The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-09-26
HENsBL ARRAleNs DELAMATER.

w. ". iltnScl tuane b0e lOllOWluH
speech at Reading last week at the
convention Of Democratic Societies
AT the opening meeting of the repub.
lican state campaign in Pittsburg laat
Saturday evening, an orator imported
from Kansas is reported to have said,
in substance, that the meauest repub
lican thief who ever curseu common
wealth is better, politically, than the
most exalted democrat whose charact-
er and conduct blessed the state.
General Hastings, a speaker at the |
same meeting. is reported as haYiug |
said that even if republican leader
stole from the state treasury he was
better than a democrat who sought to
guard it from spoilation Mr. Dela-
mater, who was present, and sat on the
platform, neither resented, rebuked
nor repudiated these utterano g. Upon
any other theory than his sympathy
with and his faith in them, it is diff
cult to see how, with any degree of
confidence, the republican candidate
can aspire to an office for which he
has plainly disqualified himself. In
NtGW VI tbt uuiIlebhkhDit VI
the constitution of Pennsylvania, Sen
ator Delamater's pathway to the CUB
ernstorial chair is barred by an Of
fense, to the accusation of which he
dare not plead "not guilty" aud con
cerning which the public records sup
ply the ample evidences. The charge
of misdemeanor in his high office is
nj horr, nf - 1anapHc
upon no doubtful testimony, and the
results of it are to be measured by a
standard which cannot be stretched or
ehrunken. He has IS member of the
general assembly, persistently violated
the fourteenth section of the ninth
article of the state constitutions; aud
he is disqualified to hold the office for
which he is candidate, or any other
in the stase, for period that runs be-
yond the expiration of the next guber-
material term.
1t will be remembered that Mr..
Quay, at present United States s,n-
ator from Pennsylvania; was candi-
date for state treasurer in 1885, In
the campaign of that year be had
large material assistance from Mr..
Delamater, whose name at that time
was scarcely known beyond the bord
ers of his own county; and there his
reputation was rather that of thrifty
banker than of the advanced statesman
and unselfish political reformer which
his followers now set him up to be.
USING STATE MONEY FOR PROFIT.
Scarcely had Mr.. Quay taken hold
of the management OF the state treas
ury than he began TO pay his bene-
factor, who had meantime become his
official bondsman. The records OF the
state treasury show that on the 1st OF
June, 1886, the private banking house
of Dalamater IL Co. at Meadville, Pa,
of which the republican candidate for
governor is now--and was then-lhe
head, had on deposit, S25,000 of the
state funds, the public moneys, to
''use" and make profit" out Of them
This amount continued there until or
or about September /, when it was in
creased to $4,000. aG which figures il
remained until after December |, 1886
MIR. Delamater had, in tue meantime,
become candidate for and had been
elected state senator. He qualified
shortly after January l, 1887, and tho
amount of the public moneys which
his bank had-to use and make prof
out of-ran up to S47,914.29 before {
month of his term had elapsed.
THE CONSTITUTION VIOLATED.
When Mr.. Delamater took his sea
he swore to faithfully observe aud sup
port the constitution of the state
Section XIV, of article 8, of that in
strument, says;
"The making of profit out of th
public moneys, or usiug the same TO
any purpose not authorized By law, by
any officer of the state or m, mber o
the general assembly, shall be a mis-
demeanor, and shall be punished a
may be provided by law, out part Of
such punishment shall be dsqualifi "a
tion to hold office for period of moi
less than five years"
1t cannot be presumed that Senator
Delamater was ignorant of the provls
ions of this law, or in doubt as to it
meaning. A sketch of his life, print
ed at his expense, Published by hi:
authority, and distributed by hi.
friends, which | now hold in my hanC
sets forth that he is lawyer of ',hor
ough and ample training educated il
the best schools of his profession anc
possessed of "a law library rare of ex
celence." Moreover, his admirina
biographer declares, he entered public
life to "subserve the good of the pub
lic," he is one who has been "draw,
into political life by belief that hi
principles and methods of polltica
management were better and more jus
to all than the methods prevailing.
In the full light of his kno Wedge O
the law, aud in the promotion of tn
lofty purposes which had "drawn" hin
into politics, the record shows hin
steadily holding on to the public
moneys. These figures show the ex
tent to which Senator Delamater'
private bank had the use aud profit
of state funds-while he was "a mem
ber of the general assembly,
MONEYS IN DELAMATER 8 BANK.
February /, 1887. ..S479l4,2 2
March l, 1887 S7........... 47,914 2
April ], 1887 7............. 100000
May 2. 1887 100000
June l, 1887 ....... 100000
July l, 1887 ............. 100000
August l, 1887. ....... 100000
September l, lSS7........ 100000
Mr.. Quay resigned the treasarersh
to take higher place, September
1887, and Delamater's use aud prof
out of the public moneys for the tim
being were terminated But Quay
man knew Qaays friends; his successo
evidently knew where to place tn