The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-08-14
CURRENT CONNIE EMIT
Comment on Matters Political and
Otherwise Of Public Interest.

| DI IneHJlOH, TeHily pdthtif vi No"i"N' :"
not in favor of ballot reform, because
| It wouldn't be worth while to bother
| himself about reforming anything that
is not bad enough to attract attention.
: Neither does he evidently consider
bribery, perjury and ballot box stuff
fng evils worthy of notice. Penny
packer, in the language Of the street,
must be daisy.
| Judge Potter telephoned Governor
| Stone that he had hi of time to
get favorable decision from his fell
lows of the Supreme Court on the rip
per bills. No doubt the members OF
the court after seeing the humiliating
light in which they have been placed
! by Alexander, Simpson, Jr., of the
! Philadelphia bar, will wish that they
had allowed Potter to have his HI OF
a time with the governor rather than
with the court. Any one who can read
| the English language can readily un-
derstand on reading Mr.. Simpsons ad-
dress before the Pennsylvania Bar AS
sociation why he received the hearty
applause of the members who listened
attentively to every word of the able
address. A political court well de-
serves the contempt which 1t is certain
to receive sooner or later.
One of Quay's objections to Elkin as
candidate for governor was that Pen
| I, In 40 Af
the senate should Elkin head the tick
ct. The fact is that Mr.. Penrose's case
never looked worse than II does at the
outset of Pennypacker's campaign.
Quay failed of election at the session
of '99 and would have failed at the
bribery. Quay had all the united sup
port of the stalwart element, some
thing that Penrose is not at all likely to
receive. With the Democrats, Indepen-
dent Republicans and some of the regu-
lars against him, 1t looks as If Pen
rose might as well declare himself out
of the race. It would be hard to find
a candidate who would not represent
the state with more credit, SO there
need be no worry over the matter.
When Judge Pennypacker declares
that Pennsylvania has no evils worthy
of mention he gives the lie direct to
the North American, Ledger, Press and
the many other Independent papers oi
the state, as well as to many stalwari
papers outside of the state that declare
Pennsylvania to be the worst ring-rid-
Philadelphia Press has for years beer
waging a bitter war against the evils
of Quayism, but now it turns about
face and says that because Pennypack.
er is an honest man it will support
him. The Press well knows thai
Pennypacker is Quay's man and that
If elected, he will absolutely follow
Quay's orders. Why shouldn't he, when
he declares that Quay is one of the
greatest men of the age? The course
of the Press may be consistent enough
for Philadelphia politics, but it is sad.
ly inconsistent with the dictates Of
honesty and courage.
God pity the man who sells his vote
in this fight" exclaimed State Treas.
urer Harris the day before the late Re.
publican convention. According to the
Philadelphia Inquirer, Mr.. Elkin, Sena.
tor Focht and many others forty-ont
of the delegates would be entitled to
the divine pity invoked by Mr.. Harris
Mr.. Harris expressed the opinion at the
same time that purchased nomination
would create such sentiment through
the state that it would be utterly i'm
possible to elect the candidate who Sc
cured the dishonest nomination. Mr.
Harris ought to be authority on the
matter of bribery, for being a promi
nent member of the last house he i.
supposed to be more or less familiar
with the number of men who solo
themselves on the various measures
how much they were paid, etc. H,
didn't, however, then seem to think 4
so serious matter, but rather con
sidered it a good thing for the party
Where would Speaker Marshall hav,
been or Boss Quay had it not been fol
the men who sold themselves the las
session. What reason has Mr.. Harri.
for thinking the people will resent al
this devilment at the polls? Is he do
ing all he can to avenge the bribery o.
the forty-one votes which defeated hi!
candidate for the governorship?
The most effective Democratic argu
ment in favor of PattisOn's election 1,