The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-08-17
The State CAMPAIGN.

The speeches made at the Demo
cratic notification meeting in Will
Transport on Wednesday of last
week and the whole spirit of the
occasion show a purpose on the
part of those who are directing the
opposition canvass to conduct it
wholly on the issues that have been
raised within the State. In doing
this they are following the course
marked out in their platform adopt
ed at the State Convention two
months ago.
The one Office for which there
will be contest this year is State
Treasurer, and it is believed by the
Democrats that they can make it
appear that this office is one which
has nothing to do with national
questions and should be filled purely
on the basis of a proper administra-
ton and use of the money Of the
State. Last year the Democrats
confined their contest on the State
ticket to State issues, but at that
time the situation was encumbered
by candidates for Congress and the
Legislature, on which party lines
were certain to be drawn to an ex-
tent that would be felt in the vote
for the State ticket. 1t is worth
while to consider, however, that
i'll that election the Republican
losses were considerable as COM
pared with the previous election for
Governor.
Governor Hastings in 1894, with
plurality of 24I 900 over his
Democratic competitor, had clear
majority Of 1913, ,49o over the vote
for all the o pposition candidates
combined. Governor Stone last
November did not have majority
of all the votes cast for Governor.
If all those who indicated by their
ballots that they did not want him
for chief executive of the Common
wealth had cast their ballot for a
single candidate Mr.. Stone would
have been defeated. 1t is a scarcely
less significant fact that while i'll
1894 the Democrats elected but two
out of the thirty members of Con-
gress from this State they last No
vember elected one-third of the del
egation many counties were lost
that ought 20 have gone Republi.
can and the Democratic member
ship i'll the Legislature was more
than doubled.
These are results entitled tc
thoughtful consideration at thi:
time and before the meeting of the
Republican State Convention
Within the past year grave scan
dals concerning the management O
the State finances nave been ex.
posed. There has been indisputa-
bly, employment of the State money
in system of speculation for per
sonal gain, and public interest:
have greatly suffered in conse
quence. 1t is unnecessary to &C
into the details of these things
They are of a most indecent anc
humiliating character. They were
crimes committed not by the Re
publican party but against it. The
party cannot be held to any re.
sponsibility for them which it doe:
not itself assume.
More than that, the party shoulo
lead in the reform of all these
abuses. The coming State Conven
ton can put it in an impregnablt
position in this matter. The ex
posures have mostly been made
since the last election and nobod,
can know how deeply they hav'
affected the people until the ballot
are counted at the next election
The party can be kept from de
fensive position only by repudia
tIon at the coming convention O
those who have misused the Repub
lican name and fame. Press Rep