The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-06-27
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Special Correspondence.

Senator Meek's democratic Watch
man, of Bellefonte, opens up a vast
and fertile field for mental speculation
i'm an editorial which might be appro-
priately entitled "The Restoration of
tire Machine 1t refers to the return
to political activity of that element in
the life of corrupt and contented'
Philadelphia which for years had been
Iooting the public in every conceivable
way. 1t recalls the scamper of the
banditti when, two years ago, an at
tempt to steal the municipal gas works
stirred popular Indignation "from CEN
ter to circumference" Harry Rar ley,
III. j. Trainer, /. w. Durham, J. p.
McNichol, j. ii. Klemmer, James l..
Miles. Dave Lane and other notorious
hoodlers and pirates resigned from the
City Committee under the pretense of
withdrawing from party management
in the interest of political morality.
The alert and reminiscent "Watch-
man" recalls the just exultation of the
City Party folk and other reformers
over the triumph of civic righteousness
and their refusal to be fooled at that
time by the palpable false pretense of
the machine managers. They contin-
ued their campaign for official integri-
ty and political regeneration and
through the election of William II.
Berry and their local candidates,
achieved "a most famous victory"
But that accomplished they lost inter-
ast and energy, which was precisely
what the self-eXpatriated crooks eX-
pected, and incidentally forfeited every
advantage which had been gained. At
the election of last fall the Republican
ticket had a substantial majority and
by the vote for mayor in February the
machine restoration was made COM
plete. Ashbridge was no more the
agent of the gang than Reyburn,
BUSINESS AT THE OLD STAND.
1t is small wonder in view of these
iacts that the machine managers have
emerged from their temporary seclu-
5ion and Presumed business at the old
stand" Ransley is again in his place
rs member of the City Committee,
and Trainer and Durhmmand McNich
II and Klemmer and Martin and Lane
md Seeds and the Wares and Berkel-
oach and Costello are answ ring to the
,oll call precisely rs they did before the
little flare up. 1t is no longer necessa- |
" to operate through agents. The
worst of them can now come out in the
open and hold corrupt commerce with
he Captains of Industry and the Mer-
;hant Princes who trade principles
md sacrifice honor for business favors
md tax exemptions
This is indeed an interesting but hu-
niliating subject for contemplation.
The man of wealth and social stand-
ng, the leaders in the professional,
commercial and industrial life of the
metropolis of the commonwealth, are
N league with the boodlers, the ballot
IoX suffers, the promoters of vice and
protectors of crime, to loot the city in
rider that the spoils of the predatory
,perations may be divided among
hem. Can men of such sordid com
nercialism have come from honest
women or are they all alike corrupt
md contented ?" This is question
Il; ;aI I'm mis- N 40 Ia a
nj mind, the answer to which is left to |
.onjecture. No stream is purer or foul |
Gr than its source.
The selection of Dave Lane as the |
official head of this restored machine |
y both logical and appropriate. His
tmprecation on civic righteousness is |
fulfilled. Office holders will again be
lotified that they must stuff the ballot |
BOXES in order to hold their jobs, and |
he white slave traffic, the brothels |
md the speakeasies will find shelter
within the shadow of the city hall. 1t |
is burning shame that such things
IAN be, but they are. The business and
professional men of the city are respon-
ible, moreover. Unless the conscience
# the country districts is aroused to
full measure of resentment this infa-
NOUS criminal conspiracy will work its
purpose.
AIN OF THE UBIQUITOUS COMBINE
The present aim of this iniquitous
combination is the election of John o.
Sheath to the Office of State Treasurer.
Having served the machine as Chair
man of the House Committee on APP
preparations it is confidently believed
chat he will use the State Treasury to
promote the reelection of Boise Penrose
AZ Senator in Congress. They have
neither respect nor affection for Sheatz.
\ man who accepts IA brbe is always
,iespised by the person who paid the