8 HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH 4 JfEWSPAPBR FOR THE HOME Founded 18S1 Published evenings except Sunday by rHE- TELB6RAPH PRINTING CO. Fflegraph Bnlldlng, Federal Square B. J. STACKPOLE Pitsident and Editor-in-Chief Pnfjlg ©YSTER, Buaineaa Manager atjft J|J§TEIN WETZ, Managing Editof A- R- MICHENER, escalation Manager - Executive Hoard P". P. J cCULLOUGH, B( YD M. OGLESBY. /F. R. OYSTER. f GUS. M. STEINMETZ. ' v Uembc a \( the Associated Frees—The Asso< lated Press is exclusively en titled to the use for republication of al 1 news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited In this f lapei and also the local newe pub* Ishei herein. All rig its of republication of special dlspu ches herein are also reserved. t Member American j Newspaper Pub- ( Assocha- Burcau of Circu lation and Penn sylvanla^Assocla- Eastern off 1 o e. Story, Brooks & Building-, j Western office', ; S'a'T' BuU°(fing" ' Chicago, 111. EriTered at the Post Office In Harris burg, Pa., as second class matter. By carrleit ten cents a week; by mall, $3.00 a year in advance. Ood answers prayer; sometimes, when hearts are weak. He gives the very gifts believers seek. But often faith must learn a deeper rest. And trust God's silence when He does not speak; For He whose name is Love will send the best. —Myra G. Plante. MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1910 WELCOME TO OUR CITY GOVERNOR-ELECT WILLIAM C. SPROUL and his family took up their residence at the Executive Mansion to-day, which will bo their official home for the next four years. With the new Gov ernor it is like an old friend coming back home, for he has been with us at intervale for so many years that he seems like one of our very own, Just returned from a long Journey. He and hlB family will find this city a homey place in which to live. The new administration opens auspiciously and with bright pros pects for largo accomplishments for the good of the Commonwealth and Its people. Harrlsburg extends the hand of welcome, hoping that Gov ernor Sproul will quit his high of fice as happily and as triumphantly as he enters, with the great govern mental program worked out to its last detail and that his term will be marked by that congeniality and good feeling he so much merits. The Germans claim they are "stone broke." and can't pay. for the damage they did during the war. What have they done with the loot of Poland. Belgium, Serbia, Rumania and Prance? If they are not made to give up all .they stole and a nice, round sum beside that will keep their noses to the grindstone for the next twenty five years, a great injustice will have been done, and wo will be paving the way for another German outbreak. MEETING THE TEST PENNSYLVANIA not only met the test of war by sending Into the United States service for the struggle with Germany more men than there were on both sidles In the battle of Gettysburg, and having mere volunteers than any other Stale, but it came up to hopes In the matter of food supply from its farms and gardens. And now comes the news that it actually exceeded the record coal production of 1917 dur ing the year Just closed. This is one of the most gratifying ydeces of Information to come from Capitol Hill in a long time. For monthß during the early stages of the war there were fears that the patriotism of Keystone State minors who volunteered or who declined to uk exemption from the draft would •cause such a slump in coal mining aa to make not only Pennsylvania hut other States suffer. On top of it came the unprecedented severe 1 weather of last winter. To fill the places of the miners who were in Ithaki or navy blue many men un skilled In mining went Into the col- Igrlea, and mines were which tha demand for coal were rather hastily handled. And on top of it all was tha tremendous demand for e#al, affecting operators and men alike. And BOW tha word U out that the Mate produced 2 72,000,000 tooa of aaali In round numbers a million haore than In 1917. And at the same ttme fatal accldanta declined la num ber in comparison with former years. Pennsylvania has met another *eet. What would be have deae this . week without the Penn-Harrle? IN RETROSPECT NO administration In raoent rears has base ao marked by kelMeat contention sad fac tional bickering as that now drawing 4* a etoee, bet when the shadows of. HQN3DAT "EVESHNB, Bjlrrisburo Ifflfll TEEEGHIPH: . C JANUARY 20, 1919. these have been stripped away and Its history written in the language of cold facts Its constructive accom plishments will stand forth clearly as great Influences for good on the life of the Commonwealth. We are too close to the happenings of the past four years to get a true perspec tive. But a bare list of the legisla tive enactments of that period which bear the signature of Governor Brumbaugh, the passage at which was urged in one or more of his messages to the Legislature, includes measures of great importance which have been tho footballs of politics in Pennsylvania for the past decade or more, always the subject of lively I discussion but never before getting ! beyond that stage, i Among the more important of I these mensures is the workmen's compensation act, State