Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-04-30
SHORT TALKS
Brief Comment On Political and Other
Matters of Public Interest.
Az A

(ANDREW J. PALM.)
Congressman Bell, of Colorado, told
a truth the other day when he declared
that the house of representatives is
no longer a deliberative body, but is
absolutely controlled by a few men,
whose domination he characterized as
a legislative trust. Under the i'm
perialistic rules of the house, the
speaker, with a half dozen pals, can
control all the legislation that comes
before the body. They can have bills
reported or pigeon-holed for the ses-
sion as may suit their pleasure. They
shut off debate on every measure, the
discussion of which is likely to bring
out damaging truths, and in every way
absolutely control the action of the
house. Imperialism is having its eff
feet on the temper of the government
at Washington as well as in the Phil
ippines.
Four years ago Quay expressed him
self as anxious to know how 1t would
feel to own governor. Since his Curl
osity was gratified there is no reason
why his right bower, the Hon. w. H.
Andrews, should not have similar
ambition, and he is, no doubt, behind
the boomlet of his brother, Wesley
Reuben, whose friends insist is likely
to surprise the Republican state con-
vention. 1t isn't at all likely that Mr..
Andrews, Mr.. Quay or anybody else
will own the next governor of Pennsyl
vania, for he is certain to be man
who will acknowledge no master but
the sovereign people, whose wishes he
will respect and whose interests he
will serve He will not have his open
hand ready at all times to take cor
ruption funds from S250000 down, to
sign ripper bills and franchise steals.
He will have no political machine to
build up at the expense of the state.
He will not belong to the Durham,
Stone, Elkin, Quay crowd, nor will he
have been graduated in their infamous
political school. He will be nominated
by the next Democratic state conven-
ton, and be elected by all good citi-
zens, irrespective of party, who are
ashamed, disgusted, indignant at the
high handed corruption that has dis
graced the government of the state for
many years past.
The fact that Mr.. Terrence Powderly
will be retired from the important Of
flee of commissioner of immigration by
President Roosevelt, and that Mr..
Frank Sargent will be appointed to
succeed him, appears to be received
with much satisfaction by the labor
element. Powderly, Notwithstanding
his prominence in labor organizations
some years ago, by his influential po-
sition in the Knights of Labor, of late
has been regarded as the enemy rather
than the friend of organized labor In
politics he was formerly a Democrat,
but for consideration in the way of
Office he became an active worker for
the Republican party. His administra-
ton of the immigration bureau has
been much criticised, and some of his
recommendations have had a good deal
of the spirit of oldtime nativism. Mr..
Sargent, on the other hand, Is an ac-
cepted representative of the labor or
ganizations and stands high in their
ranks. His selection to take Powder
ly's place III dicates pretty clearly that
the president has his eyes fixed on the
labor vote, and is casting anchors to
tn windward. Mr.. Sargent is of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen,
and was a Republican stumper, we be-
lieve, in the canvass of 1900. One of
the best ways to office in this country
is for the professional labor agitator
or reformer to become prominent in
political or partisan work.--Pittsburg
Post.