Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-05-30
A Pslpsblo " Distinction"

new EIAs
The MTELLIGENCE1 attempts to justify
its disparagement of the Neo Era's efforts
at political reform by echoing the kzGm-
iner's spiteful cry that Levi Sensenig was
with the movement, and that che and the
McMellsn leaders were trained in the same
school" that it can "see NO difference in
their methods" concluding with the re-
mark that "the New Era having been
in partnership with both, can pos
sibly point out . distinction that
We have not discovered" True, this
journal has had the cooperation of both,
has won a victory with both, and de-
feated them both by dividing and taking
them in detail But the difference the
INTELLIoENCER ignores and which We
would point out is this In order to make
the first breach in the machine which could
only be done by dividing the hitherto
invulnerable lines of the bosses, it was
necessary for us to consent to tactics
which can be justified only by tho laws Of
war. If your enemy is starving and you
can win sOme of his lieutenants to fight on
your side by sharing your cOmmissary
stores with them, and thus gain . victory
you could no otherwise achieve, the act
will be arplauded as good generalship.
In morals it might not pass current be-
sides. you run the risk Of taking traitors
into your camp and endangering the
morale of your army.
This was the character Of our first fight
with the bosses. Bosses McMellen and
Croft and Coble were starving for Office.
They were ready to desert their fellow
bosses, Hiestand, Sensenig s. Co., but
only on condition that they should be fsd3
from the public cOmmissarY. Mentzer
would naturally help his son-in-law to tho
quartermaster' stores. Az the New Era
wasn't hungry it didn't care a CONT.
mental who got the plumber if the old
gang was broken up. So it consented to
take enough of its old enemies into its
camp to divide their forces and thus be
able in two campaigns to lick them
in detail. The mistake We made was i'm
supposing these hungry chaps would be
satisfied with their lawful share on the
commissary stores, and that they would be
true to their profession of lOyaly to the
people. Once safely on the victorious side
they began to rob and to plot treason.
Then the Nep Era threw them overheard
and resolved to not only drive them out Of
tbs public commissary department, but
never again TO attempt to strengthen its
lines by Offering tho commissary to any
boss as tho condition or reward of DESERT
ing their lines and giving allegiance to
ours.
Hence (and here We ''pOint out dis
tinction ~ in planning this campaign We
laid it down as a fundamental principle
that none of the old firm of Hiestand, Sem
senig, McMellen, Mentzer, Croft, Fred
Smith & Co., should be put upon the
ticket, which should be irreproachable,
with no candidate upon it who had q
smirched record, who would not pledge
himself to take nothing but legal fees
when in Office, and use none but honorable
methods to secure his election. We appeal
to the character of the men We supported
to prove our good faith in this
matter. If a lifelong character for
integrity and honor means anything there
is no fear of McMellen, Tom Davis, q
Sammy Croft or Christ Coble being de-
velOped among any of the candidates. elect
hwom we supported or those whom the
MulhOOlies supported because the very
strength of the reform movement COM
PEELED them to toke better class of men
than they usually 'tlike to see rewarded"
There will be no mob evoked by them to
Interfere with the auditors when their
are to be investigated, or if
there should be they will find in Messrs.
Greider and Reed different men to deal
with than the majority of the present
board. Professional bridge contractors
will not be allowed to ignore their
because they own the commits
sioners, and if the robbery of illegal fees
is not stopped, as the candidates wo sup:
ported have pledged themselves to the
public to do. the New Era will be prompt
to recall their certificates Of good charac-
ter.
If We have not pointed out distinc-
tion :" between our first and last battle
with the bosses. and very gratifying
one to the public rs we'll as ourselves,
then, indeed, have We lived and labored in
vain