6 HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH A NEWSPAPER FOR THE HOME Founded 1831 Published evenings except Sunday by THE TELEGRAPH PRINTING CO. Telearapk llolldlns. Federal Square • E. J. STACKPOLE , President and Editor-in-Chief F. R. OYSTER, Business Manager GUS. M. STEINMETZ; Managing Editor A. R. MICHEXER. Circulation Manager Executive Board J. P. McCULLOUGH. BOYD M. OUKLSBY. F. R. OYSTER. GUS. M. STEINMETZ. Member of the Associated Press —The Associated Press is exclusively en titled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited In this paper and also the local news published herein. . , . All rights of republication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. a Member American Newspaper Pub- As^ocia £j| Ulititern Ven^ 0 * Entered at the Post Office fn Harris burg, Pa., as secend class matter. 'i By carrier, ten cents a week; by mail, $3.00 a year in advance, "i- lie tcho smiles and lauglis away The little trials of life to-day, Will live to smile and laugh away A greater trial another day! —Selected. SATURDAY, JANUARY If, 1919 — PROHIBITION INEVITABLE NOTWITHSTANDING the pub lic statement of Representa tive John W. Vickerntan, the "dry" leader in the Legislature, that Ihe friends of the prohibition amendment favor tho resolution taking its usual course and without any effort to force a conclusion, the remnant of the "reorganization De ri,ocracv" in Pennsylvania is now in sisting that the Republican leaders are back of a scheme to delay the measure while the other States are .proceeding with the ratification of the amendment. These pinhead critics declare that Republican organizations are play ing the opportunist game of defer ring action in the hope that If the amendment should be ratified by tlie required number of states the legislature of Pennsylvania can fol •lo'w suit without fear of hurting the feelings of the liquor interests. This in face of the fact that the real friends of the amendment are fav oring a policy of the sane treatment <n the resolution to the end that there may be no failure by reason of premature action or forced discus sion. These little Democratic puppets are so saturated with the ingrown suspicion that all others act as they themselves would act, that they can not treat with decency men who have given prohibition a fair chance and who are doing their utmost to bring about the adoption of the amendment in Pennsylvania. In short, they are paving the way for tho puny explanation after the vote that in the event of ratification the Republican party is given no credit and in the event of failure it is to assume all the blame. Representative Vickerman and Governor-elect Sproul are honestly of the opinion that Hie ratification of tho prohibition amendment in this State looks more promising every day. It is the consensus of opinion on this question that prohibition is Inevitable, and that Pennsylvania must line up with the other com monwealths in support of the amendment But nothing is co be gained by misrepresenting the pur pose or motives of men on this non partisan issue. In view of the experience of Walter .Shaffer's parents and other Harris burgers, who have endeavored to sup ply their sons in France with needed funds, the enthusiasm in some quar ters for government ownership of the cables and wire systems is likely to ooze out rapidly. It is inconceivable that any great public utility should so soon break down under the inef ficiency of men who manifestly are more interested in their political fu ture than they are in the public ser vice. ' e CO-OPERATION NEEDED •TSHERE is a growing confidence in business circles that with the passing of the next few weeks and the readjustment of bus iness conditions a year of substan tial progress In business and Indus try will be in sight. The doubts which seem to hedge about the transition period are being dissolv ed. There Is a disposition now to go ahead with renewed energy and confidence. Here In Harrisburg and elsewhere throughout Central Pennsylvania, there Is a prospect of fiig things and the development of industry in ev ery line depends upon individual In itiative and courage. Rallroado must re-equlp and industrial plants are bound to bo rehabilitated for peace conditions end those factors will enter largely into the proeper oui development which le Impend ing, Bratne will bo neceaaary In the ;expanalon period and not only bralna SATURDAY EVENING*, Habjeusbuhg TELEGRAPH JANUARY 11, 1919. of employers, but the brains also of those whom they employ, 'it must be a co-operative and mutual period if we are to emerge from the var on higher ground and with a clearer vision of the future. One after another the panels of the iron railing of the Court avenue side of -he Federal building disappear. Boxes of shrubbery next summer would be quite as much of a protec tion to the mail trucks as the flimsy rail that has been disappearing in sectlpns and decidedly more artistic. NOT ALL LIKE BURLESON SATS Postmaster General Burle son of the newspapers and Mr. Mackey, head- of the Postal Telegraph Company: Mr. Mackay has found the news paper press of>the country' very serviceable in the promulgation of his complaints against the gov ernment operation of telegraph service, but notwithstanding the announced policy of the Postmas ter General, that "there will be no change affecting the press wire service except to improve it wherever