Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16

the Republicans have made on this
same vital question. IL is not necessa-
ry to recapItulatc the evidences Of cor.
rupt solicitation at Harrisburg last win.
ter To secure the passage of the Allie.
gheny county four million riot damage
bill. They are fresh in the memories
of the people. A powerful lobby, acting
under the direction of ex-State Treas.
urer Kemble, n noted and influential
Republican politician and the Pennsyl.
vania member of the National Republi
can Committee, laid seige TO the Legis.
lature, and organized a corrupt conspi.
racy to promote the passage OF the bill
by the use of money Associated with
Kemble were noted Republicans in and
out of the Legislature. The claim was
put in for four millions of dollars, al.
though the riot damages proposed TO be
made good did not exceed two millions
and hale, leaving "A clear profit to the
lobby brigands of million and n half
OF dollars, to be taken from the public
treasury at time when the people were
bravcly struggling with the ruinous de.
preston of all business and industries,
following the panic of 1873. Little
cared the lobby thieves. The charges
preferred against Kemblo and his lobby
forced the Republican House 10 take
the matter up. a committee was raised,
and after "a searching investigation, re.
ported To the House evidence warrant.
ing the expulsion OF four members, and
among the number the same Petroii
who was expelled by the Democratic
House of 1876 for bribery. The cyi.
l.nrn ur,utysf tI. ,,,.,,t.-. II
was Of the most positive character, and
considered by fair men conclusive of
their guilt. But the lobby WAS too
powerful with the Republican House,
and it refused to expel the corrupt
members. They holt seats in the House
of Representative today as law makers
for the honest people of Pennsylvania
And 1t is a 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 member of the llouse,
voted against the expulsion OF the
members convicted Of bribery, including
Pctroh, who had been expelled from
the House in 1876, and was therefore
an old offender, deserving no considcra.
ton or mercy.
This illustrates the Republican meth
oil OF dealing with the criminals who
seek 20 re establish at Harrisburg, the
rule OF corruption and bribery that
prevailed about the Legislature prior to
the adoption Of the new Constitution
The reason Of this consideration shown
the lobby Is obvious. Its directors and
members were leading aud influential
members Of the Republican party. They
controlled It's action.
We say nothing at this time about
the criminal proceedings pending in
the DauphIn county criminal court
against Kcmblc and other Republican
politicians for bribery and perjury, for
1t 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 stated
above as TO the disposition Of the Dem
ocratic party to enforce and OF the Re.
publican party tn nullify the anti.cor.
ruption safe guards oi the new consti.
tuition, was the action Of the State Con
ycntions Of the two parties in July last.
The corrupt practices at Harrisburg had
become matter OF State notoricty and
there was loud call on the two con.
ycniions 10 declare the honest senli.
mcnts Of the people.
The Democratic Convention. meeting
one week before the Republican Con.
yention. adopted. without dissenting
voice, this resolution declaring the 10.
siiion Of the Democratic party of the
Commonwealth
Tcnh-ThA, the recent attempt, under
the pe sonal direction Of ruling Rcpuhli-
can leaders, to dcbauch the Legislature by
wholesale bribery and corruption, and
take from the Commonwealth four mil
lions Of dollars for which its liability had
never been Asccrtaincd, il fresh and
alarming evidence uf the agercFsiyencss oi
corporate power in collision with political
rings, and should receive the signal con-
dcmnation Of the people at the polls.
This is so plain that he who runs may
read. There is no attempt 10 eyade
the issue.
The Republican State Convention,
one week later, was organized and con.
trolled by the lobbyists of the -Four
Million scheme, TO stifle 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 Com.
mittec had adopted by the convention
n resolution. since known as "lIooten's
gag" taking away from the minority oil
the Committee on Resolutions the pow
er TO make a minority report-some
thing unprecedented in the history oi
political conventions All this was the
machinery of the Kemble lobby, show
ing its power. Representative, Wolfe OF
| Union county. who was a member Oi
the Legislative Investigating Committee
was a delegate in the convention, and
demanded the Republican party should
speak out on the subject of last winters
corruption, and offered this resolution
Resolved, That in view Of the develop.
ments of corrupt practices, in connection
| with the Riot bin Of the last House, we
emphatically re-afirm that part Of the