The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-11-25
The Good Governor,

WHEN ne lOlu lltIl tildt tlSy h"u
"better rise in their might and drive
from place and power those who mis-
represent you and your interests.
One question that arises is who the
parties in power are whom the gov
ernor wants driven from power. The
governor is in power himself, or is
supposed TO be, as governor Of Penn
sylvania. He can hardly, however, be
supposed to be asking that he shall
be driven from power. For if this is
his wish he can have his wish by re-
signing his office.
1t may be assumed, then, that the
governor means to say that he is not
in power, though governor and that
the governors office at present is
ornamental rather than influential
and that the rascals rule, without mind
ing him; that the Legislature spends
money without asking him; that the
state capitol is being planned without
consulting him that generally he is
out and some other fellows are in,
whom the governor wants to be put
out.
The facts sustain in some degree
the governors contention as to his
powerlessness. He was undoubtedly
beaten in the matter of the plans for
the new capitol; and he intimates
that whereas he would have built the
capitol for the $4,000 appropriated,
the other fellows, who are managing
the business, propose to spend "mill-
ions on millions" in "a subjerfuge or
delusion" which will ''enrich some
favorite architect or building con-
tractors" and which millions the far
mers will have to provide out Of their
wheat and corn, their oats and
potatoes.
But the governor does not explain
how he was going to build the new
capitol for $500, 900 when the plans
he chose were estimated to cost more
than that, in tie building. Nor does
he explain that the farmers grain is
not taxed for state purposes, unless in
very indirect way, but the corpora
tons of the state pay tie piper.
Still the governor is right enough
in saying that the people ultimately
pay for their music in some way or
other; and he may be right in charg-
ing that the new capitol plans are
going in the end to be very costly.
1t will be profitable for the gov
ernor to explain, however, clearly how
his would have been much cheaper
and how architects and builders would
have made but small profit off them,
to be contributed by the farmers
corn. The people at present do not
seem to see this matter Just as the
governor does, or tells them that he
does.
And they may ask the governor,
since these extravagant rascals whom
he denounces are the fellows in the
Legislature and their bosses out of it
and since these fellows and their
bosses are said by MN to be the real
power in the state; and since we have
just had an election in which the
Republican party was shown to be
the party in power; and as the candi-
dates of its bosses were elected not
withstandng the revolt against them
of many voters who voted tor Swallow
and Thompson for state treasurer in.
stead of Beacon they may fairly ask
him, we say, in view of these things
and OF his protestatlons against the
ruling thieves, whom did you vote fol
governor, yourself? For Swallow OF
Thompson or Beacoml
Certainly it will clearly appear tc
every unprejudiced mind that if Gov
ernor Hastings asks the farmers to
drive Quay and Quay's lIeutenants
and legislators and candidates out Of
the Offices of power in the state, be-
cause of their extravaganza and
rascality, he could not consistently
have voted for one of these fellows
for state treasurer.
AS the governor seems to get
squarely on Swallows platform and
gives from it Swallows advice to the
voters, did he vote for him
1t will be an interesting incident il
he did; showing as well his present
honesty of declaration as his magnani-
nifty of action. For DIR. Swallow
has been firing away diligently at the
governor, charging him with being as
deep in the mud as the other fellows
in his party are in the mire, in the
matter of state spoliation.
If the governor can assure the
doctor that he means what he says
and that he is as ardent as anyone in
the desire to drive the rascals out OF
the state Offices weamay look to see
them embrace and buckle down to a
| Joint effort with the farmers and