possible," the general manager of the Postal Telegraph and Cable Company in his recom mendation to the Postmaster General suggested that the news papers were enjoying special priv ileges which might properly be discontinued. Can't Mr. Burleson get thrpugh his thick skull the fact that not all persons and interests are as selfish as he himself is? The newspapers are not opposing government own ership of telegraphs and telephones because Mr. Mackey wants them to do so. Neither are they going to favor government control because Mr. Mackay would take from the newspapers something which he does not believe they should have. They are fighting government own ership because they believe it to be against the best interests of the peo ple. The newspapers could make a lot more money if they bowed to corporate control, but they would be of small use to the public. Mr. Burle son's self-cfentered, everything-for me-and-the-Democratic-party mind cannot grasp the idea of a personal interest that cannot be influenced by purely selfish considerations. Real estate in Harrisburg is going to come into its own this year, and notwithstanding the high cost of building materials and labor it is probable many enterprises checked by the war will go forward. There is a general disposition among Individuals anS corporations to provide all the work possible to the end that return ing soldiers and others made idle through the cessation of war work may be given employment. THE HERITAGE COLONEL, ROOSEVELT has passed on, but no one can doubt that his virile person ality and his robust Americanism will continue to be felt in this coun try for years to come. His passing is a great and almost irretrievable loss to the country at this time, but the frtct that he has dropped out of the activities of life imposes upon all who remain in the public service a great obligation of unselfish devo tion to the public welfare. Colonel Roosevelt believed in a higher type of American citizen and his constant effort to arotise his countrymen will bear fruit in an immediate awakening to individual responsibility and the beating down of those things which, have threat ened the perpetuity of our institu tions. City Commissioner Lynch is giving much attention to the plans of his de partment for the year and expects with the opening of outdoor work to prosecute a vigorous program of street improvement. Of course, the widening of Third street between Walnut and North will be one of the conspicuous undertakings and like wise the resurfacing of Walnut 3treet between Third and Fourth after the removal of the sidewalk on the Capi tol Park side. With the ending of the war, there will not be so great a shortage of labor as during the last year, and all the activities of the city are likely to go forward with more vim. COAL MEN ARE BUSY COAL men report- a rush of W ders to-day. For weeksthey have been begging consumers to "stock up," but the weather has been so mild that a half-ton of coal looked as big as a mountain to most householders and the order was delayed. Now, we suppose, there will be complaints of empty cellars and pleas to the fuel ad ministrator for relief. We never did think much of Dr. Garfield's system of distribution, but if there is suffering this winter in Harris burg the national fuel administra tion will be not much more to blame than many dilatory consumers. Of course, the Harrisburg Academy Cadets will have a place in the in augural parade. They are a hand some lot of boys, and Harrisburg is proud of them. We shall hope to see before another Inauguration a fine battalion comprising cadets from all the leading schools here. PUBLIC WORK PENNSYLVANIA Is going to take her proper place in the mat ter of improved highway con struction. No State is in better po sition to take a leading part in road construction. All public work ghould proceed with vigor and at the earliest pos sible moment. For this reason and In order that there may be no un employment of returning eoldlers or others made Idle through the can cellation of war contracts, the State should, through the Legislature, make early prevision for the monu mental viaduct as part ef the Cap itol park extension project, and for every ether public Improvement, in eluding read building, that hee been deferred during the war. / * T>oKK<*f. By the Ex-Cpinmitteemnn Earnest appeals for men of affairs of the state to take an interest in political matters and to lend prac tical aid during the four years he is tho Chief Executive of Pennsylva nia were made last night by Gov ernor-elect William C. Sproul at a banquet tendered him by 500 mgp, "who do not want anything." Seated in the ballroom of the Bellevue- Stratford were men who lead in the various paths of city life. All paid a glowing tribute to the honor guest and collectively and individually 'they pledged him their support in guiding Pennsylvania'through the period of reconstruction. Each of the speakers pointed to the tremendous task which confronts tho Governor-elect. A letter was read from Isaac H. Clothier and among the telegrams read at the banquet were those from Senator Penrose and A. £litcliell Palmer. - —Senator Sproul was wildly cheered when he arose to speak. Among tho diners were many grad uates of' Swartlimore, and they made themselves heard at every oppor tunity. The honor guest began by thanking the men before him for the tribute they were there to