The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-09
/ Quaker Graft Exposure Probably
i Will Put Reformer Emery
s. in Office. !.
BERRY, WEAVER MAN, ,.y
DELIVERED THE BLOW
Pennsylvania, Shocked, Waivers
! Between Opposing Guberna-
T. torial Candidates. -,
Special to The journal.


Chicago, Oct. "a Philadelphia spe-
cial to the Chicago Tribune says:
= Just at the present time the good
people of Pennsylvania, who are in q
rather. dazed condition politically, are
wavering almost aimlessly between the
reform they shouted for SO enthusiast
tically last fall and the reactionary
novement which would land them safe
~ back in the arms of the worst polit-
3cal, ring ever known in this or any
other state.
;. Last week the tendency was all to-
ward the regular republican machine,
which has put up thoroly respectable
a few days, had every chance Of win
ming. Now, owing to astounding reve-
lations, of graft in connection with the
statehouse at Harrisburg, there Us q
rising tide of public opinion which
seems likely to sweep the Lincoln ticket
into power, thus completing the down
fall of the. Penrose machine:
There never was a more peculiar sit
uation in politics anywhere, and lead
ers on both sides have been indulging
in political Nightmares, resulting In the
most fantastic combinations, not the
least of which has been the apparent
hacksliding Of John Weaver, the re-
now seems to have deserted the. reform
movement on the mere question Of
local patronage.
Anger Guided Weaver.
No one denies the tremendous effect
Of the revelations of astounding steal
ing in the capitol at Harrisburg. The
aroused by stories of graft. Philadel-
phia was honeyeombed with it. The
state was MIXED by the Quay machine
with a thoroness not equaled by the
robbers of any, other commonwealth.
Civic thieves In Philadelphia became
30 bold that they attempted, to dispose
Of the city gasworks, and probably
use of the Delaware river had they not
been arrested. ~, u -..- : q,
of Philadelphia. He was put in posi-
ton by the old gang. For the first year
or. two of his term he obeyed orders,
then went out to conduct his Sunday
school, In which he has been Interested
since his early manhood.
The Philadelphia gang despised Wea-
yer for his obedience to Its demands,
and Penrose, Durham and other repub-
leans fouted the mayor to his face.
1t was no excess OF certain virtue
which started Weaver on new path,
but downright anger. 81 - ~. -. =. :,
,<.-.s- Put Anti Graft Man In.
As a result Of the Weaver rebellion
there followed the organization of the
city party which represented a large
percentage Of Independent republicans,
assisted by democrats. They practi-
ca1ly took hold of control of, the city
after hard fight, and similar revolt
landed Berry, fusion Independent, in
the office Of state treasurer. 80
j Just at a juncture, when everything
looked blacklist for the reform move
ment, there came the thunderbolt from
Harrisburg. Treasurer Berry, who
found nothing wrong with the actual
state finances themselves, dug into the
books, however, sufficiently to disclose
that the state house, which the archi-
tect himself swore had been completed
last August at cost Of less than 3d.
cost the people not less than $4,000
600.
More than twice the certified cost Of
the building has been spent in "fur-
nishing' it. There are stories of 3d.
100000 worth of bronze electroliers,
fancy fagstafs, extravagant furniture,
costly rugs, gorgeous desks and a per-
feet wealth Of decoration, some of
which has notseven arrived here. The
figures have been gone into enough to
show shocking scandal, as al the adj
ditional expenditure seems to have
been without direct authority of law.
No one was prepared for the astound-
ing revelations just made by Treasurer
Berry. It is evident that the repub-
ican ring has run riot. This fact
alone seems likely to result in the cleo
ton of Emery. ,...