The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-07-11

I III
tablets known as Sarsatalos. 100 doses 81.
by the people. Moreover, the Execu-
tive Department is administered MAIN
ly by boards. For example the Audi
tor General and State Treasurer are
members of the four most important
boards and have equal voice with the
Governor on each of them. These are
the Boards of Revenue Commissioners,
Sinking Fund Commissioners, Public
Grounds and Buildings and Public Ac-
counts. While the majority of those
, boards determine their actions, the mi
nority, if there is n minority, serves as
n check against eXcesses of all kinds.
The majority will not indulge in prof
lgacy or other iniquity if the minority
is ready to expose such acts to public
eXecration. If Mr., Berry had not de-
nounced the Capitol graft it would still
be in progress and the people ignorant
of crimes against them. Because of this
he believes the election of Democrat
to succeed him essential to complete
reform.
( The Democratic State convention lit
orally fulfilled the condition which Mr.,
Berry regards as essential. Hon. John
u. Harman whom it nominated for
State Treasurer is a Democrat who rep
resents the best traditions of the party.
More than that he is an able, agrees
i've and active reformer. A lawyer of
the highest standard, citizen of the
best type, he will take into the Office
not only an adherence ofvenality, but
the courage and ability to assail it.
During the session of the Legislature
of 1905 he denounced the iniquities of
the Republican machine in most scath-
ing terms. He was almost prophetic,
moreover, in his arraignment. After
summarizing the vicious legislation for
which that organization was response
bic, he predicted an awakening of the
public conscience and the scourging of
the machine. Within two months the
prediction was fulfilled. The activities
of the conspirators were transferred
from Harrisburg to Philadelphia and
the attempt there to steal the gas works
and bestow that rich inheritance of the
people upon the favorites of the ma
chine was resented with an earnestness
and emphasis which shook the State
from center to circumference. More
than any other influence Mr.. Harman's
speech aroused the public. More than
any other man he was responsible for
the peaceful revolution which rescued
the State from the pirates who were
looting the public. 1t is eminently fit
that he should have been chosen to
complete the triumph of civil right
eousness so well begun by Mr.. Berry.
TION.
No sane man imagines that in the
event of the election of Mr. Sheath
there would be even pretense of pur-
suing the looters to punishment. 1t is
true that since the Inauguration of
Governor Stuart, something like an
earnest investigation has been i'm pro-
gress. But that fact is not attributed
to any improvement in the political
morals of the machine managers. 1t is
due absolutely to the presence of Will
liam II. Berry in the important boards
above referred to. Take him out and
the State administration will drop back
into the old methods and evil practices
as certainly and speedily as the munic-
ipal administration in Philadelphia
went back after the election of Mayor
Reyburn. 1t can't be said that Sheath
is better man morally or stronger
man mentally than Reyburn. Why
as far back as the Centennial year Mr..
Reyburn, while serving as Represen-
tative in the Legislature, refused to ac-
cept passes on the railroads, though all
of his colleagues were glad to get them.
Even since he has followed the same
strict lines in his personal and political
affairs. Yet in obedience to the ext
gencies of machine politics he has be-
trayed every moral and material inter-
est of the people and restored the gang
to all its power.
VIII any man who knows Mr.. Sheath
gravely assert that anything different
is to be expected from him? Does any
intelligent observer of his actions in
the Legislature imagine that if he had
ben in Mr.. Berry's place year ago
there would have been any exposure of
the vast frauds which have been per-
petrated. Absolutely and assuredly
no. He would have done precisely as
Pennypacker and DE-. Snyder did.
That is he would have concealed the
facts before the election in the interest
| of party success and afterward i'm be-