Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-09-07
CLEAN UP THE STATE
Jeremiah Blacks Ringing Address
of Acceptance,
ISSUES MORAL. MT POLITICAL

Lincoln Party-Democratic Nominee
For Lieutenant Governor Arraigns
Gang For AnnuIIing the Constitution
BY Allowing Railroads to Control tho
Legislature.
jeremiah s. Black. Fusion nominee
for lieutenant governor, in accepting
the nomination. declared himself en-
tireIy In accord with the program fol-
cleaning up the state. He said:
Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Citizens:
My nomination for the Office of lieu
tenant governor was unsolicited-at
no time and in no sense have ! been q
seeker for this or any public Office. ]
have been always content to remain
In private life. striking a blow for the
general good as opportunity offered,
fighting the fight as man In the
ranks.
accept the nominations offered me
by the Democratic party and the Lin
coin party, and shall bear the burdens
and responsibilities OF the candidacy,
only because no man who believes as
] do in the honest administration OF
the government, and in equal and
strict protection of the personal and
property rights of all alike, can refuse
to serve the cause in such place as may
be allotted to him.
The governmental and political con.
ditions in Pennsylvania have sunk to
level of baseness that no man can
describe. without blush of shame for
the state OF which he is citizen.
For more than 40 years. the state Of
Pennsylvania and all its assets have
been in the grasp Of a political machine
us corrupt as ever existed In the world
Disregard of the fundamental law and
violation of the duties incumbent upon
public officers have been so habitual as
to become second nature with those
reared in the school Of politicians who
have controlled Pennsylvania.
The machine parasites and lackeys
have been educated in the belief that
public Office is but an opportunity for
personal fortune. 1t has been the
fashion for public officers, great OF
small, to go into business for them
selves, using the power Of their offices
for their personal gain.
The misgovernment and corruption
with which the state is cursed grows
out of the habit, deep-rooted here, OF
public servants making a business OF
their duty.
For 40 years there has been no gov
ernment in Pennsylvania by the people
and for the people. The state has been
misruled by the lawless company, In
the name of the Republican party, for
the advancement Of the material in
terests of the greater corporations.
These people and their puppets showed
into the official places, are not and
never have been public servants. They
are the servants Of the corporations
who pay them higher wages than the
people can afford, and they have served
their masters we'll.
In 1873, 33 years ago, the people
gained some advantage as against the
plunderers who had the state by the
throat. In that year was adopted the
new constitution. In the 18th article
of that constitution Is plainly and sim
ply written the law declaring all rail-
roads public highways; forbidding dis
elimination in charges for carrying
passengers or freight; forbidding COM
mon carriers, directly or indirectly, to
engage in mining or manufacturing
articles for transportation over their
roads or in any other business than
that of common carriers; forbiddine
officers or employees Of railroad compa-
MES to be interested, directly or indi-
rectly, In furnishing material or sup
plies to such companies; forbidding the
issuing of free passes by railroad COM
panies to any persons except employees
of their company.
The embodiment of these principles
into the fundamental law of the state
was at the time considered a great
victory for the people. But the pro.
visions of the 18th article are not self
executing. Legislation was needed to
enforce them, and therefore, 1t is pro
vided by the 18th section Of the 18th
article that "the general assembly
shall enforce, by appropriate legisla'
tion, the provisions of this article"
The constitution was adopted by
popular vote. and the contest between
the people on one side and the rail
roads and their allies on the other
went on. During the whole period
from the adoption OF the constitution
to the present time, the people have
suffered an unbroken series Of disas'
ters. In 33 years, there has not been
a single piece Of appropriate legisla'
tion enacted to enforce the provisions
of the 17th article. For 33 years the
railroads have controlled the legisla.
ture of the state, and, as a matter of
course, have permitted no legislation
that would check their plundering.
We have the humiliating memory
OF legislature after legislature riding
to Harrisburg upon free passes given
the members by the railroads. who,
with the passes in their pockets time
after time, took the oath OF office
swearing obedience to the constitu.
tion-the constitution which they had
already violated, and which they con.
tinued to violate to the end of their
several terms.
We have the humiliating memory
OF judge after Judge taking his seat
upon the bench, and with railroad
pass in his pocket and his oath to
obey the constitution upon his lips,
undertaking the decision of cases in.
volving the interests of the corpora
tion upon whose free ticket he travels
the public highways without charge.
Every executive and judicial officer
who has done these things should be
and removed from his of.