pay, and he then told of how he will be gin his term of office with a tre mendous responsibility and a desire to do the right thing. "Gentlemen," he said, "I have no delusions at all about the difficulties which I face, because I have Seen a great miwy men go into office with the best personal intentions and the best desires to make good. But it is .dlfhctilt when you serve in a Com monwealth like this to please every body. "I have been connected with the state government during the terms of six Governors. I have seen them in the heyday of their beginnings and I have seen them go out in sadness in their last years. This job of be ing Governor of Pennsylvania is not a 'honeymoon, and I not only need your good wishes, but I also need your prayers and your help." The Governor-elect then related 'the part played by the state in the Indian wars, the Revolution, the Civil War and the war just con cluded. He told of the financial bur den sustained by the Commonwealth and he declared that under the next tax bill, Pennsylvania will pay probably $1,000,000,000 'into the treasury of the United States. A few good-humored groans greeted the last announcement and Senator Sproul continued: "Don't groan, we have never yet groaned over a burden which the government has imposed upon us." —Continuing his plea for support during the next four years', the speaker said. "I want you all to help. I need your help more to-day and I will need it more in the next four vears than I ever did before in my life. I want you to stand by and I also want you to take an interest In what is going on in Pennsylvania. "The finest minds of the state sped to the support of the government In the time of crisis. They stood by the country and they didn't question the situation before them. Many of the leaders of business and thought re ported to men who didn't know one half as much about business as they did, but the men of Pennsylvania did not complain. "Pennsylvania contributed real men to the war, and if you are so willing to give help in time of war, for goodness sake do not lose Inter est, and I appeal to you to give aid to Pennsylvania in time of peace and reconstruction. Now is the time when the nation and the state noed you. The same devotion, earnest ness and patriotism which character ized your every act during the war is now required. I believe that the things that we have got to do are equal in importance to the things have gone before. / Men from various sections of the state who have been here on business at the State Capitol and observers of things political in the offices of the state government are comment ing upon the fact that when William C. Sproul becomes governor he will have chosen more of the heads of departments than has any governor in a generation. And by the same token there are more men of high grade and wide experience in bus iness in the list than has been the case in years. Unusual circum stances of a most favorable sort ap pear to surround the launching of the Sproul administration, quite as much as the harmony which marked the organization of both branches of the Legislature, was a refreshing contrast to some recent occasions of similar Importance in Pennsylvania history. Ordinarily, governors have announced appointments on tho eve of inauaguration, and they have been confined, as a rule, to the attorney general, secretary of the common wealth and adjutant general. Gov ernor-elect Sproul has announced his appointments considerably in ad vance, and each one has met popular approval, while his cabinet bids fair to be well on toward completion by tho time inauguration day rolls around. One of the happiest mat ters in connection with the appoint, ments is that practically all of them are men recognized as well qualified. It has not been necessary to look up any of the records of the ap pointees to see who they are. All have been much in the public eye. Another feature which has been commented upon is that a number of the "appointees, like their chief, are men of experience in legislative matters. It is of passing importance to note thut for the first time in quite a while neither Philadelphia nor Al legheny has the big places in the state government. While it is true some of the officials of prominence hail from counties contiguous to Philadelphia, the fact remains that the interior or "up-state" or "the country" as the Philadelphlans and Pittsburghers say, has more than usual, of lite at least. The new Governor hails from Delaware and the Lieutenant Governor will be the first high elective officer from Dau 'phin in many years. The president pro tem. Is from Bucks and the Speaker from York. The chief jus tice is from Lancaster and tho pres ident of the superior court from Huntingdon. The Attorney General to bo, is from Delaware and the Secretary 0t the Commonwealth from Westmoreland. The highway commissioner will be from Cumber land and the banking chief from In diana. Philadelphia will have the commlsalonerahip of health and Al legheny may have the commlsslon ershlp of labor. The secretaryship of agriculture slays In the center of the state. As far as geographlcul dls. trlbutton goes, the personnel of gov- THE DAYS OF REAL SPORT ByBRIGGS mspmu —-A. lir: . ) r \'//A -HE-H6 TqwO OS T \ejfl / \ | fi0 T /0Z wl CUD HITCH OM' HIS Bob -M we / U " tftKL * ™ " \ -r- FOft I '/// 1111 l DID 'H Ha -HE -hc JGST VWRMT J J You I \ „-. p?