insurance, child labor, women's occupational, continuation school and teachers' re tirement acts. There are many more but these stand .out prominently and indicate the general trend, which has been in full harmony with public thought and the growing sen timent for welfare legislation and laws for the protection and benefit of the common people. The retir ing Governor may look back with eatisfaction upon the accomplish ments of his administration as they affect society in general, and for ward with hopefulness toward the passage of the housing, reforesta tion, waterways.and other conserva tion laws which he supported and which in all likelihood will be writ ten on the statute books of the Stato within the next few years. Governor Brumbaugh was the center of political controversy from the moment he was inaugurated, and before, and in the light of what hae transpired the wonder is not that more was not accomplished along constructive and progressive lines, but that,so much was done. The next loan is to bea Victory Ix>an, and after victory let's hope we don't have to have a Peace Loan. OUTLOOK IS GOOD HERE and there are pessimists who refuse to see anything save menace in the readjust ment period of the war, but for the most part there is an optimistic at mosphere prevailing throughout all lines of activity. While there is no disposition anywhere to disregard the difficulties inseparable from such a readjustment there is notwith standing u feeling of confidence that the United States Is in a healthful condition and that business will gradually swing into its proper stride. Discussing the outlook an authority makes this statement: Unprecedented industrial and commercial activity characterized the opening of thetyear in Phila delphia. A new high record for dally bank clearings was estab lished at this center on January 2 and the volume of current busi ness ia suggestive of continued activity in various lines. The great staple Industries, such as agriculture, . packing. textiles, metals, ofls, chemicals and coal, are thoroughly sound and may be depended upon to glva a good ac count of themselves. The voluma of December business In this city was extraordinary and enormous distribution resulted. Underlying conditions are strong and the feeling among merchants is one of hopefulness for the future. All thoughtful persons understand tho uncertainty which prevails re garding tho railroads, but notwith standing the more or less chaotic conditions of the great transporta tion systems there is a feeling in higher railroad circles that Congress will deal in a sane way with these Important utilities and restore them to their rightful owners without a severe Jolt to the welfare of the country at large. The American people, according to the same authority, are still sav in'g money as a result of the reduc tion in both municipal and private expenditure. The statistics show that the savings of the United States increased more than 27 per cent, during 1913. Various large savings banks received Immensely increased deposits during December. This gain is the more remarkable when it is realized that that month is often a period of heavy withdrawals to provide Christinas money and end of requirements. It is to be hoped that these savings will be continued since there are abund ant grounds for supporting Mr. War burg's contention that "nation wide thrift would prove one of the most powerful factors in readjusting the relative position of money and goods and in bringing ifs back to a level of prices on which business will develop its full speed with con fidence and courage." It is neces sary that the publiq recognize this necessity, since the abandonment of practically all emergency expe dients has brought the country again to a basis at which the ordin ary rules of supply and demand will prevail. Generally speaking, there is widespread confidence and individ uals with the close of the present month will have perfected in a large easure their own readjust ment and will then be in position to proceed with enterprises that have been deferred during the jperiod of tho war. Governor Brumbaugh, In bis fare well address at the Y. M. C. A. yes terday, said tha homecoming soldiers should find the Y. M. C. A. as ready to make them welcome here as it did in the camps. "Well said. Governor, and it is for us who remained at home to sea to it that the ~Y" is as well supported as it was in war times. And while w# are celebrating let's odd a cheer or two for Lieutenant Governor Betdleman, who brings to his home town the second place in the government of the Commonwealth, an honor in which his neighbors share. T>otO£c*£*. futKu/jUaiua, By the Ex-Committeeman —The administration of Dr. Mar tin G. Brumbaugh, eleventh gover nor of Pennsylvania under the con stitution of 1873, which made the term of office four years, will closo at noon to-morrow. It will fill quite a space in the political hlstorfr of Pennsylvania. There have been few governors In recent years whoso tenures of the chief office in the Keystone State have been as much marked by political activity. The two terms of Robert E. l'attlson were characterized by the differ ences of opinion natural between an executive of