The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-10-12


his seryillty. His first service in the
legislature was In the session OF 1903,
In which he was chairman Of the house
committee on elections. The sinister
service required OF him in that capa.
aty was the unseating Of two Demo
cratic representatives who were hon
esty elected and giving their places
TO Republicans, prevent the passage
n ballot reform and personal registra-
don legislation and promote the mi.
quitous measures Of the machine. The
members were unseatsd the day be-
fore the close OF the session, In order
hat the claimants might get the sal
airy Of 1880 each and the perquistes
1f the Office.
Base Use Of Political Power.
Political iniquity was never In
voked for baser purpose The testi.
nony was overwhelmingly in favor Of
The sitting members, and during the
inquiry offers were made 10 abandon
he contest in consideration Of sup
port Of certain legislation by the gen
lemen concerned. Even the most dar-
ing Of the machine leaders hesitated
about perpetrating 80 palpable an out
rage. But when the offers of compro-
Mise were Indignantly refused, Chair
nan Plummer commanded the admira-
ion Of the bandtti by boldly declaring
N favor of the contestants and award
ng the seat OF Francis X. Blumle, Of
Cameron county, to II. II. Mullin. and
hat TO which Bernard ]. Ferry, Of the
Sourth district Of Luzerne county. was
airly elected, to James G. Harvey.
Plummer who prepared the reports
ny perversion of the evidence, was
he only man who defended the mi
luity, though it was assailed with
great emphasis and considerable We
aemence by both Democrats and Re
9ublicans on the floor Frank b. Nc
Claim, OF Lancaster, floor leader of the
5uch betrayal Of honor and honesty.
II felt that the sitting member from
Cameron (Mr Blumle) was not hon
sstly entitled TO his seat" said Mr.
IcClain, 81 would vote to unseat him.
But after diigent and unpreiudiced
inquiry and examination of the cvi.
lence submitted, can find no reason
or thus dealing with him" Thomas
:. Cooper, the veteran and eloquent
representative Of Delaware county in
louise Of representatives., also spoke
earnestly against the adoption of the
'eport, saying that he would cheer
'ully vote for It If any member of the
'lections committee who had signed
d, would give even shadowy reason
or 1t or produce a scintilla of evil
ence that Mr.. Blumle was not entitled
D his seat. Neither the report nor the
peech of the chairman of the com
nittee does this, he continued. Plum
Ier's record on this crownlng outrage
lay be found on pages 1929 to 374O of
ne Legislative Record.
Further Proof of Turpitude.
Though Mr.. Plummers efforts in those
ases would have entitled him to the
3verlasting gratitude of the machine
iirates they are not the sum and sub
-tance Of his Infamous achievements.
He was in full accord with all the
.-!achine legislation and voted for the
,.usquehanna river grab, which involy-
the repeal Of the canal companys
<harter.
He supported the notorious Kingston
Jam bill which was intended to bestow
n machine fayorites authority to seize
ne canal as well as all rivers and
treams OF the commonwealth.
The iniquitous filtration bill, which
7as designed to enrich certain favor
-es OF the state machine and would
ave put the people of all parts OF the
tate under the mercy OF the gang"
aceived his active and earnest sup
oort
Those bills were subsequently strick-
n from the calendar of the senate for
he reason that Governor Pennypacker
ne would positively veto every one of
hem. Even to Oblige Quay and serve
the conspirators who had gone to dan
serous lengths to help him to the CUB
ernatorial nomination the servlle Pen
lypacker would not approve such mon
;trous measures. But Plummer had no
lualms OF conscience. He was cordially
or them and his record to that effect
viii be found on pages 1920 and 1921.
1889, 243l to s435 of the Legislative
Record
Plummer's record on other machine
legislation during the session of 1903
vas equally maladorous, moreover. He
voted for and made speech in sup
port OF the Moores Judges salary bill,
which increased the salaries Of all the
judges in tho state in violation of the
constitution-Legislatlve Record, page
a91.
He voted for the bill authorizing the