Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-08-17
PROTEST EGHIHST GOVERNOR ACTION
Governor Stone Has Removed More Old
Soldiers During His Short Time in Har-
risburg Than All of His Predecessors.
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Harrisburg, Aug. I5.-Goverror Stone
celebrated his return from a visit to
ex-senator Quay at Atlantic City last
Friday by sacrificing to the greed of
the machine four old soldiers employed
in Capitol park These men were faith
full employees. loyal to the Republican
party and the only reason they wero
dismissed was to provide places for
those more useful to the machine. Gov
ernor Stone has for many years used
his soldier record TO boost him into
office and yet he has removed more old
soldiers during the short time he has
been az Harrisburg than all his pre-
decessoTs.
The Dauphin County Mckinley
League. composed of Republican SOL
diers. has entered a strong protest
against the governors action in re-
moving. without cause, old soldiers
who have been as loyal to their party
as they were to the flag during the war.
The members of the league are so
thoroughly disguised with the rule OF
the machine that they Will probably
call a meeting to denounce the COVER
nor and the machine and then Gisband-
Captain John .. Delaney. who was
voted medal of honor by congress for
bravery during the civil war has writ
ten an open Letter to Governor Stone
and his colleagu on the board of pub
lie buildings and grounds protesting
against the wholesale discharge of SOL
diers. Captain Delaney served under
Governor Hastings as superintendent
of public buildings and grounds and he
pays the dismissed employees a high
tribute in his letter TO the board. The
captain says
CAS- an old soldier, l wish to enter
my solemn protest against the action or
the board of ppblic grounds and build
ings ia TIE removal of four old vet
Grams in the persons of Andrew Nc
| Kee. Henry YOhe. Jacob Dock and
Lewis Finnefrock. These men have
been faithful employees. loyal to their
| party and above all were men who in
| their younear days offered their lives
for the nations defense. How Cover
nor Stone and Major McCauley, who
have in all t1leir public utterances eX-
plotted the fact that they were the es-
pecial friends and champions of their
old comrades aud have been elevated to
! the high positions they now fill largely
| by the earnest efforts and votes of the
| old soldiers, could consent TO what TO
my mind is an outrage can only be eX-
planned upon the theory that the board
| of public grounds and buildings was
unable to withstand the behests OF the
local politicians Of this city and county.
| who demanded the removal OF these
fmen TO make places for others, the
| records of whom are well known IN
| this community. With the single eX-
ception of William H. Crook, none or
| these appointees is an old soldier.
| 1T does seem to me that this is ex-
ceptionally bad politics on the eve OF a
state campaign and that the time is
| i-not far distant when the politicians
| who brought this about will discover
| that they have made serious blunder,
as the old soldiers are rapidly being
| reinforced by the younger ones of the
recent wars. who will, l am confident
| resent this action"