one party and elective officors and legislatures of another. While the administration of Daniel H. Hastings was stirred up by a scries of factional quarrels It was more or less composed towards Its close and the chlof actors did not display great animosity when the test fight was ended. The political activities of the administration of William A. Stone wore minor com pared to those of the administration Just closing. Throughout the Brum baugh term politics on Capitol Hill Jias been strenuous. —lt U interesting that Dr. Brum baugh is to be succeeded by William C. Sproul, a member of the Senate with which the Governor disagreed and prominent in the dominant branch of the Republican party with which the Governor has been at odds from the day. he took office and also that the new Governor was violently opposed by the present Governor at the primary. —There were 870 laws, exclusive of appropriation bills, placed upon the statute hooks of Pennsylvania during the Brumbaugh term and the appropriations of two legislatures, as approved by the executive, aggre gated $149,757,304.65. —lt is interesting to note that the inception or the two big pieces of legislation put on the books by Gov ernor Brumbaugh was in the term of John K. Tener. The subject of workmen's compensation was studied and legislation which formed the basis of the acts of 1915 was drafted by a commission named by Tener in 1912. The child labor r wnd <*Uer humane legislation, as it has been termed, formed the basis of fho program of the Progressive element of the Republican party in the session of 1913 and culminated in the sensational scenes of the closing night of that historic session when George E. Alter, then speaker, kept the House in session until long after daybreak in the hope of enact ing something. —Similarly, the codification of laws, In which fine progress was made during the Brumbaugh admin istration, was due in a great meas ure to the momentum of the terms of Edwin S. Stuart and John K. Tener. Valuable acts relative to making business and other laws uni form with other states were placed on the books at the Instance of the national committees in charge of such matters during the Brumbaugh term. —More prom-ess was made In vo cational education under Brum baugh than In any other term; the Public Service Commission attained a high degree of usefulness, espec ially after war began, In maintain ing rights of public and owners In regard to rates of utilities; the Health Department met an epidemic of unexampled force in the last hair year and coped with infantile par alysis in a serious form. The State Forestry Reserves were expanded until they approximate 1,100,000 acres through maintenance of the traditional conservation policy; the Labor and Industry and Mines de partments were speeded up to meet demands of war time and the super vision of foods vigorously conducted from 1915 to 1919. —Construction of state highways was pushed with vigor and over $B,- 000,000 pat into permanent con struction, while over $7,000,000 was expended on maintenance, the item for maintenance of the Lincoln highway alone last year being more than $750,000. Almost 300 miles of toll road were freed, leaving less than 250 miles to be purchased. —Rather negative results have followed the reorganization of the Department of Agriculture and the commission form of administering the department has not been satis factory, to Judge from the Gover nor's farewell message. The State Police force was increased by 100 men, which experience has shown was too small. -—A comprehensive plan for im provement of the old Capitol park and laying out of the Capitol Park extension in a manner unequalled in state capitals in tho country was authorized in 1918. The purchase of the Jand needed for tho extension was completed in 1916 in a manner eminently satisfactory and at a minimum of co^t. ■—When the state was called upon to mobilize Its strength for war the National Guard, trained by service on the border in the fall and winter of 1916-17, was able to take the field in the summer of 1917, almost in strength to meet army divisional requirements. It was succeeded by the Pennsylvania Reserve Militia, and delay in making them was heard. Activities of tho state in war time were co-ordinated under the States Public Safety Committee, later the State Council 6f National De fence, appointed by tho Governor and provided with funds from the $2,000,000 administered by the State Defence Commission. —This latter commission was es tablished by the act of 1917 with the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor. Au ditor General, State Treasurer and Adjutant General as members. Dur ing the war the Governor's office es tablished a record for issuance of proclamations and offlciui calls to tho people, many being promulgated at request of federal authorities or officers of national organizations. —The political incidents of the administration may bo summed up in the attempt to make the Gover nor Pennsylvania's candidato for President in 1916 and the closely re lated effort to secure control of the Republican state organization,' the revocation of Tener appointments and sending in of a list of scores of names to the