The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-18


that attends him in all the busy scenes
and leisure hours Of his life, and, when
at last he bids farewell to this world,
supervlses the distribution of his estate
among the chosen subjects of his bounty
and affection.
MAGNITUDE OF POWER.
The magnitude of this power the wide
variety of subject matter on which It
operates, and the highly delicate duties
attending its exercise, render 1t only the
more tempting to official avarice. When
the power of the state becomes the pri-
vate capital of faithless officials. 1t is
common eXpedient of the benenciaries CT
such misused power. to seek escape from
accountability to the citizen by frantic
appeals to the opinions, prejudices and
passions OF party majorities on federal
questions. To measureably avoid this
vice, some of the state constitutions pro-
vide for the election of state officers at
different times from the election of fed
eral officers. Toward a like purpose, the
constitution of Pennsylvania wisely pro-
vides that the chief executive officers of
the state, all the representatives, and
one-half of the senators shall be elected
two years after the last preceding presi-
Dental election.
The wisdom of this evident intent to
keep state issues and federal issues sepa-
rate lnuS PIE Illustration III lnP pres
ent situation and &C condition of the state
politics Of Pennsylvania. The citizens Of
the commonwealth have a right not only
to be informed as to the general conduct
of It's public servants, but to be answered
explicitly on specific acts of legislation
and administration. Have the laws en-
acted by their agents been Just and
equal laws? Have they been horestly adj
ministered for the welfare of the people?
What motive or influence governed the
legislature of 1897 in passing four hum
dred and nine bills of which eighty-sevGn
were finally vetoed by the chief execu-
tive? Were those bills diligently cOnsid-
cred and intelligently eEacted so as to
subserve the berefcent public purpose
for which they purported to be passed?
Or were they, by negligence or intent, so
framed, that while ostensibly designed to
serve such purpose, that were either un-
Ineligible or in violation of the provis-
ions of the constitution so that the bur-
den should be cast on the chief execu-
tive, or the courts, to declare them void?
DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
Have salaried officers, without SUBJ
stantlal duties, been created TO pay po-
litical debts and pension off the plant
instruments of misrule on the treasury
of the state? Have nonresident mer-
cenaries been sent into every voting pre-.
Iorm or control the primaries of the
dominant party. and how and by whom
were they paid? Why did the late legis
lature appropriate funds for the paym mt
of supplies to the state in sums vastly in
excess of the admitted cost of such sup
plies? Why have mi lions of dollars of the
school fund of the state been withheld
while the teachers have gone unpaid or
the LEGAL officials driven to the eXpedient
nf fnr n 4 ,flNT
twenty years, have favored banks. had
on deposit from S3000,010 to S9,00O,0O0 Of
the funds of the state without farthing
of interest being payable to the state?
Why does every department of the state
government show increased prodigality
expenditure, for which increase the
citizen only realizes the increased bur-
den it entails?
From these and kindred questions so
vital to the citizenship of Pennsylvania,
regardless of party, are the beneiiCiaries
of misgovernment in the state. to find
sanctuary in a war to the prosecution
of which all parties stood unreservedly
committed?
SYSTEMATIC EEBAUCHERY.
From these questions touching the sys-
tematic debauchery of the public SER
vice of the state, are the malefaCtor and
their agents to find refuge in vehement
declamations on qLestiCEs OF federal tax
alton? Confror ted by the issue, be-
tween reckless prohigacy, or careful
scrutiny and judicious economy in state
expenditures shall the agents of misrule,
escape accountability in the fog and dust
of a simulated al Xiety on the subject of
federal coinage? Are the national bias
and predictions of the voter on national
questions to be used as means of secur-
ing his support of methods in state ad-
l.sx.l.
attempted in the prosecution of any pri-
vate business in the community?
The only reference in the Republican
platform to state issues appears in these
words
1--WE commend he wise, careful and efii-
cient administration of the state govern
ment in its various departments, and
heartily approve of the fidelity with
which our state officers have discharged
their duties"
The press and the people of the COM
monwealth, with almost unanimous ac-
claim, have adjudged the last session of
the Legislature, in its faithlessness to its
trust, it's reckless contempt of the rights
of the people, and its unblushing sub
serviency to base ana sinister influences.
TO be without parallel in the history of
the state. The malign power of single
self-seeking, autocratic hand has brought
this disgrace upon the commonwealth.
1t has forced the dominant party to de-
clare that this disgrace shall be perpet-
uatcd, and the rule of official conduct by
it observed, is now formally adopted by
the part as its official standard of state
morality for the instruction and guid-
ance of its nominees.
THE ISSUE.
1.-THE issue is between ignominy, cor
ruption and inff my on the one hand, and
independence, honesty and manliness on
the other"
In the past our citizens have been proud
to say, II am a Pennsylvania" The
foundations of our commonwealth were
laid in integrity fidelity, justice and good
faith. The initial lines of its colonial pol
icy stands as perpetual admonitions and
pledges TO posterity against intolerance