The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-09-26
Especial Correspondence.)
Harrisburg, Pa, Sept. II

verbal. When Samuel Salter was
Caught with the goods on him"
few years ago, he took a header"
30 to speak. He went TO Mexico,
the story goes, and remained a fugi-
tive until arrangements for his win
dication" had been completed. At
vast expense In money and morals
john Weaver was elected District At.
torney, defeated candidate who had
proved incorruptible. Then Salter
surrendered to the authorities and
submitted himself to the ordeal OF
trial IN the criminal courts. or
course he was acquitted. The evil
dence OF his culpability was over
whelmng. He had practically con-
fessed his guilt. But the safety OF
those higher up required his &C
Quital and the programme was made
to suit the eyigencies.
When the capital graft investiga-
ton assumed the appearance OF earn
estness, six months ago, Contractor
Sanderson and Architect Huston left
the jurisdiction of the courts and
remained away until arrangements
for their acquittal had been perfect
Ell. Then, following the example OF
Salter, they surrendered. Last week
they turned up in Harrisburg and
gave bail for appearance in the Dau-
phin county criminal court, when
wanted. They will probably be in
oicted during the present session OF
the court. but that Is not certain.
The machine District Attorney Of
that court is already protesting that
the calendar Is crowded with petty
cases which may occupy the whole
time of the Grand Jury. Only those
concerned know exactly the terms OF
the agreement.
The Arrest Colossal Fraud
One thing is absolutely certain,
vever. They won't be tried be-
the election and If the machine
.IAidate for State Treasurer Is sue
siul, it is not likely that they will
tried at all. The issuing of the
S.rrants, the surrender and entering
bonds are the various parts Of a
lIG bluff The arrest Of Auditor
General Snyder and former Superin-
tendent of Public Grounds and Build
ings Shumaker, Is merely an incl
dent Of the farce. It Is the stage
setting of the play which gives veri-
Emilitude to the plot. Sanderson and
huston are insignificant factors In
toe conspiracy The prosecution of
them alone would "be laughed out
od court" The inculpation Of some
of the politicians was necessary to
make the comedy effective. You
cant fool a considerable number OF
people with an obvious humbus.
The purpose Of the thing Is TO
nool the people into the belief that
the Republican machine will purify
itself II 1t gets the opportunity
{ lat II will punish It's own rascals
That would be a strong tax on popu-
hr credulity even II the plans had
heen better laid. The machine has
never punished one Of It's criminals
and never will. Even now the mem-
cry Of Quay Is revered above all
ether party leaders and he would
have died In the penftentiary II he
hadn't pleaded the statute Of hmita-
tons. Every present manager OF the
organization hopes TO zee his monu-
nent erected In the State capitol to
insult the conscience of the common
wealth. There has bees no reform
and there is no contritiou- In fact
there is nothing but false pretsnss
To deceive the people in order that
the looting may be resumed.
Pennypacker the Arch-Conspirntor.
II the purpose had been to cleanse
the Augean stables" Pennypacker
would haye been the flrst man to be
Summoned to the bar of justice. The
charges against all are that they
conspired 10 loot the treasury
through collusion and the misinter-
pretation of the law In disbursing
the funds of the State. It was Pen
pypacker's Interpretation Of the law
that was adopted. II was he who
said that the act authorizing the
Board of Public Grounds and Build.
Tags to furnish, alter, repair or I'm
PROVE" conveyed the authority to
complete the building notwithstand.
ing the specific inhibition contained
IN the General Appropriation bills OF
1901, 1903 and 1905. But he finds
ample shelter In his relationship tc
Quay and secures immunity from tht
humiliation of arrest.
There would be no cause of com
Ilaint In the arrest of Auditor Gen
eral Snyder and State Treasurer
Nathues n there was even the shad
CIV of hope that 1t is genuine
effort 10 punish malefactors and en-
force restitution of the golden treas
ure But there Is no such purpose
The machine candidate who helpe'
~ create the legislation unde
which the looting was made possible
VIII not aid any movement to punisl
the criminals II successful. The
tre all active In supporting HIS can
didacy. They are anxious for hi
election and he will favor them afte
the event If 1t occdrs. notwithstand
Ing his promises of improvement
now. A leopard can't change hi
spots and a machine politician neve
hetray-5 his friends, Quay taugh
the doctrine of honor among crooks
Nr. Sheatz's Recreancy Revealed.
The legislative work OF Mr.. Sheats