Senate in the closing days of the session of 1916; the re movals and resignations of officials not in sympathy with political ac tivities of the administration and the estrangement of the Governor and the Benate -which culminated in the rejection of appolntmente of eight officers in the final hoars of the session of 1917; their reappointment as "recess appointees" and the up holding of the Governor in a Su- WHEN A FELLER NEEDS A FRIEND By preme Court contest. Differences with fiscal officers and the vetoing of bills to mako effective the Economy and Efficiency Commission recom mendations and the unsuccessful campaigns to organize the House in 1917 and to dictate the Republican state nominations at the guberna torial primary of 1918 are also part of the political record of the Brum baugh term. FAMILIAR QUOTATIONS (Henry Cabot Lodge, in Scribner's) The quotation worthy of the high title of "familiar" must have stood the test of time and passed unhurt through the shifting tastes and fashions of centuries. In its lofty or in its humble way it must show that, like Shakespeare, it "was not for an age, but for all time. I use the word "humble" because the rhymes of childhood, of tho nursery, fulfill tHc requlrememnt of age in a quotation worthy to be called famil iar. Their intrinsic, their abstract merits may appear sllht, they may even seem to be sheer nonsense, but they are passed on by mothers and nurses and by the children them selves from generation to genera tion. We may be assured that they would not thus have lived and pros pered if they had not possessed some quality, however, slender, of genuine worth, of real humor or Imagination, which gave them per manence. Then there' are the popular say ings, the folk tales and ballads and the songs of the people with an an cestry lost In the mists of antiquity, which, stored only In the human memory and kept alive only by hu man Hps, have come down across the centuries with their endless variants uAtil at last they have boen gath ered up by the collector and the an tiquarian and made safe from ob livion by print and paper. These tales and ballads and proverbs are often rude In form and expression, but no curious Inquiry is needed to explain their long life and lasting familiarity. In them you find wit and wisdom, sparks struck from the hard flints of experience by men and women struggling unknown through what we call life. When Germany Tempted Us What has been believed all along is now proved by the testimony of Department of Justice representa tives that Villa's murderous raid up on a United States Arm.* Camp at Columbus, N. M., in March 1916, was instigated and inspired by rep resentatives of the Gorman Govern ment in this country. The money needed to equip the bandit was de posited in St. Louts banks by Fin ancial Agent Albert and Ambassa dor von Bernstorff, and through these Institutions was duly transfer red in the form of munitions. Dike most of the clumsy diplomacy of Berlin the plan was to involve us in a war with Mexico. —From the New York World. LABOR NOTES The vegetable oil mills in Kobe, Japan, havo producing capacities varying from 10,000 to 860,000 gal lons a month. The London County Council has offered 260 trade scholarships for boys between the ages of 12 and 16. Organised iron moldars in Port land, Ore., are against the installation of women in the iron foundries of that city. An Increase of seven ond one-half per cent, in wages has boen granted the Plumbers and Steamfltters' Union of London, Ontario. Union machinists in Kewanee, lit., have increased 100 per cent. In organisation and also received & 60 per cent. increase in wages. The Industrial Relations Commit tee of the American Chamber of Commerce recently warned employ [ere against making war on unions. The BisT Gun Speaks (By Lieutenant Grantland Rice, Third Army, A. E. F.) THE colonel says he doesn't know just what he will do Now the war is over and the bloody job is through; He may duck the'army, picking out a farm, Living where the clover grows far away from harm; He may be a broker, where the yens abound, Or pick out an easy chair and merely sit around; But where the shells are rusting and the powder's growing sere, Tell me what the bally hell I'll do for a career! The captain says he doesn't know what his job will be When he strips the khaki off and sails across the sea; He may practice lata again, or, perhaps, he may Write a book about the war or kick in with a play; But my throat is rusty, and my voice is still; I no longer rise and roar behind some wooded hill; From my caisson parted, stared at by the mob, Tell me how the bloody hell I'll get another job? i The gunner says he doesn't know where he'll go to work, He may also buy a farm, or become a clerk; He may take it easy for a month or so, Till the grocer comes around and tag? him for the dough; But my spade is battered, badly out of gear, And my sight's been lifted for a souvenir; With my bosses busy, tell me if you may, How the hell I'll ever pass the lagging time away? Once I was the Only Noise once I ruled the game; Once I had a bite of steel, with a tongue of flame; Once the minute that I spoke with a voice of wrath Huns returned to hell again