The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-31
TURN ON THE LIGHT.
From the PHILADELPHIA Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
The league of Republican Business men,
of which Elias Deemer of Williamsport,
is president has announced state exc
cutive committee composed of eight
prominent citizens residing in different
sections of the state. to begin the work
of organizing for the senatorial contest
that will come up next year In the cleo
ton OF members of the legislature. AS
Quay has challenged all comers by an
nouncing his purpose to carry the con-
test directly to the Republican people
wherever the party rules will allow II.
the Business Mems league must come to
the front and accept the challenge by ag-
gressive action II It means to accom-
plish anything. Secretary Van Valken-
burg, who is the active manager of the
political movements of the league, has
formally announced that the purpose of
the league is ''to life a search light by
whose blaze the citizens of Pennsylvania
will be enabled to read a record of politi-
cal dereliction. short-comng and shame
the like of which has not been seen in
pennsylvania in quarter OF century
o
Secretary Van Valkenburg has struck
the marrow of the issue so far as his
declaration goes. but so startling a prom
ise of shameful political developments
cannot be made without positive disgrace
unless the search light shall be resolutely
and practically employed, and the truth
of the declarations fairly established
There will be much doubt as to Secre-
tary Van Valkenburg's integrity of pur-
pose in the declaration he has made as
to the shameful developments in Penn
sylvania politics. He has had the best
opportunity in the world to fling the
search light into the very heart of Penn
sylvania politics by meeting the issue
thrust upon him in the courts by the
Quay leaders of the state. He was in
dicted in the county of Schuylkill to an
swer the charge of debauching the poll
tics of the state in a most important
struggle, and there was his opportunity
to meet his accusers face to face, and
drive them from the sanctuary of justice
in shame and confusion If he is pre-
pared to turn the promised search light
upon the political records of the past.
| Instead of entering the court and de-
manding trial as an entirely innocent
man would have done without hesita-
| ton, he first met the charge by mo-
| tion to quash the indictment and made
! exhaustive effort to have 1t done, appar-
| emily hoping to escape the issue that
| confronted him. The court refused to dis
miss the proceeding, and since then we
| have not heard of Secretary Van Valken-
burg demanding trial.
| o
Either Secretary Van Valkenburg is
| guilty of debauchery in pennsylvania pol
itics or he is falsely accused, and the
man who is falsely accused is always
most earnest and aggressive in demand
| ing judicial inquiry. Let Secretary Var
| Nalkenburg begin his search light by
| turning it upon the politics of the state
as opportunity is presented in the courts
of Schuylkill county, and until he thu:
determinedly> moves to vindicate himself
| there will be little faith in any promise
he makes of turning the search ligh
| upon the political shame of others. Turr
on the light and go to bedrock, no matter
| who shall stand or fall.