The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-09-05
SIliATZ HELPED NAGHHIt
His Legislative Labor in
the Interest Of Vicious
Legislation.
Voted for Press Mueller, Kingston
Water Snake and other Iniquities
During the Session of 1898.
Harrisburg, Pa, Sept. 8, '07.

MS Williams GlONS SpeeCH IdbI
v. the Machine Republican candi-
&. te FOR state Treasurer declared
/ . he had endeavored to enact rev.
eJ, G measures, during the last sess-
To- of the Legislature, so as 10
provide ample funds to pay the sol
d,ers' pensions under the Cochran
act, as amended in the House Com
mittee on Appropriations. The rec
ords show that he never uttered q
syllable In favor of any revenue bill
during the session. During the sess-
ions of 1903 and 1905 he voted
against the revenue bills introduced
by Mr.. Greasy as well as most of the
other reform measures, and his speech
indicates that he proposes to make
q campaign of false pretense.
The truth is that Mr.. Sheath has
little foundation in his legislative
record for the claim that he is a
reformer. He represented differ
ent constituency from that of his
colleagues, Messrs. Ripp and Call,
and was obliged to be more circum-
xpect in some matters. But the
difference was more imaginary than
real. He lodged some votes when
they had the courage to go on rec
ord and he voted with the minority
on a few occasions when his sup
port wasn't needed by the majority.
But whenever the exigencies requir-
= - f.ir
machine as either of the others.
"a little leven levens the lump 1t
is said, and Sheath cut his reform
leven down to the minimum.
Press Mueller the Worst
His first service In the Legislature
was In the session of 1908. The
floodgates were not raised as high
to facilitate the flow of corruption
during that session as In the sess-
Ion of 1905, but 1t was bad enough
and the Republican candidate for
State Treasurer supported all the
very vicious bills. In fact 1t was
during that session that legal means
were provided for the atrocious
WOIh Vi lie ldlcl btoSioh' Al eiAS
-.cious legislation of the session OF
% had been defeated the most In
.itous work of the session Of 1905
aid never have been undertaken.
iquity feeds and fattens on vice
the legislation Of 1903 made
.aat of 1905 possible.
Probably the most far-reaching In
iQuity of tho session of 1903 was
the Salus- Grady 'press-muzzler."
The prosecution Of the late Senator
Quay in the criminal courts Of Phila-
delphia, inspired that evil measure.
He escaped conviction by pleading
the statute of Limitation. If he had
been convicted sentence to the
penitentiary would have been inevi-
table and likely he would have died
there. Small wonder that he was
appalled, by the peril that confront
ed him. He blamed the newspapers
for his troubles and his dangers. II
they had been less honest, less
enterprisins and more amenable
to those mysterious influences"
through which Quay controlled con-
ventions. there would have been no
criminal prosecution Of Quay for vio-
lating the laws and the constitution.
When Quay emerged from the
criminal court. with the shadow OF
the penitentiary hanging over him,
he declared war on the newspapers.
He publicly boasted that he would
"clip the journalistic wings" 80 t.
speak, at any expense in money and
trouble. The Salus-Grady libel law
was the spawn of this mad passion.
He and Pennypacker together evolv-
ed 1t from their brains, and Grady
and Salus, shameless machine servi-
tors, introduced 1t into the chambers
IN which they respectively served.
1t was the crowning infamy of legis-
lative history. It was so atrocious
Legislators regarded 1t as froth
from the mouth Of victim of rabies.
Dragooning Legislators for Muzzler.
But It was no joke, so far as the
machine managers were concerned.
II wasn't forced to immediate con-
sideration. Time was allowed to re-
cover from the shock which It's first
appearance caused to the public con-
science. Then the screws were put
on, Charity appropriations were
threatened. Private interests We're
menaced. Political hopes were blast
ed. Every conceivable agency was
invoked to cajole and coerce Sen
ators and Representatives to the sup
port of the measure. Two Senators,
themselves owners and editors of
newspapers. made pitiable objects,
as they cast their forced votes for
the self-stultifying iniquity. Others
blushed with shame as they obeyed
the orders of the boss.
Nobody misunderstood the purpose
and purport of the measure. The
venerable Thomas V. Cooper, for
years a trusted and safe leader OF
the party, in burning periods and
impassioned eloquence implored the
bosses to abandon their nefarlous
purpose. No more eloquent or i'm,