or scattered from my path; I was master of the trench, king of the corral, Once the doughboy looked to me as his greatest pgd; Now that peace has come again to a weary world, What the hell is left for me, where the flags are furled? I who cleared the pathway out for the dawn's advance; I who broke the German line, down the fields of France; I who fed them gas and shell, hell and flame and smoke, I who left a bloody smear every time I spoke; I who tore the earth apart, by crimson night and day; I who wiped the'forests out within my right of way; I who left the cities flat, flatter than the dew — What is my reward to be now the job is through? Movable Great Guns (From the Evening Post.) The operation under Rear Admiral of 14-inch naval guns on special railway trucks during tho last months of the war on the French front was highly effective. They possessed the twofold advantage of extreme mobility and long range, and could be quickly shifted from point to point for use against tho enemy's lines of communication. By the practical test to which they were subjected it was demonstrated how readily they could be adapted to coast defense purposes on an un limited scale. At enormous cost the coast forti fications of this havo been planned exclusively with ft view to the protection of important harbors and channels. Beyond that because of their stationary character, they were useless against an invading force, and the navy alone opposed a dependable barrier. In the system of movable guns of high power Rear Admiral Plunkett has found the answer to the prob lem to which the army authorities have never offered any adequate so lution. He has proved that where sver railroad tracks can be laid the biggest rifles can be carried for of fensive or defensive uses. What was accomplished -with Am erican 14-lnch guns in France could as easily be done at home. With railroad tracks and mounted guns the coast defense system of the United States could be made virtu ally Impregnable, and strengthened at any point at any time. No Fighting Qualities (From the Kansas City Times.) The rate at which the states are ratifying the national prohibition amendment is setting a good many people right. First of all, of course, the liquor Interests, which thought they could stop it; but also quite as surprisingly those average citizens, themselves of prohibiflon conviction or leanings, who thought the fight would bo long, hard and perhaps doubtful. But booze turns out to be true to form. It is loud and demonstrative before the coAts are peeled off, but in action Is without stamina or en durance and soon crumbles. Booze can neither fight nor get away when the talk stops and the real racket begins* It is so with the ratification issue. Booze talked big about what it could do, about its friends and backers, its pull with business and finance, but when the roll call of the states started booze soon showed It didn't have the knees, the wind or the head to go on. It was only a few days ago that boose announced In a big voice that it had a billion dollars to fight rati fication with. It had better look around for some other Investment. It had better put it into an annuity for the dry days of Its old age. But If the distillers are determined to spend their billion la a way calcula ted to affront morals they would do better to bet It on a horse race They will lose It just aa readily that way and vet more excitement, to say nothing of the satisfaction that would be theirs In the soothing knowledge that they were In a crooked game. The New British Government (From the Chicago New*.) Lloyd George has reorganized the cabinet of which he_ remains the head and It appears that he haa suc ceeded tr satisfying no one. The Asquith Liberals think the new min istry altogether too Tory, and one of their London organs calls It "a pifppet show." Labor Is definitely in' opposition to the government, al though there are five coalition lab oritea in the cabinet. The North cllffe press, in the main Conserva tive, of course, also criticises the Premier for his selections. It finds, that there is not enough "hew blood" in the reorganized government. It may bo recalled that before the election Lord Northcllffe repeatedly warned Lloyd George that he would conic to grief, no matter how large or preponderant a majority he might obtain, if he did not surround him self with real leaders and statesmen In sympathy with the spirit of the times. There Is on "old guard" In England, us .in this country, and It Is said that that element, with the best will In the world, cannot plan or give Britain the political, social and economic reforms she needs if serious unrost Is to be averted, and the demobilized fighters are to be made to feel that their sacrifices and sufferings are not to go without sub stantial recognition. In Parliament the opposition to the government, both formal and In formal, is unusually weak. The ex perienced Radical and Liberal lead ers were defeated in the recent elec tions, and the government for the time being can do about what it pleases. But it must please to do the right and reasonable thing, for a regrouping of forces is inevitable, and the day of reckoning at tho polls Is sure to