dedicated The Gazette,
three years before the adoption of the
Constitution of the United States, to
the service of the people, to the pro
motion of their and the country's wel
fare. It is a matter Of greatest pride
to the publisher of The Gazette Times
that in all the years since then, while
its circle of readers ever has grown,
its sphere of influence- ever has wid
ened, through all the vicissitudes of
change and development, there has
been no departure from that primary
purpose of The Gazette. This news
paper, begun as a weekly, has been
published continuously for 130 years
and always has borne that historic
title, the name given to the very first
attempt at newspaper publishing, the
ancient Peking Gazette; hence synony
mous with newspaper. In the course
of its growth and development The
Gazette absorbed other Pittsburgh pub
lications. For a time it was known as
The Commercial Gazette; now it is
The Gazette Times, but the honorable
lineage from The Gazette of John Scull
never has been broken. Only one other
newspaper in the United States has a
similar record of continuous publi
cation under one title, the Chronicle,
of Atlanta, Ga."
Decisions of the Dauphin county
court in State taxes which have come
up in the last few years have been al
most uniformly sustained by the su
preme court, according to well-inform
ed lawyers and the clarification of the
law on Commonwealth taxes in the
last decade has been followed with the
greatest interest. Pennsylvania's
revenue from corporation taxes is
constantly growing and there are tew
of the items which furnish It which
have not been reviewed as far as law
is concerned by the Dauphin county
judges.
• • •
* * *
S. B. Elliott, who was yesterday re
appointed a member of the State For
estry Commission, is one of the best
known men in forestry in Central
Pennsylvania. He is the senior mem
ber of the commission and is one of the
first men to become interested in pres
ervation of the forests by Dr. J. .T
Rothrock, the father of Pennsylvania
forestry. Mr. Elliott is about eighty,
but spry and travels about on wagons
and bad roads without any more fa
tigue than if traveling on a railroad.
He is keenly interested in the move
ment for auxiliary forests and is one
of the most valuable members of the
commission, seldom missing a meet
ing. For years he has been promi
nent in Jefferson county affairs.
* • *
Terence Boals, of Boalsburg, who
organized and equipped the machine
gun company which it is proposed to
add to the First cavalry regiment, is
an enthusiastic outdoors man. He
belongs to a wealthy family and is
much interested in defense matters.
As he organized the company his
friends would like to see him made
the captain.
| WELL KNOWN PEOPLE ]
—Voris Auten, one of the new trus
tees of Bloomsburg school, Is a judge
of Northumberland county.
—Robert Swan, director of works of
Pittsburgh, Is personally directing the
campaign against city department
workers who struck because refused
an increase in wages.
—E. F. Printz, Reading manufac
turer, is again head ot' the cycle ac
cessories trade association with which
he has been identified tor years.
—S. C. Long, the Philadelphia rail
road man, is at the seashore for a brief
stay.
—Nathan Snellenberg, prominent
Philadelphia merchant, has gone to
Western national parks for a visit.
| DO YOU KNOW 1j
That Harrishurg manufactures
steel plates for Western oil tanks?
HISTORIC H.YRRISBIRG
John Harris headed a company or
Revolutionary soldiers raised in this
county.
[OUR DAILY"LAUGH 1
'F the
|B|||||rad£. Why did Maude *
M '.VSrasgV gagement with
1 Because the ea^
1 ■ toS* fagtgagement ha a
J broken him.
NOT ENTIRELY
A FOOL. (
Did Jones lock j|(
the stable door J1 y IAI
after the horse
j was gone? YV'v
Certainly, there
was another I
horse. jjl