The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-09-21

was bad enough. But II is a mistake to
assume that all the legislators were
corrupt, or that the wrongdoing was
confined to the Republican party or to
a faction thereof. There were many
conspicuous members in both branches
who valiantly battled for the people,
but it is historically incorrect to assume
that all of them were from the So
called 10" who supported Mr.. Wana-
maker for the United States senate.
The two leaders in the crusade for
clean legislation were Hon. Samuel
Crothers. of Philadelphia, and Hon. E.
A. Coray, of Luzerne. neither of whom
was a member of the 90" nor did
either of them vote for Mr.. Wana-
maker for senator. on the other hand,
not a few of the much lauded "76'
proved derelict before the session
closed. OF course, many of the 20"
did heroic work for the people, which
should never be forgotten; but so did
other members of both houses, who had
not been Mr.. Wanamaker's supporters
for the senatorship. In other words,
both the wrongdoing and the right
doing, so to speak We're non-factional
and II is a perversion of history to
claim the reverse.
Nor was the wrongdoing partisan.
Those now engaged in crusade
against the Republican organization
are forming alliances iG many of the
counties with a view to the election Of
Democrats to the legislature. While
in the last legislature some of the DEM
ocratic senators, and a number of the
IL
house, led by the incorruptible Greasy,
of Columbia county, were always found
upon the side of the people, others, and
generally the majority, gave their sup
port to the various vicious bills which Il
was sought to enact. and which the re-
cent Democratic state convention so
vigorously assailed.
In a word 1t is strikingly unjust TO
charge all that was vicious in the last
legislature to either party, or to either
faction of the dominant party 1t was
simply. a case of some corrupt men get
ting into the legislature-as they have
gotten into every legislature since a
Republican form OF government was de-
Vised-who sought to further their own
Interests at the expense of the peoples.
How supremely idiotic, therefore, 20
hold any one party, or any faction of a
party, responsible for the perversity Of
Individual human nature. How infin-
itely more idiotic and unjust TO hold
you responsible for such condition, be-
yond the fact that you ought to have
prevented, in my judgment. corrupt
or selfish men from obtaining and ex-
ercising control of legislative proceed
ings, even though you should have
found it necessary to resort to a more
vigorous exhibition of "bossism" than
any your opponents have assailed.
While urging that your friends re-
frain from personal abuse, as a method
of campaigning, do not lose sight of
the fact that the chief weapons of your
own opponents are slander and vilifl-
cation Of the most vicious kind. This
cannot hurt you, but must react upon
those engaged in this sort Of warfare.
Besides, 1 should think you would be
used TO 1t by this time. In 1885 you were
denounced and maligned from the Della
ware river to the Ohio line, vet you
were elected state treasurer, and subse-
quently United States senator. In 1892
the same methods, augmented a hun
dred fold, were resorted to, yet you
were almost unanimouly returned to
the senate. In 1895 the walls of vituper-
alton were emptied upon you, yet you
won your great fight for state chair
man. The same old weapons are load
ed again with the same old powder,
whitened with age, and ground to dust.
There can be only one outcome: his
tory will repeat itself; you will be re-
elected in January next. Only be your
own boss" and give your personal at
tention to the details of party or
ganization, including the organization
and conduct of the next legislature.
Do not be "bossed" by petty bosses"
who do not possess one-tenth of your
sagacity and spicacity-otherwise
horse sense. If you pursue this course
you can count upon my support until
the end of the chapter Otherwise l
will cut loose as abruptly as in 1896.
Again assuring you of my personal in
terest in your success, and reiterating
my desire to help you If my services
are needed, l am,
Very truly yours,
FRANK WILLING LEACH.