come— perhaps sooner than many expect VALUES ARE RELATIVE Recalling in his new paper, the j fact that as a war measure several 1 industries had their activities dlmin- | ished or wholly suppressed on the ground that they were "non-essen tial," Henry Ford argues or at least seems to argue, that these same in dustries deserve the same treatment In time of peace. This contention shows an absence or inadequacy of appreciation on his part of the large, and to most peo ple the familiar, truth that "circum stances alter cases" —In other words, that a thing is not always wrong because it is sometimes wrong. Wo talked about "nonessential indus tries," while the war was on, but always, at least In reasonable minds, the characterization was qualified by "for war," and it did not imply eith er any intrinsic or absolute culpabil ity of those industries, or any denial that they were innocent, or even commendable, In ordinary condi tions. Before deciding whether cr not an industry is essential, It Is necessary to ask "for what?" When the Win ning of tt war is the end to bo at tained at almost or quite any coat, the number of non-essential indus tries becomes a large ono. After the war is won, the situation changes, and industries that are "essential" only to convenience, to comfort, to the Increase of culture and refine ment, to the gratification of aes thetic taste, to increasing the Joys of life and relieving its tediums, all be come important in their several de grees, and they then deserve to bo called "essential" as well, perhaps, as does the raising of wheat or the making of shoes." Sea Life For American Boys (From the New York World) The three weeks' campaign to ob tain men for the merchant marine is proceeding with encouraging pros pects. In this city 1,000 enlistments have already been secured and as many more In Bostnn and Philadel phia together. Many of the recruits are discharg ed sailors and Soldiers, and fully half arc from civilian life. That the latter type of recruit, that clerks and fac tory lads, should now feel the lure of the sea is the significant thing In Its relation to the future develop ment of the American merchant ma rine. Are the old times of Yankee sea supremacy to return after a long Interval and are American ships to be manned again by American sail nrs as in the days of the clipper ships? Certaintly the incentives to a sea faring life for American youth are greater to-day than within half a century. All the conditions of service on a merchant vessel have materially Improved. Thereare comfortable quarters for the crew, good pay, good food and the protection of lib eral laws that have whnlly redeem ed seafaring from Its old conditions of servitude. That peace is to bring about a re vival of American shipping is ap parent. With ships of modern, con struction and sailors of the old na tlVfeborn type, why shold not the American merchant marine again lead the world? Hindenburg as a Jester Htndenburg is reported as protest ing the other day that some of the conditions of the armistice could not possibly be fulfilled, "except at the expense of great suffering by the German people"; and he added that "a continuation of the blockade also Imposes a great hardship upon Ger many." Monstrous, Indeed to make the gentle Boches experience suffer ing and hardship! The reporter adds that "Hindenburg turned back to his desk with a faint, flitting smile on his stern countenance." We don't wonder. It was an excellent jest.— N. A. Review Weekly. LAST LEAVE Let us foraet to-mdrrow! For to night At lenst, with curtains drawn, and driftwood piled On our own hearthstone, we may rest, and see , The firelight flickering on familiar walls. (How tho blue flames leap when an ember falls!) Peace, and content, and soul-secur ity— These are within. Without, the waste i wild With storm clouds sweeping by In furious flight. And ceaseless beating of autumnal rain Upon our window pane. The dusk grows deepar now, the flames are low: Wo do not heed the shadows, you and I, Nor fear tho gray wings of en croaching gloom, Bo softly they enfold us. One least gleam Flashes and lilts, elusive as a dream. And then dies out upon the dark ened room. 80. even so, our earthly flres must die; Yet, in our hearts, love's flame shall leap and glow When this dear night, with all It holds for me. Is but a memory! , —Eileen Newton in the Bookman. lanmtng (Eljat More people will corns So Harris burg tomorrow for the inauguration than ever before and the now Gover nor in traveling over tho highways of Pennsylvania to take tho oath sets an example which many will doubtless follow. The tremendous Interest in the Sproul Inaugural Is going to fill Harrtsburg with thou sands of people, and if the weather be fair early tomorrow morning or even tonight, there will be scores, and probably hundreds of people who will head their automobiles for Hie State CapitOl, to avoid the Jam med railroad trains, and tho crowd ed hotels and be in time for the ceremonies and the pageant. This coming to the State Capitol by mo tor vehicle is a tribute to the "Good Roads" Governor who takes office tomorrow, and whose career as a legislator, with few parallels in state history, has been marked