} '/// L-tKS SVBR' THING WAV OUT'N BaD YBWY/ L 'J BACK I NeAHi-T THE END 'OF A, PERFECT ■— — January DAY., _ Bl i . 'YRV" NEW YORK TRIBI' V ernment Is going to be pretty well scattered. When Governor Brumbaugh re moves from Harrisburg next week he will take with him a collection of early Pennsylvania prints of ex ceeding interest and considerable value. Throughout hfs term the Gov ernor has been adding every now and then to his books dealing with carll*' Pennsylvania and the religious denominations that settled in this state. His "finds" relative to the church with which his family has been identified for generations, is said to be very complete Aid val uable. Few knew of this collection or-of the Governor's interest in such works. To Get Back Home To get back home again—and there to see Old friends and faces of long van ished days. To hear some friendly voice call out to me From street or corner of remem bered ways. Where rain or shine or wind-blown winter snow The lights of home hold up their golden shield. With soft, warm arms from out the long ago In waiting welcome from the si lent field. , To get back home again—to know Rt last The guns are still from Flanders to Lorraine; The day of slogging through the mud is past. The night of terror in the driving rain Lies hidden in the midst of Argonne drifts, A grim, yet holy specter of the years. That wait ahead, where every shad ow lifts Before the smile that welcbmes through its tears. To get back home again—oh, dream of dreams Too radiant to last but for a breath! The drift of purple nights and sing ing streams Beyond black dawns still rife with ghosts and death. Beyond the dreamless sleep of those who wait To hold the line they fought for to the end, Eternal sentinels at Freedom's Gate, Where none shall pass save those whose whisper—"Friend." To get back home again—yes, that is all; The rest is less than nothing down the world; To hear no more the bugle's waking call— The tramp of marching feet —all standards furled— And only silent thougths of those who stay To hold the guard across the end less years, Who will not come again the ancient way Nor know the "smile that wel comes through Its tears." LIEUT. GRANTLAND RICE, Third Army, A. E. F. FAITH Faith iz the rite bower ov Hope. If it wapt for faith, thare would be no living in this world. Wo couldn't even eat hash with enny safety, if it want for faith. Human knowl edge lz very short and don't reach but a little ways, and even that little ways iz twilite; but faith lengthens out the road and makes it light, so that we kan see tew read the letterings on the milo stuns. Faith haz won more viktorys than all the other pashuns or sentiments ov the heart and head put together. Faith iz one ov them warriors who don't kno when she iz whipped. But Faith is no milksop, but st live fighter. She don't set down and gro stupir*with reslgnashun and git weak with the buty ov her attri butes; but she iz the heroine of for lorn Hope—she feathers her arrows with reazon and fires rite at the bull's eye ov fate.—Josh Billings. LABOR NOTES Owing to the scarcity of agricul tural labor this autumn it is reported that In the fields near Fargo S. D., women composed nearly 70 per cent, of the workers who shocked grain. The qunrterly report of the Farm ington (111.) Co-operative Sooioty shows that each member received a dividend of 10 per cent, based on the amount of purchases made. The Sensible Program [From >/. A. Review's Weekly.] THE way to make peace is to make peace. That would seem to be a truism. Yet, strange to say, it seems to be ignored in most of the discussions and forecasts of the approaching peace conference. Judging from a large part of current discussion, even in high places, one might suppose that the principal function of that tody would bo to do almost anything else rather than make peace, and that the latter duty was to be relegated to the last place on tho program. Logically, rationally, profitably, the processes of peace are threefold, in succession. • First come cessation of hostilities and tentative surrender; which have in this case already been achieved in the armistice. Second comes settlement with the conquered enemy, including the fix ing of terms under which the tem porary cessation of fighting will be come permanent, the exaction of suitable indemnity, and the securing of guarantees against a renewal of hostilities. That, we take it, is the proppr work of the peace conference, and is the work to which it should first of all address itself, to the ex clusion of everything which wouyi delay or compromise that achieve ment. There should be the fovmal decla ration and pledge of peace. There should be complete restoration of Belgium—territorially, economically and politically, without reservation or demur, without even the right of discussion by Germany. That we hold to be the primary sine qua non. There should be similar restoration of the ravaged provinces of France, follower! by the return of Alsace and Lorraine and the repayment with in terest of the billion dollars tribute exacted in There should be surrender of Italia Irredenta, and restoration of Serbia. There should be indemnity to' Great Britain for losses Inflicted, and to the United States, and all other nations which have suffered from Hunnish ravages. There should be, at least to the full est possible extent, indemnification of the Allies and America, for the expenses of