Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-09-05
PATTSON'S SPEECH
OF ACCEPTANCE
Issues of the Hour Are Vigor.
OusIy Presented.
DUTY OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP
How the State Has Been Misgoverned
and the People Wronged-A Ring
DUTY OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP
QUESTION OF BALLOT REFORM
Ex-Governor Boldly Arraien the
Machine and Urges Unity of
Action For the Good of All.

~
political regeneration throughout the
state. Influential men from every
county were present to take part in
the ceremonies incident to the notifi-
cation of the nominees of the Erie Con-
vention. 1t was suggestively noted,
also, that large number of Republi-
cans and independent citizens were
present to extend their hearty congrat-
ulations and give open pledge of sup
port during the campaign and at the
polls.
In the afternoon there was public
reception at beautiful suburban re-
treat and banquet at which enthusi-
asm ran high. Early in the evening
the Auditorium was packed with a
great crowd to hear the speeches Of
the occasion, every expression of the
candidates being applauded with a
vigor which showed the spirit that
possesses the friends of reform in the
pending contest between the people
ruled the state.
AS chairman of the notification
committee, Hon. R. E. Wright, of AL
lentown performed the pleasant work
assigned him in happy manner. He
said:
SPEECH OF CHAIRMAN WRIGHT.
We are assembled today by direction
of the Erie Convention to present to
you Governor Pattison, and to Messrs.
Guthrie and Nolan formal notifica-
tion of your nominations for most i'm
portant public positions.
While the convention which named
you represented the organized Demo-
cratic party, 1t acted and spoke for a
wider constituency than could be COM
prised in any political organization. 1t
convened, planned and acted not for
partisan victory, but for Pennsylva-
MAS honor. 1t represented and gave
voice to an outraged public sentiment
state shall be wrested from the hands
of those who dishonor it. 1t spoke for
all men in our state who stand for
pure, honest government and a decent
administration of public affairs. 1t
named you, gentlemen, as the instru-
wealth should be rescued from the
hands of the political freebooters who
have so long controlled it; from a
domination which has outraged public
opinion, has prostituted the powers
and beneticences of government to the
purposes of INSCRIPTIONS politicians,
and the enrichment of their favorites
and which has recklessly and defiantly
disregarded all constitutional, legal
and moral obligations and restraints.
In the platform of the convention
that named you will be found recital
of some of the ills that a long safer
ing people have deemed worthy of men,
ton. | need not, therefore, now elab-
crate in your hearing the painful but
familiar history of Pennsylvania dis
honor. AS | have said before, in every
newspaper and from every husting the
shameful story has been told; in every
town and hamlet; at country cross
roads, in counting house and factory,
in village store and by the good burgh--
ers returning from church, the sad
story of the shame of our common
wealth has been told and retold with
indignant blush.
We have seen corrupt and corrupting
legislatures moved to their villianies
by American senator's; we have seen
pay rolls padded to reward thieying
officials; our law makers make law
breaking thrifty trade; our state
treasury temporarily looted to aid the
speculative ventures of favored poll
ticians, their relatives and friends;
banks plundered and broken in ex-
tending aid to impecunious bosses
of election repeaters, stuffed ballot
boxes and fraudulent returns. We have
seen senatorships purchased, valuable
franchises stolen and municipal gov
ernments ruthlessly overthrown in
reckless contests between rival politi-
cal machines, and made the sport of
personal ambition.
To the rectification of all of these
wrongs you have been dedicated by the
convention that named you; that you
r,sN l. f,,I 10 tlN., I..lT
questions; that you will be chosen to
the task we firmly believe, as we have
faith in the honesty and integrity of
the people.
AS the spokesman of the notification
committee | beg on its behalf to now
and to express the hope that should
find Judgement in the mind of every
self respecting Pennsylvania that sue
cess may crown the end of your battle
for the redemption of our common
wealth.
GOV. PATTIsoN's ADDRESS.
Governor Pattison's reception by the
vast audience was an event that will
be long remembered. After the cheer.
ing subsidized he spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Notification Committee, Friends and
Fellow Citizens:
1t is with feelings of grateful appre-
citation of the honor bestowed for a
third time, that | appear before you to
accept the responsible place you have
assigned me in the pending contest be-
tween the people of Pennsylvania and
those who would deprive them of theiI
sovereign right Of honest and just self
government. | trust it may be taken as
a happy coincidence that it was here in
this beautiful and prosperous city, sc
delightfully."- located in the midst of q
community far famed for Jealous deTo-
ton to the highest and best principles
of economic home rule, that the suc-
cessful campaign of 1890. along the
same lines which confront us today
was SO auspicionsly inaugurated. The
spirit of PATRIOTIC protest against the