Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-08-29
A Blatant Demagogue at it Again.
BetIefonfe Gazette.

August 9TH, at Whitenight's Grove,
in Columbia county, Treasurer Berry
made a speech from which we quote as
follows:
"If you want to have the politics of
the State grow better just continue to
keep Democrat in the game. The
people of this State have been buncoed
to the queens taste. have had quite
a job on my hands. | have been busy
at Harrisburg, | had to be with that
kind of crowd They have had your
confidence. You have believed that
what they said to you was the law and
gospel and knowing they had your
confidence they have done many things
they would not have done under other
conditions.
Governor Pennypacker is a good
old fellow. He is honest, and [ don't
believe he has nickel of the money of
which they robbed the State. He be-
lieved that the worst thing that could
happen was the defeat of the Republi-
can party and so he allowed every
thing to be smoothed over.
Governor Stuart and those with
him have the same disease. l am a
member the Board of Public Grounds
anu DulidiHRo. L dID bIl6 OnlN Iu6Cu-
anic on the board and yet when it
came to point the subcommittee and
the heads of the various departments
bearing the mechanics, did not even
get a look in. The gang did the work.
They named the people who should fill
these offices and they are the ones who
were appointed. They are men with
out exception who know nothing of the
offices they fill. All this is going on
under the present administration and
its doing it's duty in the Capitol steal
because it must. With this exception
the some old methods are in vogue at
Harrisburg. If it had not been for the
opening of the lid and the discovery
of these facts the Republican party
would not have had a candidate for
Governor such as Governor Stuart"
So far as the fact stated that fraud
was perpetrated in the furnishing of
the new Capitol, there seems to be but
little doubt. The report of the investi
eating Committee in it's report shows
who were the persons guilty of wrong
doing.
Berry claims for himself all the honor
for ''lifting the lid"
Let us see.
Mr.. Berry went into Office in May
1906. He admits, he discovered that
the State was being defrauded in the
furnishing of the Capitol. AS a Mem
ber of the Board of Public Grounds
and Buildings, he, Notwithstanding his
admitted knowledge of the wrong
being done the state, did approve bills,
and paid out as Treasurer, large sums
of money therefor. He never pretend
ed to protest until he started his fog
horn, about the forepart of October, in
most extraordinary and sensational
manner-purely tor partisan political
effect. Had he been honest in what he
believed to be a fraud committed
against the State, why did he not have
the honesty and manhood to publicly
protest at once? But he was more de-
sirous to make political capital that
might aid in winning a partisan vic
tory. AS a political demagogue, he
was willing to be silent partner to
the fraud that was being committed
under his eyes, and was willing to let
the fraudulent action go on it by so
doing he could use it to political ad,
vantage. He cared more for his party
and its success than he did for his in,
terests of the State and the people.
This "Brick- yard Berry," when prat-
ling about the shortcomings of others
and proclaiming his own honesty,
ought to be honest enough to explain
to the people why the State deposits
were increased in certain bank several
hundred thousGnd dollars, and whether
said increase of deposits had anything
to do with said bank going upon his
bond as Treasurer at whaU was consid-
cred as "a mere nominal charge"
| He might also explain to his hearers,
why said bank became the trustees in
a certain mortgage for $50, 900 on Mr..
Berry's old, dilapidated brick plant,
stated at that time to be worth from
$12, 900 to $4,000. Let him tell the
truth as to these matters before he
boasts so much of his self righteousness
and pharissical honesty.
Before plucking the mote out of his
brothers. eye, let him take the beam
out of his own eye.