The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-07

plies to his critics wers always full OF snap, and
he neyor minced words. Long before he became
interested In the reformation Of the State Gov
eminent ho was famous as a controversialist.
His statements and open letters wore frequent,
and the preacher-campaigncr was always roady
with o peppery interview at q moments notice.
He likes notoriety, and 1t Is not probable that
he will fall back into the comparative obscurity
from which he emerged when brought into court
m defendant In o suit for libel in which certain
6tato officials wero plaintiffs.
This libel suit Is now regarded by Republican
leaders as tho worst mistake they have over
made. His loose and reckless charges Of OK
oravaRance and corruption published In the lit
tie church paper Of which he is editor would
never have been heard of outside a very limited
circle Of readers IL tho State officials had iE-
nored them. But in their zeal to vindicate
themselves they authorized the suits to bo |
brought, and DR.. Swallow was hailed into court
From that day to this he has been the source OF
q constant annoyance to tho officials who 40
cused him of criminal libel. It 10 possible that
he may be o candidate for Governor on the Pro-
hibition ticket next year, bus an interview with
him this week conveys tho impression that he
realizes tho necessity Of q union Of tho reform
forces in Pennsylvania II anything good 10 to DO
accomplished.
Since his conviction for libel and his sentence
10 pay $500 fne and costs Of prosecution, DR..
Swallow has boon growing az Q political factor.
He has intimated frequently that no preferred
TO submit his case to tho tribunal of tho people
rather than to o Jury of twelve, and he looks
upon tho vote Of last Tuesday a. o personal vim
dication for him and o rebuke for those who
prosecuted, as he puts 1t, and then perse-
cuted him. Here. at his home. no was not
regarded as O popular man. but when the
polls closed last Tuesday night and the TO
turns were filed II was found that ho had car
ried not only tho city, but also the county
Of Dsuphin which had never before slipped her
Republican moorings. DR.. Swallow, however,,
a. not O popular man, and the vote cast for him
was not in any sense Q personal tribute. He
was tho representativeof spirit Of protest, and
thousands voted for him In order to voice their
protest against the oneman power in the Re
publican party and also 10 emphasize their con-
tempt for tho last Z gtslasHre. which was looked
But swaliow 10 not lacking in the lemento Of
received was other than An expression Of the
peoples faith in his goodness. ...,
tor Yet to in we sSnasS De- SSa s%siiow s;1t charges iSss that
6he Capitol had been burned to conceal certain
" !. g %isasss. tn Il H ss:s ss rstassS T e. s SH@no ssa
was adjudgod in contempt Of tho Senate, but
: "a ssS saIs. e S aRnssifFsSS g p os sni SaF Ct tho pasd ssa;
% :; sPs Sam and IN n sueso. A. th ssa as1 sb %ss sss4S
ssss:a'S AZ f SpSSIR hi. s.d He ssur IL s sss S SIa
s. s. s ~ s ss%Sa /: 4ai r. Ss.y x; sp ss=1 sSs;sssss L
T Sssss o my %C Wit6 u tn srs Sss SoRsaisin aea aod and IND
SiS TafS tsd f ~ SD: saa ms 70 ' soedsy " Who s,P Pei as 3
thft his motiveI were not good and that his in
notoriety. Many Of his performances have been
exceedingly speotaculsr,a and during his trials In
III RSo %Shiok dustiaed the criticism ID on this
gpsctators. VII crowded The eourtFoOm while
when no made . particularly good point in his
proacher-editor was his tendency to reckless
Stato officials and politicians: &c seems to have
taken nero rumor. In many instances for fact.
Of ohieiai misconduct It Is said that when his
attention was directed several times to the abb
s S3E9ss f an 3 OF the he s dfsposs ID % " the ne m hat Se S1
saying that no had boon told that this or that
was 80. Confirmation of the truth or falsity of
p %aa { q matter att With him. His attacks on Gov.
Hastings and the courts and juries were often
New Testament. He revelled in controversy.
and enjoyed nothing hotter during tho can.
swords with him. His assurance was some
thing colossal. and there has neyerbeen an occa-
sion Wnon nlb nerve QeberLeu nlHl.
Swallow Is q tall man. slightly stoop-shoul-
dered. and affects chin whiskers., He has q
mhise f lis l aad has SG not b saS w TfsS5at' iss G slsTa %nd
downs and he has had many a controversy In
ecclesiastical as well as civil courts; Once he
was tried by his ministerial brethren on a
charge of lying and was acquitted. He seems to
have got the better. of his enemies In most OF
the conflicts through which no bias passed. AS q
matter Of fact, his crusade against the Capitol
Hill officials has taught many who pretend not
passes through Capitol. Park every day on his
way to and from his homo. and he must often
hear the emphatic and profane remarks made
Had swallow been less suspicious and moro
tactful at the outset OF his crusade, 1t Is believed
that he would have made better headway, lilo
a%lienatcd many who were in sympathy with his
st,sekf Hs np %nu i5o ,,! LeEis Ia mobd By his and Te SaIISs
his trials for libel 1t is known that his counsel
were sorely tried by his eceentricities. lie
ence in his plans. He took notes during the
court proceedings. and each issue OF his religious
style; He did not hesitate to c~riticise the Judge.
and ,hns since, written and spoken some very
hsr III things about tho judiciary.
DR.. swallows friends had n campaign button
turned out which was a mystery 10 all save
preacher and his wife. Mrs. Swallow was a
Robin before marriage. ana the button contained
Ing his trial for libel his wife sat at hi side with
several. women who were interested in the out
When the papers were flied with the story OF
m indemnify bond given 10 state Treasurer
Haywo ny Secretary OF lie Commonwealth
Iteeder, Deputy AttOrnCy'G ,neral Elkin and
others 10 secure him against loss for moneys
advanced 10 legislative employees not regularly
on the pay roll, DIR. Swallow called at the Treas
ury Department one day md asked TO see Tho
bond. OF course, he didn't see II, but his call or
Haywood for such n purpose, after his bitter
and sensational accusations against the mnn
ageWent OF the treasury, showed how little hI
cared tor the resentment of those whom he at
tackled.
Some OF the most sensational and highly i'm
probaDle stories or tls burning OF the Old Capl
toll were told by swallow. He onGeayorod Il
create the ilnprcssion through his rRpcr and OF
the stump that the state House was set on iir'
for the purpose OF destroying the documenti
that would establish the truth OF his charges o
corruption ana extravaganza. Asa matter o
fact there were no in the old Capito
that affected any Of the departments unde
Swallows suspicion. But these stories were re
iteratod throughout the campaign. Nobody II
Harrisburg seriously believes that the CapilO
Are yas Of incendiary origin, yet the barping b,