The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-11-02

though eSSentlhlly prlue-CnaStenlng
study for the people. For years 1t has
been prolific source OF graft and from
the time that the late Senator Quay
became secretary of the common
wealth and ex-officlo commissioner of
the sinking fund, trail of blood and
Doodle" has marked its records. Vast
surpluses were unknown a quarter of
n century ago, the fiscal officers of
the commonwealth having been cap.
able II not always conscientious. so
that the receipts and expenditures
Rbout balanced. But Quay soon dis.
covered that the sinking fund was an
available fountain of funds and by con-
spiracy with a subordinate official OF
the treasury he abstracted large
amounts for use in speculative opera
tions. Since the keen scent OF cupid.
ity discovered the possibilities that are
in big surpluses, taxes have been mul.
tiplied to create vast balances.
In a speech delivered at Pottstown,
September 23d, by Eugene C. Bonnl.
well, ESQ., of Philadelphia, the shame
ful record of this pool of iniquity is
fully revealed. Mr. Bonniwell said ::
The supreme issue which con-
Germs us today is honesty. Ought
the common standards ordinarily
applied in society and business to
be ilagitiously ignored in the con-
duct of public affairs, and the
funds of the people of Pennsylva-
mia placed at the disposal of cor
rupt politicians and stock gam
blers? There can be no party
lines upon this proposition.
NO citizen processing to be re-
putable can support the so-called
Republican ticket in this campaign
simply because it Is labeled Repub-
lican. John Jay, the first chief
justice of the United States, aptly
said that adherence to party has its
limits, and they are marked and
prescribed by that supreme wis
dom which has united and asso-
ciated true policy with honor, rec
titude and self-respect.
The citadel which dominates the
political battlefield of Pennsylva-
MIA is the state treasury. From
It's vaults have issued again and
again the funds that have corrupt
ed legislatures, debauched constit-
uencies, nourished bankrupt poll
ticians and financed colossal gam
bes for the enrichment of social
ed statesmen.
The citizen worthy of the name
who proposes to vote for the Re-
publican nominee for state treas
urer must do so on one of two
grounds-either the conduct of the
state treasury in the past has been
OF so meritorious an order as to
Justify the continuance of Repub-
lican control, or the character of
the Republican nominee is so sig
nally inspiriting as to make GER
tain an honest conduct of the office
despite his political affiliations.
Tried by either of these tests the
Republican organization hopeless
ly fails.
Record Of FIagrant Dishonesty.
Lest the frightful trail of dis
honesty and blood of wrecked
homes and broken hearts has be-
come less than a memory, permit
me to recapitulate the known his
tory of the state treasury. Within
our own time when Samuel But
Ter, an honest man, was elected
treasurer of the state of Pennsyl-
yania, in 1879, he refused to re-
ceipt for the assets of the treas
ury because of the fact that $500,
500 was represented by nothing
more than promissory notes of cer-
tain politicians. 1t was never de-
MED that this money was taken
out by Matthew Stanley Quay and
lost in stock specuations. When
exposure became imminent Blake
walters, cashier of the state treas
ury shot and killa1 hiuSalf
Amos c. Noyes, the retiring
treasurer, man of such rugged
honesty that he. was known as
Square Timber Noyes. took to
his bed and died within a few
months OF a broken heart, and
nothing save the action Of Don
Cameron in contributing the $500
900 in cash for political purposes,
prevented a public scandal that
should have driven the Republican
administration from power. 1t
was asserted that at that time Quay
contemplated suicide
Undeterred by the murder Of
these two men, in 1885 and there
after, Quay having been elected
state treasurer that year, renewed
his raids on the state treasury.
Following his brief term w. B.
Hart was elected state treasurer
anu MS ITlenuS nave always De-
ieved that his untimely death was
raused by the frightful knowledge
OF the condition of the state treas
2ry.
Livesy succeeded Hart. In 1888
another colossal raid was made on
she state treasury. With the as
sistance of A. Wilson Norris, then
auditor general of Pennsylvania,
Quay secured from Livesy 100000
with which to purchase stock in a
Chicago traction deal. So deeply did
his connection with this case bear
apon Norris that before the end
of the summer of 1883 he had
drunk himself to death.
The colored messenger of the
state department, named Warren,
who had helped Norris carry the
securities to Philadelphia, was
was found drowned in the Susque-
hanna canal, and William Livesy,
in 1891, fed from the state OF
Pennsylvania and has never re-
turned.
Forced to Divide the Loot.
Before he died Norris left let
Ger addressed to Senator Quay,
requesting him to see that his Wild
ow received the $4,000 which was
his share of this gigantic steal.
When Quay refused Mrs, Norris
placed the matter in the hands Of