the war. There should be assurance of the right of self-determination for the peoples of the former German and Austro-Ilungarian empires and of the Turkish empire; including the Danes, Poles, Ceecho-S.ovaks, Jugo slavs, Serbs, Ilumanians, Greeks and Armenians/ There should be suita ble disposition of the former colonics of Germany. The individuals re sponsible for the crimes which have been committed against the laws of nations should be surrendered, to be dealt with by the criminal courts. Rum's Russian Resurrection (Philadelphia Record.) When the late Nicholas Romanoff put the imperial ban on vodka, about four and a half years ago, and, by a simple sweep of the pen placed all of Russia and Siberia on the water wagon, this great reform adopted as a war measure, was hailed as one of the wonders of the world. From one of the drunkenest countries on the globe Russia be came one of the soberest. Never had the Demon Rum received such a knockout. But now he is stag gering to his feet again. The Pro visional Government that controls Siberia had a considerable part of Russia has removed the ukase against vodka, and the peasant can again drink himself into sodden for getfulness of his woe. The Bol shevik! have been doing so for a year past, with eminently disas trous results." The great reform has come to an inglorious end. The Railroad Puzzle [From the Kansas City Times.] Government controj of railroads has developed advantages and equal ly obvious faults. Freight is no long er hauled all around the country in order to give various lines a share in the haul, and Useless trains have been cut off. But the service has been badly demoralized. What Senator Cummins is trying to do in his new railroad plan is to combine the evident advantages of government ownership—unified op eration, standardized equipment and public acquisition of the unearned increment —with the advantages of private operation—initiative, energy and good service. To get tho right combination la a real job. The senator's plan seems to offer a possible basis for discus sion. And the strongest possiblo guaran tees of Germany's future good be havior should be exacted. All these things belong to the sec ond part of the peace-malting pro gram which should first of all come before the peace conference, and which should be disposed of before the third part is taken up.' These things, too. should be decided upon by the Allies without giving Ger many any voice in the discussion. They are the proper terms of a dic tated peace. All that Germany would have to do should be to listen and to acquiesce. That is logical. That is just. For Germany stands before the conference as a convicted crim inal stands at the bar of the court. She is convicted by the testimony and judgment of the world, and by her own confession. Nothing re mains but for sentence to be pro nounced, and that is the function of the court and not of the criftiinal. To permit Germany to discuss these matters with the powers would be equivalent to letting the convicted murderer discuss with the judge whether he was to be hanged or imprisoned for life. It Is only after this second part of the program has been disposed of that the third and final part is in order. That third part will natu rally comprise those readjustments of relationship among tho Allies and the neutral powers which seem necessary or desirable because of I the changes effected by the war, or because of the lessons taught by it. It will include, for ex sample, those proposals for a League of Nations, for tho freedom of the seas, for the abolition of oco j nomic barriers, and what not, which some have been and are prema turely exploiting as though they were the be-all and the end-all of the conference. We have no doubt that these topics will be taken up for consideration by the conference, and that they will in some way be disposed of, though we should doubt if in all cases that end would be fully (attained by the conference itself. It would be quite fitting, and far more convenient and business-like, to re mit some of them, at least, to Inter national commissions, for investiga tion and study, and for subsequent report to the signatory powers for such treaty action as they might then desire. Some of these matters are so complex and require so much consideration that they could not be satisfactorily disposed of in a brief conference: and it would be an in tolerable hardship to require such a body as this is to be, including the chief administrators of the nations, to remain in indefinitely prolonged I sessions. 1 Cantonments to Make Jobs (From the Ohio State Journal) Now there is a" scheme worked out at Washington to buy up all tho cantonments as a sort of training grounds that might be needed in fut"*re emergencies. The project as sumes that this nation is always to be military, and yet it is the very idea that the great war crushed. Think of the cost of those canton ments from the purchase of them and the expense they would con stantly require in the maintenance of them. Here would be hundreds of jobs thrown into the political cal dron, and for no use except for the vaguest possibilities. This nation need not devote itself to militarism. There is no need of it There is no foe to face for at least a generation, and if there were, before that toe got ready this coun try would bo in battle array. Let the cantonments be leveled to the ground and that