Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-09-08
MELANCHOLY.
THE CASE AGAINST GENERAL
HARTRANFT.

day Press, whose loyalty to his party
has always been above par gets off
the following sensible remarks;
Unless the people of Pennsylvania
have wonderfully short memories, or
the Democratic Convention soon to as
semblc at Erie commits some prepos-
ferrous folly, John +. Hartranft will be
the worst beaten man who was ever a
candidate for Governor. In 1872 his
guilty connection with the State Treas
ury ring was demonstrated by such
an overwhelming array of indisputa-
Bile evidence that he could not then
have come within $4,000 votes of be-
ing elected Governor but for the pecu-
liar exigencies and accidents of that
remarkable campaign-exigencies and
accidents which outweigbed all per.
sonal considerations. The Republicans
of all factions felt that the administra-
ton of national affairs must be kept
in the hands OF the Union Republican
party, and that to this end Grant must
be elected at whatever cost or sacri-
fee OF local requirements. One half
of the Democrats, disgusted with the
surrender OF their party to Greeley,
took no interest in the canvass, and
either stayed away from the polls in
October, or voted the Republican tick
ct out of spite. Money was poured
into the State from Washington by the
million, and was used effectively in
buying votes for the State ticket.
Thus was General Hartranft elected
in spite of the worst disaflcction the
Republican party of Pennsylvania ev-
er experienced. AT least one hundred
thousand Republican voters were then
convinced that Hartranit had been un-
faithful in the performance of his du-
tics as Auditor. General and Commits
sioner of the Sinking Fund, and moth.
ing has since occurred to vindicate or
acquit him. They must still consider
him unfit for any high public oilice,un-
less their memories are singularly
short.
Let us rehearse briefly some of the
charges which were made and proved
against him in 1s72,not by Democratic
papers, but by such staunch Republi-
can journals as Forney's Press and the
Lancaster Express.
General Hartranft had been Auditor
General for two terms and er o6icio a
commissioner of the sinking fund. He
was responsible for the just settlement
Of all the accounts Of the Common
wealth with corporations, and espe-
cially for the right use of the moneys
and securities IN the sinking fund. In
short it was his duty to audit all the
claims against the State to guard the
treasury, and to be a constant check
upon the State Treasurer
General Hartranft was charged with
falling short in all of these particulars I;
with having failed to require the pay
ment Of large amounts of money due
the State as taxes from various veal
thy corporations; with having not
only failed 10 protect the sinking fund,
and to prevent an INSCRIPTIONS State
Treasurer from making n dishonest
use of the State moneys, but also con
nived with that official, and even insti-
gated him to employ such moneys in
stock speculatious and in other ways
for the private advantage of himself
and friends; with having joined with
various other State officers in q con-
spiracy to use their official positions
for the purpose of manipulating the
price of railroad securities, in which
Auditor General Hartranft was specu.
lating, and to depreciate and buy up
at n discount State bonds which were
about to be called in and redeemed ;
and finally with having participated
with various persons. including high
State officials. in what was known as
the Evans swindle bv which the state
was defrauded of at least a hundred
thousand dollars and probably very
mucb morel
All these charges were conclusivelv
nroved and tho ev;denca to establish
P'"'''i on" '"S '''''N' w
them is still in existence. and accessi-
Ii, All,
ple 10 U.S. we shaii mere clte purt
of the evidence bearing unop N iew of
these charges. The following letter,
,Lo or;,,;nol ,,o,uso,.;n, % ,vh;oh has
'ho oiiSi ii''n"'0iiP' VI ""'0" ""'
been read by many persons in this
a
clty, Indicates that ueneral nhrtranit
emnloved Mr. Yerkes Charles n Yer.
kes, Jr., q broker with whom large
n a.. y.