The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-08-25
THE POLITICAL BATTLE IN PENNsYL.
vANIA.

The Democracy OF the old Keystone
State is arousing for vigorous contest
against the Quay Republican machine.
Republicans all know that it is rotten
and corrupt and deserves defeat. Mr..
Wanamaker 80 declares, as do other
convention nominated for governor,
George A. jerks, an able, clear headed,
straightforward man. A large meeting
of leading Democrats from all parts of
the state took place at Altoona the
other day, where Mr.. jerks accepted
the nomination and made able state
ment of the issues. Mr.. jerks has
served in Congress, and though some
what up in years, he has the vigor of
youth. The following extract from bis
speech will give the Republican Quay.
ties some charges to meet and questions
to answer. The extract is good reading
for any locality. Let our readers peruse,
and profit thereby:
The citizens Of the commonwealth
have right not only to be informed as
to the general conduct of Its public ser
wants, bat to be answered explicitly on
specific acts OF legislation and admins
tration. Have the. by their
agents been just and equal laws2 Have
they been honestly administered for the
welfare of the people2 What motive or
influence governed the legislature of1S97
in passing 400 bills, of which 81 were
finally vetoed by the chief executive?
Were those bills diligently considered
and intelligently enacted so as to sub
serve the bene6ceDt public purpose for
which they purported to be passed? Or,
were they, by negligence or intent, so
| framed that, while ostensbly designed
to serve such purpose, they were either
| unintelligible or in violation Of the pro-
visions Of the constitution, so that the
| burden should be cast on the chief
executive, or the courts to declare them
| void2
Have salaried officers, without sub.
stantial duties, been created to pay
political debts and pension of the,pliant
instruments Of misrule on the treasury
of the state2 Have nonresident mer.
cenaries been sent into every voting
precinct OF the state to bsffle efforts at
reform and control the primaries of the
dominant party, and how and by whom
we're they paid? Why did the late legis-
lature appropriate funds for the pay
ment Of supplies to the state in sums
vastly in excess of the admitted cost OF
such supplies? Why have millions of
dollars of the common school fund of
the state been withheld from the schools
for long periods Of time while the
teachers have gone unpaid or the local
officials driven to the expedient OF
loansP Why, for period Of nearly 20
years, have favored banks had on de-
posit from 90, 900, 900 to 80, 600 900 of the
funds Of the state without a farthing OF
interest being payable to the state?
| Why does every department of the state
government show increased prodigality
OF expenditure, for which increase the
citizen only realizes the increased bur-
den 1t entails?
From these and kindred questions so
vital to the citizenship Of Pennsylvania,
regardless Of party, are the beneficiaries
of misgovernment in the states, to find
sanctuary in war to the prosecution of
which all parties stood unreservedly
| committed?
For these questions, touching the sys.
| teWhtlc ueDauCnery OF tne pnDlc service
of the state, are the male factors and
their agents to find refuge in vehement
declamations on questions of federal
taxation? Confronted by the issue, be-
tween reckless profigacy or careful
scrutinv and judicious economy in state
expenditures, shall the agents of mis-.
rule escape accountability in the fog and
dust of a simulated anxiety on the sub.
ject of federal coinage2
1t is to be hoped the people of Penn
sylvania will express themselves in No.
vember in favor Of righteous rule and
honest government and elect George A.
jerks governor Of the state. No state
stood more nobly by Jefferson and Jack,
son than Pennsylvania.