ground be used in raising wheat, corn, potatoes and apples. These would make the country stronger than all the can tonments could possibly make It, even If flllpd with soldiers and muni tions. The Universal Language Money speakers all languages dis tinctly. Tho more the Yankee BOl dler develops his natural character as a spender in the occupied terri tory of tho enemy the better he is understood and the more reconciled to hla presence the natives become. —From the Richmond Times-Dis patch. No Longer Dollar Chasers One momentous feature of the re construction period relates to re construction of Europe's mental pic ture of Americans as dollar chasers. —From the Chicago News EDITORIAL COMMENT ] But when Pershing's men come out of Germany, they will know their way bdek if anything happens. —Anaconda Standard. The Kaiser with his 600-odd uni forms seems to be all drest up with no place to go—-New York Tele graph. When we think of the inexpres sibly glorious achievements of the British Army and Navy in the war for the preservation of the liberties and civilization of mankind, it makes us inexpressibly proud to have been able to put out such a gallant foe in the days we used to scrap. And wfeen we think of the matchless gallantry of the Yankee boys who have fought so wonder fully side by side with Dixie's sons, it makes us proud that we. were able to lick their fathers until we were exhausted that we couldn't proceed with the job.—Houston Post. Colonel Harveg Sez, Sez He Among the pictures of the great war which the world will long cher ish with unctous delight is that of the Kaiser of the Huns disporting himself in camouflaged trenches for the benefit of the "movies," and then dodging into a deep "funk hole" the moment an electric an nunciator reported the peeping of an Allied airplane above the re mote horizon. Presumably the lat ter movement was effected to the accompaniment of the once-familiar strains from Olivette: "Now is the time for disappearing! Just take a header and down you go!" And what a brandishing of the "shining sword" and what communions with the "Old German Gott" there must have been in the subterranean re treat! What becomes of the vaunted "equal rights of small nations" when "a single overwhelming pow erful! group of nations" assume the trusteeship of the world? "He wanted peace without victory and now he has victory without peace," is the way Uncle Joe Can non puts it. The Herald says what is in many minds: "The President says ,he is trying to act in England as George Wash ington would act if he were in his place. George Washington was a far seeing man, and ho may have pict tured one of his successors in the Presidency, the Queen of England on his arm, entering the banquet hall of the royal pa ace in London with court functionaries ahead walking backward and doing obei sance, but we doubt it. Still more do we doubt that any manager of a Presidential election campaign ever pictured his candi date in such a scene." * No doubt, if it was necessary to go at all, it would have been more American like and more business like to have left the women folks at home and gone quietly to the Embassy in Paris and stayed there when the conference was not in session. Technically, then, he wouid have been on American soil and would have had better legal war rant for the signing of bills from Congress, etc. But when one be comes the guest of a nation, he must accept hospitality in the form ten dered, and cannot attach to a host ffbr doing it UP brown. There is no point in the reference to a Presidential election. Mr. Wilson will not bo a candidate. He has outgrowm the United States. Too Formal [From the Kelly Field Eagle.] Some amusing Incidents in which limited service men figure promi nently are constantly appearing. One of the latest is that a limited serv ice "rookie," acting as orderly in the concentration brigade headquar ters, wus given some papers and told, to take them to Lieutenant Howard Templeton, commanding officer of the 319 th Squadron. Arriving at the headquarters of the squudron and ' rtot knowing where to find the lieutenant, the rookie began to holler: "Ho, Tem pleton; Where's Templeton?" Then, by luck, he Anally stuck his head in to the lieutenant's office. "I'm Templeton," remarked the commanding officer. "What do you want?" "Here's some papers for you," re plied the rookie, carelessly tossing the papers on the table, and sturting to leave. "Well, don't be so formal next time you come to see me," said Lieu tenant Templeton. "Call me How ard." fumrittg (Etfat One of the things which the aver age man finds hard to understand about a legislature of Pennsylvania, Is that It adjourns for about a fort night Immediately after It organ izes. While this recess, which Is a favorite theme for reform writers •when things are dull. Is for the pur pose of making up committees and outlining a legislative program. It In reality overcomes one of the han dicaps which the constitution places upon an Incoming Governor. For some reason the framcrs of the basic law of the Keystone State provided that all Governors after 1873 should take office the third Tuesday of January following their election. While they stipulated that the Gen eral Assembly should meet the flrst Tuesday of January. The result has been that a retiring Governor hav ing sent his farewell message to the Legislature has nothing to do for a fortnight. Years ago