Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-10-15

to take the matter up, A committee
was raised, and after searching in.
yestigation, reported TO the House ovi.
deree warranting the expulsion Of
four members, and among the number
the same Pelrofi who was expelled by
tho Democratic House oi 1876 for
bribery. fho evidence against the
members implicated was Of the most
positive character, and considered by
fair minded men conclusive of their
guilt, But the lobby was too power
iul with the Republican House, and it
refused to expell the corrupt members.
They hold seats in the House Of Rep.
resentatives to day as lawmakers for
the honest people of Pennsylvania
And IL is q fact OF great Importance, in
view of the coming election for State
Treasurer, that Mr.. Butler, of Chester
county, the Republican candidate for
that office, as a member Of the House,
voted against the expulsion of the
members convicted of bribery, includ-
ing Petrof, who had been expelled
from the House in 1876, and was there
fore an old offender, deserving no con.
sidcaation or mercy.
This illustrates the Republican
method of dealing with the criminals
who seek to establish at Harrisburg
the rule of corruption and bribery that
prevailed about the Legislature prior
to the adoption Of the new Constitu-
ton. The reason OF this consideration
shown the lobby is obvious. Its d.
rectors antmembers were leading and
influential members Of the Republican
party They controlled its action.
We say nothing at this time about
the criminal proceedings pending in
the Dauphin county criminal court
against Kemble and other Republi can
politicians for bribery and perjury, for
Il would be improper to discuss them
in advance Of judicial action. The
trials, however, have been put off until
after the election.
More important than anything stat.
ed above as TO the disposition of the
Democratic party to enforce and Of
the Republican party to nullify the
anti-eorruption safe guards Of the new
Constitution, was the action Of the
State Conventions Of the two parties
in July last. The corrupt practices at
Harrisburg had become matter OF State
notoriety and there was loud call on
the two conventions to declare the
honest sentiments of the people.
The Democratic Convention, meet.
ing one week before the Republican
Convention, adopted, withouta dissent
ing voice, this resolution declaring the
position of the Democratic party of
the Commonwealth
TenA-That the recent attempt, under the per-
sonai direction Of ruling Republican leaders, to
debauch the Legislature by wholesale bribery and
and corruption, and take from the Commonwealth
four millions Of dollars for which It's liability
had never been ascertained, is fresh and alarm
ing evidence of the aggressiyeness Of corporate
power in colusion with political rings, and
should receive the signal condemnation Of the
paapie ai the polls.
This is so PLAIN that he who runs
may read. There is no attempt TO
evade the issue.
The Republican State Convention,
one week later, was organized and
controlled by the lobbyist of the -Four
Million scheme, TO stihe any expression
on the subject. Mr.. Kemble's counsel
was Chairman of the Convention and
directed its proceedings Mr.. Hooten,
of Chester county, afterwards made
chairman of the Republican State
Committee, had adopted by the Con-
vention resolution, since known as
"Hootcn's gag" taking away from the
minority OF the Committee on Resolu-
tions the power to make a minority
report-something unprecedented in
the history Of political conventions.
All this was the machinery Of the
Kemblo lobby, showing its power,
Representative Wolfe of Union county,
who was member of the Legislative
Investigating Committee, was a dele.
gate in the Convention, and demanded
the Republican party should speak
out on the subject of last Winters
corruption, and offered this resolution !;
Rssolred, That in view Of the developments Of
corrupt practices In connection with the Riot bill
In the last House, we, emphatically reaiirm that
part Of the platform adopted by the Republican
State Convention at Lancaster in 1875, and which
was adopted by the Republican State Convention,
at Harrisburg 10 1916 which demands "honest
men 10 oiIico-mon with Drains enough to know
dishonesty when they see II aud courage enough
to hgh, 1t wheresoeyer they hnd H."
This resolution met with chilling
reception. Mr.. Kemble's lawyer in the
chair refused to have it read, but being
overruled in this by the pertinacity OF
Mr. Wolf, who was hooted at and in
suited for his manly stand, sent 1t to
the Committee on Resolutions, where
It was suppressed by the power of
"Hooton's gag" Noallusion was made
in the Republican platform TO what
was the engrossing subject with
all intelligent citizens of the State
The Kemblo lobby ruled the Conyen-
tion, dictated tho platform and nomi-
mated the candidate.
All this unmistakably shows what
we set out to make plain the position
Of the two parties in this State on the
most important home question TO be
decided by the election this Fall-the
question Of honesty or corruption as a
controlling power in legislation. Mr.,
Butler is the representative of the lob
by and Of convention VIGOROUSLY
under its control. Mr.. Barr, the Dem
ocratic candidate, stands on the Dem.
ocratic platform, which denounces the
lobby, rcpudiatcs its jobs, and calls for
the punishment OF those furthering
them by the arts of corrupt solicita-
ton.