Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-10-23
Scouten's paper has at its mast
head the following:

George Wilkins Guthrie of ALE
ghany, Democratic Candidate for
Lieutenant Governor is the man who
said "men have been huug for mur-
der on weaker evidence of the crime
than exists against members of the
Legislature of bribery in connection
with the franchise BILL" 1t was that
gentleman who said also "Every in
telligent citizen in the Common
wealth believes that bribery was
used in the passage of that BILL" lie
said further in the same speech "The
so called Democrats who We're in the
Legislature and were parties to these
corruptions all have been condemn
ed by the constituencies they have
betrayed, so strong was the convict
ion in the minds of the people that
they had forfeited all claim to pub
lie confidence"
Now we ask Scouten to tell us if
Candidate Guthrie is telling the
truth when he says that Democrat
members of the Legislature forfeited
all claims to public confidence when
they voted for the franchise bills:
Our member of the Legislature
was Mr.. Edward G.. Rogers. He
was Democrat. He voted for the
Franchise bills. Tell US, John, il
after that he can be trusted, But
in Mr.. Rogers case there is other ev-
idence to be considered. When the
bills were called up the Democrats
offered amendments to kill it. They
were fighting it as party measure.
Edward G. Rogers voted for the
first two amendments. So he was
then opposed to the bill. But VIII III
the third amendment was offered we
find in Scouten's famous supplement
that he is marked "absent or not vo-
ting" and after that by the same au-
thority we find he voted "Nay" on
the other amendments and "Yean
on final passage of both bills.
This is his record. Guthrie says
bribery was used to pass these bills,
he says Democrats who voted for 1t
should be condemned as not entitled
to public confidence. Has Mr.. Rog-
ers any explanation of his change of
mind and his vote? We shall be
glad to hear it. Will he tell us
what little bird whispered in his ear
when the third amendment was up
for consideration? Will he tell us
what was the message that caused
him to change his mind? We can
assure Mr.. Rogers that we do not
ask these questions in 4 spirit of
levity; it is very serious matter
that such grave accusations should
be made against him by the Demo-
cratic leaders. The people of Sulli-
van County who sent him to Harris
burg two years ago have a right to
know if he has betrayed their trust.
If il member of the Legislature adj
vocates measures on the floor of the
House he can he of some use even if
he does not vote. AS Mr.. Rogers
failed to vote at all on at least 253
measures before the House, we turn
ad to the index of the Legislative
Record hoping to find that he other
wise distinguished himself. This is
what we found in the index.
Rogers, Edward G., member
from Sullivan County.
Asked leave of absence for himself
Page 73S.
Presented petition in reference to equal
taxation. Page, 1899.
Presented petition in reference to equal
taxation. Page 1899.
Presented petition in reference to road
bills. Page 1856.
That is the whole thing, he once
asked for leave of absence, he hand
ed three petitions to page to carry
up to the Speakers desk. The rest
we know, he was absent or did not
vote when 253 important questions
were being considered, he voted for
the Doodle franchise bills, he voted
to increase the number of Hill en-
ployes, he voted against the bill to
prevent the pollution of the streams
and he drew his salary, mileage,
postage and other perquisites. Do
the voters of Sullivan county think
he ought to go back?
All readers of the PHILADELPHIA
Press well know that it did not ia
vor the reelection of Senator Quay.