leaders of leg islative bodies feeling that the in coming Governor chosen at the same time as half the State Senate and all of the House and nine times out of ten of the same political faith, was entitled to outline legislation, hit on the idea of an adjournment until in auguration day. Hence, the spec tacle is presented of a retiring Gov ernor messaging the General As sembly and giving the benefit of ob servations and experience has to sit by and see the Inaugural address of his successor accepted as a sailing chart. The fact that his new predecessor had the same time of it can be at best a melancho'y satisfaction. Sim ilarly, the Senatorial custom of lay ing over all recess appointments of the retiring Governor until they can be reviewed by the new Governor is one of the things that form an over lapping of administrations. It is very probable that when the time comes to change the constitution that leg islative terms and gubernatorial tenures will begin at the same time. It Is not of record in Pennsylvania history that a Lieutenant Governor has ever been called upon to issue writs for special elections to (ill va cancies caused by popular choice of I Senators to till the two highest of lices of the stato government. This ! obligation will fall upon Edwin E. Beidleman when he resigns as a j Dauphin Senator to become Lieu i tenant Governor and he will thus order an election not only for lIIH own successor but for the successor to the Senator chosen as Governor as well. It is a most unusual situation and to a student of Pennsylvania history one of rare interest, because it is more than a generation since any man with legislative experience has been chosen Governor. Two men have gone, from Congress and ono from the common, pleas bench to fill the chairs of Pennsylvania, but recollection of men here does not go to a year when a man went from the Stato Senate to the executive's desk and a3 for two Senators being chosen to the two highest offices it is a situation as unprecedented as their majorities. It was with much regret that many Harrisburg people heard of the death of Francis J. Torrance for years president of the State Board of Public Charities, and one of me big businessmen of Pittsburgh. Mr. Torrance would have served a quar ter of a century on the board had he lived until next summer and in all that time he never missed but threo sessions. It is not generally known that ho was one of the men who urged enlargement of the Harris burg Stato Hospital for the Insane, and that ho heartily supported the rebuilding program a number of years ago. For a long time ho urged a new hotel for Harrisburg and when he heard of the new Penn-Harris, said Harrisburg had "struck its gait." • • * A number of philanthropic Har risburgers have adopted French and Belgian children and are support ting them in their homes across the sea. These children write regularly to their foster parents and - keep them adtfised of their progress in school and of their home life. In some cases they have lost both par ents and in other the father only has been taken through the cruelty of war. One of the gentlemen inter ested in these littio ones is proud of a beautiful little girl who has sent him her photograph and who is much interested in her benefactor. • * • From all accounts the delinquen cies of the telegraph and cable com panies in the delivery of money that is tolegraphod are not being ac cepted with complacency by men in the military service, even if busi ness people and the relatives of men in the Army and Navy have to sit back and take what they get from the wire service now that it is con trolled by the national authorities. Indeed, the lot of clerks at the tele graph offices is anything but pleas ant since the deterioriation in ser vice which began when the gov ernment took over the systems has become a matter of general knowl edge. The old effort to please which was such a feature of the service, seems to have given way to an effort to avoid blame and the attitude of some of the officials has likewise undergone a marked change. The situation in this city was remark ably summed up by a stalwart col ored soldier from one of the reserve depots an evening not so long ago. "Man," said this colored soldier, "I wants to send some money to mah girl an' I wants you to send It. Now, I'se part of dis government, too, an' ef dis doan' get to mah girl I'm comln' back heah wif some of mah buddies an' clean out de place. De ahmy' has some rights." "We'll do our best, but you see—" began the clerk. "I do see. An' you see, too. I got jes' much to say ez you. I'm in de ahmy." Everyone from a traveling man ager who happened to be in the of fice to the clerks "saw" and they got that money oft the wire In a hurry and were much relieved when they were able to tell the big col ored so dier it had gone. Because he stayed right there until they noti fied him. Framing It is said that the government is now "framing a defense of Its policy in seizing the cables after the war was really over." Framing is prob ably a good word to use In that con nection. —From the Cincinnati Com mercial Tribune. No Wild Oats For Edsel Elevation of Edsel Ford, aged tweirty-four, to the head of the Ford Motor Company, on the other hand, shows how money also can deprive a youth of hiß carefree boyhood days.—From the Indianapolis New*
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers