The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-09-04

of civil service which will prevent the
enslavement of public officers and em-
ployes and the compelling of those APP
pointed to preserve the peace to CON
fine themselves to their duty, which
will insure absolute freedom and fair
ness in bestowng state and county and
municipal contracts, and will punish
any form of favortism in granting
them; which will forbid the grant OF
exclusive franchises to deal in public
necessities, comforts, conveyances and
sanitary requirements; an0Nlll insure
the recognition of ability End fidelity
in the public service, Keeping service
to the country forever foremost when
accompanied by ability and fitness.
I'VE demand that public Offices shall
| be for public benefit and the term OF
subordinate. positions shall be during
good behavior. No public employe or
officer should be permitted to influence
primaries or elections, nor upon any
pretense be assessed upon his salary
and all unnecessary positions and sal
aries should be abolished and expendi-
lures and taxation reduced. There
should be uniform valuation of prop
erty for public purposes, corporations
! enjoying public privileges should pay
/ for them, and schools should be di-
vorced from politics and kept absolute
| ly free from political influence and
| control"
The Record That Condemns.
Everyone of these pledges has been
! systematically violated. in accordance
| with the derisive enthusiasm with
which they were received by the men
who went through the farce of making
| such manifestly insincere declarations.
The betrayal of pubic interests never
| was so shameless as during the last
two sessions of the legislature. There
| never was such corrupt use of money,
so much legislative debauchery, so lit
tie effort made to correct crying abuses
and to purify the public service. Fav-
ored contractors have reveled in fat
things, dividing their ill-gotten gains
with powerful political and official pat
| rons. Valuable public franchises have
been appropriated without compensa-
tory returns to municipalities or the
state. Debauchery of the ballot at pri-
mary and general elections, never was
so fragrant and widespread. And now
1t Is sought to evade all these burning
questions, and to turn the peoples
minds away from the consideration of
the crushing record. This self-con-
demnatory course will not answer.
The incorruptible freemen of the Key
stone State are weary of shams; they
have had their fill of illusions. They
demand the restoration and mainte
nance of cleanliness, honesty and eff
fciency in all departments of local,
municipal and state government.
Unparalleled Betrayal Of Trust.
The Erie convention adopted
have led in the betrayal of public
trust Therein it is declared that the
powers of government have beeen pros
tituted to the purpose of public thieves
"a scathing denunciation, but one
which the facts sadly justify; that con-
stitutional restraints and commands,
the sanctity of the law, the obligations
of official oaths and the demands of
common honesty have been thrust
aside, and methods hitherto unknown
sinh aI N % n h.
lie plunderers. That shamelessly and
openly the votes of legislators are traf-
fcked in. That the last session of the
legislature was admitted to be the most
corrupt legislative body ever convened
in any state of the union. That the
election of United States senator was
, accomplished in a carnival OF corrup-
/, ton. That the session closed with a
, franchise theft that shocked the moral
, sense of the whole country.
For these crimes against political de-
cency and official honor, this odious
machine organization is indicted. To
aid in the abolition of all these evils
the effective cooperation of honest
a men of all parties and all organizations
7 sincerely intent upon Toe reformation
, of public affairs, Is earnestly invited.
! No partisan advantage or victory is
sought and none will be claimed. The
4 call is to all the people for the good
: of Pennsylvania the promise being
equal and just laws; pure, honest and
/ economical administration.
4 An Appeal to Civic Conscience.
( The issues of the campaign are there
g fore clearly defined. He who runs may
= read them. During the past four years
= they have been discussed in every part
-. of the state. The time is at hand
when the record must be passed upon.
. The deplorable facts recited and the
history OF public affairs in Pennsylva-
nia for many years, teach one impress
= sive lesson. II has been shown over
and over again that selfish, corrupt and
i tyrannical misrule debases citizenship,
: degrades the state and defies correc-
I tion. 1t can only be overthrown when
under the spur of an aroused public
y conscience the people intelligenty and
9 vigorously unite for the redemption OF
4 government and the restoration and
maintenance of their just rights. The
g unit Of power, the unawed unbribed
4 and self-controlled citizen, is the hope
= and sheet anchor of the nation, To
him We once more confidently submit
= our cause; to his sense of civic duty
: we trustfully make our appeal, Fidel-
:, ity to the true principles OF popular
,, government must result in vindication
OF the steadfast friends of honest ad-
i ministration of every public trust.
d Upon such a cause we may reverently
! ask the blessing of the God of Justice
x and mercy and truth; To its triumI, tIIa,
|, fathers Of other days, we may fittingly
II pledge our noblest efforts, our unfal-
: tering devotion
3 Mr. Guthrie's speech was a charac-
y teristic deliverance on ballot reform
e and the urgent need of the puriflca-
: tion of all departments of the state
6 government.
n Mr.. Nolan responded to the address
; of notification briefly but earnestly,
n promising if elected to administer the
'e duties of the office of Secretary of In
i ternal Affairs with fidelity and i'm
/ partiality.
e Penrose will have harder fight to
e secure reelection than Quay, An
70 earnest contest in every fairly divided
o legislative district will result in a
e largely increased anti-machine repre-.