The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-10-02
GUTHRIE TURNS
DOWN PENNYPACEER
The Quay Candidates Pittsburg
Speech Reviewed.
FACTS ABOUT THE "RIPPER"
How an Honest Reform Measure
Was Seuttied ard the
People Betrayed.
FACTS ABOUT THE "RIPPER"
RING RULE NOW RESTORED

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lstion OF 1901. in his recent speech in
that city. has been the subject Of
much criticism The Quay candidate
for governor was speaking under the
auspices Of the old ring and tried TO
make capital for himself BY express
ing sympathy with them in the war
made upon them At the same time
he condemned the efforts al reform
legislation which were the aspiration
Of the original movement Tor a new
city charter. A systematic plan has
been pursued TO nislead the people
Of the state with regard 10 this matter.
In his speech at Conneilsville Hon.
George W Guthrie. Democratic candi-
date for lieutenant governor. turned
on the light as follows:
At the last session OF the legislature
there was bill passed which has be-
ton ss the Ripper bill. ! want 10 tell
you about that bill and what has been
done under IL The nTst suggestion OF
any such bill came from Harrisburg
in 1881. II was dangied before the peO-
pie OF PittsburE as a bait and a prom
AEE " 4E4AtA AAUl4 one OL AAE LLlieL LA4-
rupI arbitrary and brutal rings that
a municipality ever suffered from.
In 1901 il was made the condition Of
the paSSa ge OF law for the proper gov
eminent OF the city OF PitlsburE. From
1SsS, when the people OF Pittsburg had
been made ready. by promises OF the
machine. &c believe that good laws
would be passed for them. they had
been IN session after session sup
plant al the feet OF this boss for laws
that were Necessary for the EOveruUeut
OF their city. and session after session
they were sent hack disappointed. but
in 1901 they were informed that they
could have a law which would give
them a charter satisfactory TO them.
but the sole condition upon which IL
was 10 be passed was that IL should be
accompanied with a ripper. The good
citizens OF Pittsburg had been suf-
fering under the rule OF this ring. and
they could get charter for their city.
Many Of them submitted 10 the terms
and bill was taken up for the govern
msnt OF the city. which was promised
10 them Literally as il was drafted.
All the Coed Cut Out.
When that bill went 10 Harrisburg
the men in control Of the state ma
chine in one night struck out Of il
every provision intended for good gov
A-A4AFAA- NA-LA A-r. AG4 4Akt44A-c
enough to recognize In that emascu-
lated form the bill was passed with the
ripper attached TO it, and the people
OF Pittsburg. who had submitted TO the
threat OF this ripper as the price which
must be paid Tor good government.
were given the ripper, and the only
good features in that law left after
they got through with IL were the pro-
visions which the emaSculaIors did not
have intelligence enough TO recognize.
The machine was 10 control and gov
ern the city until the first election day
under the law. The governor put
man there as recorder Of the city. and
the first step which he made - give
the citizens OF Pittsburg good, honest
government was answered by an or
der from Harrisburg removing him
The ring was, by the order OF the gov
ernor. reinstated in the city OF Pitts
burg with greater power than IL had
held under the law which the people
had struggled against so long and
which was so bitter 70 them; and so.
instead OF getting q good charter as
promised. and an honest adminisIra-
ton they had the ring put back again
in control with greater power than il
ever held.
Governor Stones Postscript.
The governor, when he did that, is
sued q proclamation attempting 10 ex-
plain his act, and be added a post
script in which he said: 4 was not
bribed 10 DO this" Think OF IT, The
governor Of this commonwealth was
obliged by the very act which he was
doing and the circumstances which sur
rounded II 10 proclaim 70 the people
that he was not a felon, and he is
known today in the city OF Pittsburg
as the p. ;. Governor" In the whole
political history OF this country / DO
not believe such another ignominious
act has ever been perpetrated.
Now the distinguished jurist 10
whom ] referred says that the re-
suit OF the ripper bill was unfortunate.
that such a bill should never have been
passed In the latter part Of his re-
marks ! heartily agree with him. but
/ go further. ! do not say that il was
unfortunate. ] say that IL was criminal
to seize the liberties OF the people and
trade them OF, whether for money or
for political support was treason
against the institutions Of our coun-
Try. ! am glad TO say that this crime
aroused the hearts Of the people OF
PirIsburg as nothing else ever has The
betrayal Of their rights. the failure 10
redeem The promises made 10 them as
q consideration Ot their submission TO
the ripper. the corrupt bargain made
by which their liberties were traded
on, aroused them 10 bitter indignation
and z determination 10 visit punish
ment upon all concerned in il
Pennypseker's Dangerous Doctrine.
The Philadelphia Record thus edi-
torially refers to this matter:
From this speech in hzlf-condemns-
tlOn Of the ripper and in whole con-
oemnauon OF the constitutional proyi-
sion in restraint Of special legisiatlon
as ~mOnarchicsl device" the peODl,;
Of Pennsylvania are justified In uiakfng
the inference that the candidate of rhs
machine II elected governor would moi
interfere Win tle legislative wisdom.
But his is a dangerous doctrine 10 D-o-
claim IN these times. much Is il is cal
culstsd 70 Halter the popular mind IN
recognition Of the fac that the MAJOR
ity Of one day may become a minoTitv
On the next under q government like
olIs, tAe people nave Imposed cOnstitu.
tional restraints upon the exercise OF