by a consistent and vigorous effort, of ten In the face of discouragements and popular misunderstanding, to obtain better highways for his na tive state. At the same time it harks back to the days when Gov ernors and state officials and legisla tors traveled to Harrlsburg by stages to attend to official business, and the sessions of the law makers, as was the case In 1814 and 1815, were disturbed by acrimonious debates over desire of some men to interrupt sessions and go home to attend to private affairs, very much as was the case in 1916 and 1917, If we remember rightly. In any event, the splendid highways which radi ate from Harrtsburg like the spokes of a wheel going out the Cumber land, Juniata, Lebanon and upper and lower Susquehanna valleys with branches leaving tlieni to Oettys burg, Pottsville and other country I towns soon after they are out of sight of the dome of the Capitol, constitutes an achievement for the Governor-elect, even if he had done nothing else and had not been called to the executive chair by majorities unprecedented at primary and gen eral elections. The movement for revival of the highways, which had suffered by almost three quarters of a century of development of steam transportation is twenty-flvo years old, but it remained for Sproul to put into concrete form soon after the twentieth century began the ideas needed to place Pennsylvania back Into its position as a possessor of good highways. Lew R. Palmer, the former head Of the State Department of Labor and Industry has taken hold of the new department of safety and per sonnel of the Equitable Life at its general offices in New York, with the same vigor which characterized him while in Harrisburg. The first bulletin tq bo issued front this de partment is just lt deals with "The human factor In our problem of industrial reconstruction," and is based Upon some of the "higft lights" at the reconstrtictlort con gress Just held at Atlafttid City. There Is a good bit Of ginger of the Palmer type in the bulletin; • • • It is an interesting Met that <3OVJ ernor-elect William C. Sproul, who will resign from the Senate tonight, Is the oldest member in point of ser vice of either branch of the Legisla ture. In fact, except for 1 W. Harry Baker, secretary of the Senate) Her man P. Miller, the Senate Librarian, and a few other 'officials thefe is no one about the legislature Who was in office when William C. Sproul oame from Delaware county as an insurgent senator, youthful and ex ceedingly vigorous. The mantle of Sproul as the oldest member falls upon State Chairman William E. Crow,.senator from Fayette. In the House the dignity of "Father of the House" is held by Representative John M. Flynn, of Elk, but even he did not enter the legislature until Sproul was a veteran of six years' service. • , • Ex-Governor Edwin S. Stuart, who comes for the Sproul inaugural, will be welcomed by many people hero. The former Governor has been hero but once since he retired In 1911, Ex-Governor John K. Toner, accord ing to what his friends say, will make an effort to be here and in tends to come to Harrisburg for some visits this winter. • • • Here is a new one for the weather prophets. Not In years have the white beech trees on the lawn of Patrico Ituss at Front and Reel's Lane been as white as they are this winter. They fairly shine in con trast with the bark of the other trees. This is taken to mean that it will be a mild wintor as where the weather is severe the bark of the white-beech is dull. • • * Richard J. Beamish, of the Phil adelphia Press, well known to many people here because of his long newspaper experience, is colaborator in one of the first histories of the war to be issued. He wrote It In conjunction with Prof. Francis A. March, of Lafayette, a brother of General Peyton C. March, and Prof. Thomus G. March, formerly connect ed with the State Department of Public Instruction. The history is for the parents of boys in the servios and the general public and Intended to be more of a narrative than a military work. • • The mild January weather seems to have caused some of the dumps about the city to have gotten Into states of violent eruption. Some of the dumps appear to be on Are most of the time, summer and winter, and can be spotted for blocks by the odors of burning, but in winter time they seem to be regular volcanoes as some people down town and out on the Hill can testify. | WELL KNOWN PEOPLE | —Edward E. Beidelman, Lleuten ant-Go vernor-elect, was president of the class of 1892 of the Harrisburg high school and valedictorian. —Attorney General W. I. Schaf fer started his law career as a re porter of the courts. —Secretary of the Commonwealth Cyrus E. Woods has the right to be styled doctor. He holds the degree of doctor of laws from Lafayettp, where he graduated with honors. —Dr. Edward Martin, the new health commissioner, has been serv ing as a major of the medical corp of the army at Camp Greenleaf. 1 DO YOU KNOW ) —That Harriaburg steel Is being nsed to reconstruct French towns right now? HISTORIC HARRISBtmO —Camp Curtln was closed In 18tt but no move to mark the site start ed for thirty years.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers