12
HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH
A. NEW BPA.PER FOR THE HOME
Founded 1831
Published evenings except Sunday by
THE. TELEGRAPH PRINTING CO.
Telegraph Building, Federal Square
E. J. STACKPOLE
President and Editor-in-Chief
F. R. OYSTER, Business Manager
GUS. M. STEINMETZ, Managing Editor
A. R. MICHENER, Circulation Manager
Executive Board
1. P. McCULLOUGH,
BOYD M. OGLESBY,
F. R. OYSTER,
GUS. M. STEINMETZ.
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Associated Press is exclusively en
titled to the use for republication
of all news dispatches credited to
it or not otherwise credited in this
fiaper and also the local news pub-
Ished herein.
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dispatches herein are also reserved.
A Member American
tV* hers 'h Assoc ' i ! l "
toMSgm Associa
jjjSS SS BB3| Ma Eastern office.
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-l Chicago, 111. K
' Entered at the Post Office in Harris
burg, Pa., aa second class matter.
By carrier, ten cents a
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' THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1019
, ————
| I've alius noffced grate success
1 Is mixed with troubles, more or less,
I An it's the man who does the best
1 That gits more kicks than all the rest,
—James Whitcomb Filey.
. .
PROSPERITY AHEAD
|•* yRWSPAPER publishers of
jXI Pennsylvania, meeting in Har
risburg yesterday, expressed
i themselves as believing that a per
iiod of substantial prosperity lies
(ahead for the newspaper business.
fThis will be good news for the gen
leral public as well as for those in
terested in the publishing business,
| for the reason that newspapers pros
) per only to the degree that the cotin
'try as a whole prospers.
When trade begins to decline, the
newspaper feels the condition in a
decreasing volume of advertising;
when men lose their jobs or their
earnings are <jut, the subscription
list feels the effects at once. But
when business is on the boom and
there is work for all who want, it,
the newspapers share in the good
times.
No business has been more hard
i hit by the war than the newspapers.
Raw materials have advanced as
much as six and seven hundred per
cent. Machinery has gone out of
sight. Postage is much higher and
the great volume of newsmatter
cabled from Europe and the in
creased space demanded by the war
news have combined to run up the
costs of production to an extent not
nearly met by the fact that practic
ally all newspapers that formerly
sold for a cent a copy now bring
ten cents a week. That, rift in the
cloud, through which the publishers
see a return of blue skies in the near
future, is a welcoming break in the
gloom that has surrounded many
publishers, particularly of the small
er and weaker newspapers, ever
since the war began.
THE PEACE TREATY
THE peace treaty offered to the
Germans yesterday by the
' Allied conference is, on the
face of the documeht, severe enough
in its terms to please even the most
exacting. It sets forth in no uncer
tain language the price Germany
must pay for the crime of trying to
bring the world to her feet. The
treaty is all the more humiliating
to the haughty Hun because he
muft sign it or suffer the conse
quences and the consequences
would be starvation and would re
sult in either the utter ruin of the
empire or would bring Germany on
her knees, groveling at the feet of
the Allies, begging for any sort of
terms that included food, within the
coming year.
The German delegates are re
ported as "proud and arrogant."
That is mere camouflage. They will
bluster and threaten and demand,
but in the end they will sign, and
when they do sign they will turn
over to the Allies practically all the
resources of Germany for a long
period of years and put themselves
at the mercy of their conquerors
until such time as Germans show
some signs of common sense and a
sincere desire to behave like honest,
decent folks.
Germany must not only give up
great bulk sums for the damage she
did to France and Belgium, but
must pay individual losers for the
ruin of their properties. This is
just retribution and is far less than
the Kaiser would have demanded of
the Allies had he won the war.
Probably the German people realize
to-day as they never did before
what the word "frightfulness" means
to them, and how the word has
come back to haunt them, for the
peace treaty means that the burden
of the war must rest largely on
itheir shoulders and that for a gen
eration at least they must work and
toil and save that their injured
neighbors may benefit. Thmy have 1
THURSDAY EVENING, BAIUUSBURO riffUjtfW TELEGRAPH MAY 8, Tsrrr.
become the slaves of their own
greed and cruelty and there will be
none in the world to pity them for
the punishment that is about to be
inflicted.
But it is not in money alone that
Germany will pay. She will pay
with her pride, as well. Germany,
by the terms of the treaty, loses
Alsace-Lorraine and the wonderfully
rich Saire Valley. She must give up
her navy and a large part of her
merchant marine as return for the
depredations of her piratical sub
marine craft during the war. She
must open the Kiel canal to all na
tions, reduce the fortifications of
Heligoland, raze her forts for fifty
miles east of the Rhine and agree
to keep her army within a limit of
100,000 men. This is a fine mess of
crow for the "proud and arrogant"
German delegates, and the Allied
Commissioners may be depended
upon to see that they eat it to the
last bite.
It is to be observed that the
League of Nations is made part and
parcel of the peace treaty, so that
the Senate of the United States will
be forced to accept it or reject the
whole treaty. This is shrewd and
unfair politics on the part of Presi
dent Wilson. But the League as it
stands is not so objectionable as it
was when outlined originally. There
are many Americans who believe
that it will be of small value in
preventing wars, but they are also
convinced that many of its possibili
ties for harm have been removed
and, in all likelihood, the whole
treaty will be endorsed during the
extraordinary session of Congress
called yesterday for May 19 by the
President.
GIVE THEM THEIR JOBS
OUR men are home from France.
We are glad they are back.
We tried to show them last
night just how glad we are. We
cheered them and welcomed them.
They will never know just how our
hearts went out to them when we
knew they were facing the hosts of
the Hun in France. They will never
know how we have looked forward
to the day of their return ever since
they went away.
But we can make them under
stand that we are indeed happy to
have them with us again, and grate
ful for what they did in the war.
In a few days they will have grown
tired of resting and will want to
get back to work. They should have
their old jobs back, or better ones,
in every case.
The St. Louis Globe Democrat
summed up the situation for Harris
burg as well as for St. Louis when
it said:
All St. Louis turned out to
welcome the first unit of rcturn
h? nll' e u the members of
J-- e ° n e,Hundred and Twenty-
Kitfhth Field Artillery ynut have
lecognized the reality of the en
thusiasm and gratitude of the
people, nut to many must have
been some wonder as to the
fiitiiro. This has cynically
expressed, "Glory galore, "but—no
job.' The process of demobiliza
tion will not be completed when
the soldier or sailor or marine
is honorably discharged from the
service and given the privilege of
wearing civilian clothes. The
soldier cannot live on memory of
his past deeds and would not if
he could. The soldiers is a mini
and wants to do a man's work.
He offered his life to defend this
country and he has a right to
expect that he shall be offered a
chance to earn his livelihood.
It was a glorious manifestation
of patriotic pride and affection
through which our soldiers pa
raded. But those who are able
to furnish employment or to
make contributions to support the
agencies which are seeking to
provide employment for the re
turned soldier, have not done
their full duty by closing their
places of business and spending
many hours welcoming the sol
diers. We must change the
cynic's motto to "Glory galore
nnd ioJs." Every St. Louisan
who has a job, or knows of one,
for a soldier, should notify the
St. Louis Advertising club, and
those who cannot aid in this way,
might assist in the expenses of
advertising, the chief means of
bringing the soldier and the Job
together.
Lot it not be said that Harrisburg
did not do its part by its soldiers.
They risked all they had in the
world for us, and all they ask in
return is to be permitted to work
at fair wages. Give them their old
jobs back, or better jobs if it is pos
sible. But by all means see to it
that these men have work at living
pay. They have earned far more
than even the most appreciative of
cities can ever repay.
CAREFUL, MR. MARSHALL
CAREFUL, careful, Mr. Marshall!
You are going to "get in Dutch"
with President Wilson if you
'don't look out. You have had a
mighty easy thing of it being Vice-
President so far, but it is only be
cause you have not opposed any
thing the White House wanted. Now
to come out and boldly condemn the
Bolslieviki and to hint that you, as
President, would not have sent such
men to Russia as Messrs, Steffens
and Bullitt, is to defy the lightning,
indeed.
Now understand us, Mr. Vice-
President, we quite concur in your
simon-pure American views. We
rejoice in your patriotic sentiments.
We believe, with yqu, that America
can have nothing in common with
Bolshevism. We recognize Steffens
for the rank Socialist he is and with
you we suspect he is entirely too
prone to listen to the siren song of
Lenine as he sits on his tottering
throne and yowls about the virtues
of Bolshevism.
And we are in full accord with
your views concerning the folly of
placing the stamp of government
approval on a man whom the
Reds of Europe look upon as one
of them, a they did when they pro
nounced Bullitt's going to Berne to
attend their international confer
ence of radicals, at a time when
Samuel Gompers and the American
Federation of Labor refused to send
delegates, as a triumph for Social
ism, if .not an actual recognition by
President Wilson.
We are Just as much disgusted
with the President's choice of dele
grates to Russia as you are, Mr.
Vice-President, but again we warn
you. Step easy, speak lightly, or
Mr. Wilson 'll git you ef you don't
watch out.
LK
By the Ex-Committeeman
Now that the various parcels of
municipal legislation are well on
their way through the Legislature
and what may be termed the hectic
period is over for a time at least,
many of thrf State leaders and offi
cials and quite a few of the legisla
tors themselves are turning their
attention to problems of finance,
compensation and other matters,
which, in opinion of quite a few
people, should have been taken up
earlier in the session. Predictions
are freely made that because of lack
of any understandings on these big
propositions, the adjournment of the
Legislature may be delayed until the
roses bloom and that any hope of
getting away by Decoration Day, as
was the idea of some people Mon
day, is dashed.
There is considerable sentiment
against any increase in taxes and
the proposition to levy a two mill
tax on manufacturing capital is
certain to be opposed, but it will
have stronger backing this session
than it has enjoyed in the half dozen
sessions in which it has appeared
in the Legislature.
A line up against the proposed
compensation bills is probable. Some
of the' employers are fighting the
advance in rates to sixty per cent,
although they are willing to agree
to other changes, such as waiting
periods, hospital charges and the
like.
-—The Philadelphia bills, which
had their final airing in the Senate
yesterday, are now in the lioUoC,
where the amendments will be
made. These changes will be dis
cussed much for the next few days
and the hills will monopolize atten
tion in the House next week. The
District Attorney and registration
bills are also there, so that the
lower branch is now the center of
interest for Philadelphia, recalling
the days when Pittsburgh's munici
pal troubles used to be threshed out
in that body.
—There will be arrother fight over
the effort to "rip out" the Phila
delphia and Pittsburgh school
boards which is proposed in the
Sterling bill and the session will not
lack for any political excitement
when the charter bills gel away.
—The third-class city nonpartisan
repealer is on its way to the Gover
nor, although it did not catch up to
the State Police bill in getting
through the Senate. It came near
making a record.
—Second-class city folks have not
been slow to get into the political
game either and yesterday foliowed
up the success of the people back of
'he Willson third-class citv bill with
a couple of measures. Election of
mayors and city controllers in sec
ond-class cities would be on a party
basis, but councilmen would be
elected on a nonpartisan ticket un
der terms of a bill presented to the
House by Air. Dawson, Lackawanna.
Mr. Dawson also presented bills re
quiring directors of second, third
and fourth-class school districts to
organize the first Monday of July
and biennially thereafter and fixing
salary of these men of second-class
districts.
Resolutions proposing an
amendment to the constitution so
that each county shall constitute a
separate district, were presented by
Mr. Goodnaugh, Cameron, in the.
House. The amendment would also
abolish the office of associate judge,
but present judges would serve out
terms.
—The Philadelphia bills passed
the Senate yesterday after some re
markable speeches by Senators
Vare and Woodward and landed to
ward the close of the day in the
committee on municipal corpora
tions which will doubtless act upon
them promptly.
—lt is probable that some de
cision will be reached in a day or
so in regard to liquor legislation.
The subject is being considered by
attorneys and it is possible that spe
cial orders may be asked on some
of the bills on the House calendar.
The Ramsey bill has not stirred the
last few days.
—Most of the administration bills
are now on the way. Practically
no more will be presented.
—Senator Penrose is going to
Washington to-day. He will likely
go direct from this city to Wash
ington next week.
—Senator S. S. Deiby, of Perry
county, yesterday distinguished him
self again by voting against the bill
reorganizing the Department of
Public Grounds and Buildings.
There are times when Democratic
Senators forget peanut politics, but
they forget to tell the Perry Sena
tor. Then he goes his own peculiar
way. In addition to his regularity
as a negative voter Senator Leiby
has established quite a reputation
because of his stand on the fresh
egg bill.
—The baseball game between the
"Ayes and the "Noes" of the House
of Representatives, for which great
preparations have been made in se
cret and for which a number of
members have been taking exercise
every morning was yesterday post
poned because of the home-coming
of the Harrisburg soldiers. The
game will be played next Wednes
day afternoon for the benefit of the
charities of Harrisburg and will be
attended by crowned and uncrowned
leaders of politics in Pennsylvania.
Some surprises in uniforms are ex
pected.
—The Sterling bill "ripping" the
school boards of Philadelphia and
Pittsburgh contains a provision
that no man over sixty-five may
serve and that no one may serve
over fourteen years.
—The Administration Department
of Conservation bill is due to be
debated in the Senate next week.
The bill will have some rocks to
dodge.
New Fuel For Airplanes
Development too late for use in
war time of a motor fuel which adds
ten miles an hour to the speed of
airplanes, and has possibilities for
use in automobile racing, has been
announced by the bureau of mines.
The liquid, a combiantion of benzol
and cyclohaxane called hector, costs
about $1 a gallon. While of military
value, it is not regarded as practical
for oommerctal purposes.
Another combination developed by
the bureau, consisting of benzol and
gasoline, has been found to be more
powerful than gasoline aior.c, end
is expected to p:ove of value in In
dustry. The comparative scarcity of
benzol makes its production to Sup
plant gasoline on a large scale im
probable at present.—From the
American Machfcfist.
A HANDY MAN AROUND THE HOUSE By BRIGGS
6ILL Leri HAVE | \F WHERE'S THS 1 | *W.R ~~ \ ( HAMK _ )
A LITTLE 'GttftDeM . f spade /NMD ~<l / I WISH I HAD A) \ HCUO MAWK I
IM THE BACK YARD ' THINGS MOLLY?/ ~ I WHEEL BARROW J 1 How s
—W6 CAM RAISE X F . X X. % ■ _ —F®,
OMIOMS AMD LETTUCE */" / poR'6 M g I \ AT
/NOBODY HAS A RIGHT To |(> , I , If . <C\/ X
J)BPRIv/e US OP OUR LIBERTY, R. A 1 . I I \ r I A. U •BEEFIM 1 ABOUT ) / IF I WAITED FOR VOU )
WE FIGHT FOR LIBERTY AND fy. \ \' ' / CAM T I HAVE A [ /TO MAKE THIS GARDBM >,
THEY TAKE IT FROM US-- I / 1 .\ — LITTLE CHAT WITH I [ ,r> STARVE TO DEATH- <£
DOMT DRINK BUT VERY LITTLE /.A || \ R. Y I , / I I? DO IT MYSELF-- £F
GERMAN LANGUAGE VETO]
[From the Philadelphia Press.] '
Governor Sproul showed his good 1
sense and courage in vetoing thei
foolish bill prohibiting the teaching I
of the German language in the pub-1
lie schools. That language is notl
taught in our schools for the benefit
of the Germans, but for the benefit'
of Americans. To know that lan
guage is a help to them in business,
in study, in research, in travel and
in many ways. None need pursue
that study unless they desire it and
if they desire it, they should not be
denied the opportunity to learn it.
No doubt, the German language,
as well as the German people and
all things German, are in disfavor
Just now. We may never recover
our former good opinion of the Ger
man people, but we shall have to do
business with them and some Amer
icans at least should know their
language. AVe may long continue
disposed to boycott the German peo
ple so far as possible, but there
can be no permanent boycott of Ger
man trade, of German music, liter
ature, philosophy nnd science. To
deny ourselves access to those ad
vantages, would be a senseless and
childish sacrifice of our own inter
est, pleasure and profit.
The veto showed courage because
the passage of the hill by the al
most unanimous vote of both houses
seems to indicate a strong public
opinion in favor or the legislation.
Undoubtedly, there is a very preva
lent feeling entertained very strong
ly by many people that it is a patri
otic duty for us to hate and avoid)
everything German henceforth and|
forever more. Without fresh and
repeated provocation and Irritation
this would be Impossible even if it
were desirable. But hatred of Ger
mans does not demand hat'-ed cf an
inanimate object such as the Ger
man language. It will continue to
be one of the great modern lan
guages that Americans should learn
when they can for their own benefit
and advantage and not at all for the
benefit of hated Germans.
THE CALL OF SPRING
Oh, little flowers, hurry, hurry, /
Else you'll be in such a flurry.
Spring is calling—she is near!
Listen! and her voice you'll hear.
Get up quickly, shake your tresses.
Put on all your pretty dresses.
As I spoke, the Aconite
Popped up nimbly into sight,
Donned her gown of yellowy sheen.
With its fluffy frill of green.
Then the Crocus turns in bed
(Must have heard the words I said)
And, from underneath the clothes
Pokes up his wee spear-like nose.
Then he calls his sisters —cousins,
Such a number! dozens, dozens!
In a flash they come to light,
Dressed in purple, yellow, white.
The lovely Snowdrop now awakes,
And a careful toilet makes.
Her soft-white frock, a perfect
dream —
Has just a soupeon of pale green.
Now Daffodils come bounding out,
Such noise they make, is quite a rout
l.aughing, dancing, as they sing,
"We are Trumpeters of Spring."
Awakens, too. the Primrose fair,
As she breathes, a fragrance rare
Seems gently wafted on the air,
Dike gratitude for answered prayer.
A moment ere Spring glides away.
She stoops, her sweet face to lay
Upon the earth, beneath the trees
That whisper softly to the breeze.
And nil along her path, peep up
The Daisy nnd the Bdttercup,
And laughing Celandines arrayed
Tn shimmering gowns, gold brocade,
And merry Cowslips, full of fun,
That o'er the meadows lightly run
And Bluebells, in a gray-blue mist.
P.ise from the ground that Spring
has kissed,
kissed.
Oh. little flowers, you never preach,
Yet silently you ever teach
Most precious lessons without speech
—Annie Harrison.
THE GIFT OF GLADNESS
The gift is thine the weary world
to make
More cheerful for thy sake.
Lighting the sullen face of discon
tent.
With smiles for blessing sent.
Enough of selfish wailing has been
had.
Thank God! for notes more glad.
—Whlttter.
Yea—lf Any
Blessed is the man, if any, who
can get as much satisfaction out of
a $1.50 spading fork and a 79-cent
hoe as he could out of a *4,500 tour
ing car.—From the Ohio State
Journal. i
A Camper's Rhapsody
THERE is no other word in the
vocabulary of our language so
suggestive of rare and pleasant
conditions of living as camping. It
is more than a mere word —it is a
symbol as well.
Not only is it a word for the eye,
but it is equally a word for the ear.
For in it are the sighing of zephyrs,
the soft intoning of slow-moving
night winds, the roaring of strong
gales, the moaning of tempests and
the sobbings of storms amid the wet
trees. The loon's call, the splash of
leaping fish, the panther's cry, the
pitiful summons of the lost hound,
the slashing of deer wading among
the lily pads, and the gentle drip
ping of odorous gums falling softly
ONE COMES NOT
Now comes the Great Returning! i
Swift gray ships
Bring great hearts home to hearts
that waited long.
One comes not—
One who always, always dreamed
Of following far-flung paths across
the world.
"Through all the lands some day I
mean to go.
And see the strange fantastic ways
they have—
Odd peoples in the corners of the
earth."
How much, how much he saw!
How much
Of tumult and of strangeness ere
he fell!
Always he followed boyhood's ven
turing dreams.
Old legends of the world he sought,
old-talcs
Of nobleness, the groping, seeking
dreams
Of half-emembered, half-forgotten
worlds.
What matchless stories is he read
ing now.
This boy who lies beneath the stars
in France,
Who, wondering, saw the mighty
tale unfold,
And, dying, helped the world her
dream unroll.
Always we listened, smiling, to his
plans
To seek the distant magic of the
world,
And them come home to write great
wondrous tales.
Wherein would surge the magic of
the seas.
Always his voice on each word lin
gered just a heart's beat.
Strange, how strange, it must have
sounded there,
The soft, half-drawing of his
Southern tongue
In that wild storm!
Great eager eyes seemed always
questing on
Beyond the hills that bound him in,
grave eyes
Which half-awakened, quickening
boyhood brings.
What soft sweet eyes he lifted to
the flag,
That day its peril came!
What boyish hands closed all his
books!
What boyish soul looked up
And softly barred the door on all
its dreams,
And shut out all the magic world
of Youth,
And grave-eyed saw the storm,
But smiling rose,
And, smiling, chose to go.
Now comes the Great Returning!
One comes not;
But all the world's heart reads the
wondrous tale—
The story that he wrote out with
his blood,
The story that he lived out with
his death,
The Great Book that he wrote—not
coming home.
—Eleanor Cochran Reed
In the New York Times.
Something in a Name
"Gee, whiz! Isn't that Smithson
who just went by in his automobile?
AVhen I knew him a few years ago
he had a junk shop."
"He still has. Only he moved it
to a fashionable street and labeled
the same stock 'Antiques.' "—Bos
ton Transcript.
SPRING POSIES
Tis certain something has been lost
From spring time's blossoming glee,
When onions are as high in cost
As orchids used to oe.
Washington ftar.
on the pine stems, listening to which
in silence and sweet concern we,
who were lying under the fragrant
trees, like happy and weary chil
dren, have fallen gently asleep—all
these sounds live in this magic word.
And in it, too, are human voices,
songs, laughter, and all the noises of
merriment and frolic. No other pho
nograph is like it. . . . The songs
around the campfire under the stars
in the hush of evening, the strang
er's hail, the guide's call to break
fast. . . . the flute's soft note heard
over the water on a still night, the
cheer at reaching camp and the
murmured farewells at leaving
verily, it is a vocal word, all the
sounds that come from it are melo
dy.—W. H. H. Murray.
LABOR NOTES
Wool spinners, cloth folders and '
carpet spinners in Lawrence, Mass., I
are 100 per cent organized.
Members of the Typographical;
Union in Cleveland, Ohio, have re- J
ceived an increase in wages of from i
$27 to S3O a week.
A Sheffield (Eng.) firm has con
verted .its war aeroplane factory into
a plant for the manufacture of
small-scale model locomotives and
steam engines, which were former
ly imported into Great Britain from
Germany.
Brooklyn (N. Y.) returned sol
diers who are roofers find it difficult
to pay the union initiation fee of
$75, and are allowed to pay in in
stallments.
A South African tanning concern
has largely increased its output of
"upper" leather by the introduction
of a special dressing machine.
At a recent meeting held in Pitts
burgh and attended by representa
tives of nearly 100 trade unions it
was decided to give every possible
assistance in the campaign to or
ganize employes in the stel and iron
industry and to demand the right
of free speech and free assemblage.
A conference of the employes in
the Metropolitan Poor Law Institu
tions in England have formulated
the following program: Forty-eight
hour working week with one clear
day's rest in seven, 50 per cent, in
crease on pre-war rates of wages,
plus existing war bonus.
The union coal miners of Arkan
sas won a 15-year fight against the
operators when the Arkansas Legis
lature, which closed recently, passed |
in original form and without the
slightest change a bill providing for
wash houses at all coal mines in the
State employing ten or more men.
During the last year increases
ranging from 50 to 70 per cent, were
granted to workers in the silk rib
bon industry in Switzerland. Over 75
per cent, of the employes in the
watch factories were also given the
same amount of increase.
The over 12,000 employes of a
large Toledo (Ohio) automobile fac
tory are asking their wages be in
creased 15 per cent, a week of five
working days, eight hours a day for
five days and four hours on Saturday.
To grant the increase would mean an
additional expense to the company
of $4,000,000.
Recent legislation enacted by the
Brazilian Congress nnd officially pro
mulgated by the Vice-president of
Brazil provides for the payment of
compensation to workingmen killed
or injured In the performance of
labor.
An investigation made by the De
partment of Agriculture and Con
gress shows that since the outbreak
of the war about 14,000 new factor
ies have been established in Japan
and workers employed number over
270,000. In addition, about 5,000
factories were enlarged during the
war and the number of additional
employes is about 160,000.
According to a repqrt about to be
Issued by the Department of Com
merce, the electric light and power
stations in the United States during
the year of 1917 generated more
than 25,000,000,000 kilowatt hours
of electricity, producing an income
of more than half a billion dollars,
and gave employment to more than
10,000 persons, wjiose salaries and
Legislature and State Police
[From the Philadelphia Inquirer.]
By a complete reversal of its pre
vious action, the House of liepre
sentatives has passed finally the bill
authorizing an increase in the num
bers and the efficiency of the Stale
Police Force. It was the right thing
to do and the members deserve
commendation for having the cour
age to admit their mistake.
The establishment of what is
known as the State Constabulary
only came after long and earnest
debate. It represented the settled
conviction of the best citizens of the
Commonwealth. There was opposi
tion, of course, but it was based up
on a false conception of the purpose
of the force. The real idea was to
give the people of the rural districts
the same protection to life and prop
erty which is now afforded to those
living in the cities and in crowded
sections. The history of the organ
ization has more than justified its
creation, and it would have been a
great -pity if unfounded prejudice
had permitted the crippling of what
is now conceded to be an essential
part of the police power of the Com
monwealth. Some of the opposition
to the present bill came because of
the desire of the Governor to com
bine the duties of the fire, fish and
game wardens in the hands of the
State Police, but that evidently is a
move in the direction of better ad
ministration and efficiency, and is
probably warranted by the condi
tions.
In the debate in the House prior
to the final vote, many interesting
points were brought to the attention
of the members. Several legislatois
proved that serious crime had been
prevented through the vigilance and
activity of the force, and cited in
stances where murderers and otlieis
had been brought to justice through
its cleverness and courage. Inci
dentally it developed that the old
mistaken notion that the State Po
lice was aimed at lahor organiza
tions still prevailed in some quar
ters. One member said that labor
ing men resented being classed with
the Bolshevists. Of course they do,
and no sane or fair-minded man
would dream of making such an
absurd charge. The great error is
to assume that, all are not equally
concerned in the preservation of law
and order. We do no believe that
those who have opposed the en
largement and perfection of the
State Police represent the candid
opinion of the great body of the
working men in Pennsylvania. The
men who work for a living consti
tute the bone and sinew, the back
bone of the citizenship of the State,
and the hill in question is for their
benefit as it is for all law-abiding
persons.
W ELCOME HOME AGAIN
Welcome the douhboys home again,
Welcome the doughboys home!
Make it an old-time jamboree.
Fireworks blazln' from sea to sea!
Hearts aflame with consumin' love
Praising the Bord in heaven above
Spreadin' the least of unbounded
joys,
Strain to your breast our fightin'
boys;
Set 'em above the.rejoicin' throng
Shoutin' the old "My Country"
song—
Welcome the doughboys home again,
Welcome the doughboys home!
Welcome the heroes back again—
Welcome the heroes back!
God! How we prayed when they
sailed away—•
Somehow —afeared they would
hafto stay!
Fellers that never had prayed be
fore
Prayed their blamedest an'
prayed some more!
Dreadin' the grave in the poppy
field,
Thinkin' of wounds that can't be
healed;
But they're comin' back—in the
glory-glow—
Praise God from whom all bless
in's flow!
Welcome the heroes back again—
Welcome the heroes back!
—Uncle John In the
Excelsior Springs Standard
THE SUMMONS
Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn
assembly, gather the elders and all
the inhabitants of the land into the
house of the Bord, your Bod, and
cry unto the Bord.—Joel i, 14.
Some Blue Mountain Door
Bet us go in once more
By some blue mountain door,
And hold communion with the for
est leaves.
—Bliss Carman.
Abetting (Eljai
Homecoming of the Harrisburg
soldiers last evening adds anothei
chapter to a scries of
events of that kind that have
place here since 1782. The otoriet
of the homecoming of the mr *
of Harris Ferry, Paxton and other
settlements about here who
fought with the American army
from Quebec to Cowpens and who
joined up with Washington's fovcfti
on the way to Torktown, have beer
handed down and from all accounts
people for many miles around
crowded to John Harris ferry to
greet the men who returned in
wagons. The story of the return
of General John Forstcr's brigade
from York and Baltimore in 1815
is preserved in the newspapers, al
though for a bang-up local story, it
gets little notice alongside of the
happenings in Madrid and Paris and
the Pennsylvania Legislature. Har
risburg welcomed home the men
from the Mexican war with a parade
and a public dinner in Capitol Park.
The newspapers are filled with ac
counts of the return of Harrisburg
commands in the Civil war, espec
ially the remnants of the One Hun
clred and Twenty-Seventh and anee
dotes are still being told of the
joyous way the city acclaimed them.
Many people recall as though yes
terday how the Governor's Troop
and Company I came back from
Porto Rico in the autumn of 1898
and the lively welcome Company 1>
received when it ended ils tour of
duty in Southern camps. There were
not many ceremonies about them,
but the people turned out in force
and occasionally broke up the lines
to greet the home comers. When
soldiers come home from war, such
things as police lines, even officers
and committeemen, arc swept aside
and no one cares.
• • *
Few people know that Judge
Charles R. Witmer, who is presiding
in Federal Court this week, is an
intimate friend of ox-Prcsident Wil
liam H. Taft. Tho day of Colonel
Roosevelt's death, Mr. Taft was on
his way to Sunbury whero ho was
10 be entertained at the Judge's
home, when the sad news reached
him. Reaching Sunbury he man
nged to elude newspapermen until
he arrived at the Ncff House. Hero
lie dictated a long article for tho
newspapers before he could go out
for dinner. Judge and Mrs. Witmer
had prepared a lavish banquet for
the ex-President, but alas! ho was
dieting. "It was the oddest thine
I've ever seen." the Judge's son, John
A. Witmer, says. "Taft rat down
and ate nothing except two enor
mous dishes of celery while the rest
of us feasted. He was cutting
weight."
Tho Judge is an ardent sportsman,
and in company with United States
Senator Boies Penrose and State
Senator William C. McConnell main
tains a hunting and fishing preserve
in Cherry Run, Union county. An
invitation to a. weekend with the
campers at tho Judge's bungalow is
much sought by their friends.
•
Senator Boios Penrose's big red
automobile is having quite a time
convincing some Harrisburgers that
11 is not a new fire department, ma
chine. It lias tho distinction of be
ing probably tho longest and largest
car ever turned out by a well-known
concern and can make miles fly by,
but it has inherited tho rod of tlio
Senator's former car and that red
is a strictly fire department color.
The car attracts much admiration
because of its construction and its
lines, hut it must he admitted that
a good many persons who see it near
the Ponn-Harris take it for part of
the fire fighting service,
• •
The Vare Hiking Club, which is
composed of the South Philadelphia
Senator on mornings when he wants
to walk; John R. lv. Scott, when he
feels the need of exorcise; Repre
sentatives "Jim" Dunn, L. C. Glass
and others, has sent a challenge to
Governor William C. Sproul for a
hike up the river. The Varo club
hikes up as far as Division street in
the early morning and goes hack to
the Capitol ready for that fight that
never occurs. It is quite an institu
tion, but the membership has not.
increased materially. Senator ".Tim"
Boyd, of Norristown: Thomas F.
Hcaley, of the . Philadelphia Public
Ledger, and a number of others,
have a walking club that goes as
far as the Conodoguinct on Ihe West
Shore and threatens every day or so
to walk clear to Knola.
• •
Notwithstanding the fact that
word went out at ihe slart of this
legislative session that it was to he
short and businesslike and that
there should bo fewer laws than
usual put on the hooks, there are
signs that the session is goins to
be prolonged until well into June
and as for hills, the House received
close to 1,650. This is several hun
dred short of the number in tho
last throe sessions and less than in
Ihe memorab'c session of 1913, but
the range of subjects has heen in
teresting. varied and surprising, lo
use mild terms.
1 WELL KNOWN PEOPLE; j
—Genernl C. M. Clement,o3f* Sun
bury, former commander of tho'
Pennsylvania soldiers, was in Hax
risburg to appear on behalf ofwfci.
bill in ihe Legislature.
—Joseph Onffney, nead
finance committee of tl 1 " Philadel
phia conneif, has hern here for *a
couple days conferring with State
officials.
—Roger J Dever. Wilkes-Barro
lawyer bore this week on compensa
tion legislation, says he is kept busy
discussing proposed enactments.
—Judge J. Whitakor Thompson,
of Philadelphia, was here in con
nection with the movement, for the
Pennvpaeker statue.
—Senator William K. Crow am.
Governor Snroul rejoice in the ittßS*
year of birth. •
DO YOU KNOW
V
—That Harrisburg Is sclUagi
more products these days than
before the war began nnd that
too in spite of tho industrial
let down?
HISTORIC HARRISBURG
—When legislators first met in
Harrisburg they stayed In session
whole weeks at a time.
Refinement of Cruelty
Just to make the punishment a
little worse, the Allies are going to
make tl>e Germans translate the
70,000-word peace treaty Into their
own language.—Dea Moinoe Register,