The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-10-24
Chief Clerk Meals Hold-Up.

Chief Clerk Meals Hold-Up.
That all of these employees are ex-
pected to contribute to the campaign
corruption fund Is made plain by a
"hold-up" letter recently issued to
the contractors, inspectors and other
employees of the Highway Depart
ment by Chief Clerk Neal. I'VE are
raising fund to assist the Repub-
lican State committee in paying the
expenses of It's present State cam
paign," he writes to those who are
largely dependent upon him for their
tenure of office. Should you de-
sire to make a voluntary contribu-
ton for this purpose" he continues,
please forward me check as
promptly as possible"
The Highway Department graft
ers are alarmed at the prospect of
Harman's election. They know that
there will be no interruption of
work in roadbuilding, for Mr.. Har-
man, In the Legislature and out. is
and has been one of the most enthus-
iastic advocates of good roads. But
If he is elected the grafters in the
Highway Department will have
troubles Of their own" He won't
have power to remove inefficient or
venal officials or agents of the De-
partment. But he will have the
right to compel the fulfillment of the
law and the proper performance of
the work and every man concerned
understands that he will exercise
that right.
The other departments are also
more or less concerned on the sub
1ect. At least the fat frying" has
been extended to all the departments
and men are held up for "volun-
tary" contributions on every part Of
the palace of graft" except in the
Office of the State Treasurer. Chair
man Andrews collectors know that
there Is nothing to be got there for
them and State Treasurer Berry will
not indulge In that most contempt
ible of all forms of robbery. The
election of Harman will go a long
way toward a stop to that canker in
the ofiicial life of the Commonwealth.
Rumor of Anti-Penrose Detection.
There Is an interesting rumor cur
rent In political circles now which
has come out of the center of the
anti-Penrose Republicans of the
State. This force Is an important
element In the party's voting
strength. and 1t reasons that the
easiest and best way to eliminate
Penrose from the political equation
would be to forget to vote for Sheath.
Penrose nominated Sheath not out of
love for Sheatz but with the idea Of
promoting his own interests. II
Sheath is elected Penrose will be
strengthened because all the patron
age of the office, appointments as
we'll as deposits, will be employed In
his behalf. The defeat of Sheath, on
the other hand, will not only deprive
Penrose Of these potent influences,
but 1t will imply condemnation of
Penrose's policies and management.
Naturally good many of Penrose's
enemies in the party look with fav-
or upon a proposition to adopt this
easy way Of effacing Penrose.
There Is no doubt that the cleo
ton of Sheath will make Penrose in
vincible. Ever since the death OF
Quay those who are opposed to Pen
rose have been complaining of his
incapacity for leadership and his
proneness to laundering. His sue
cess in rescuing the organization
from desperate situations. however,
is a constant refutation of such
charges. 1t may be gravely doubted
If Quay could have saved the party
last year II Is known that he was
irretrievably committed to the nom
ination OF Colonel Watres of Scran-
ton for Governor and Watres would
have been skinned a mile" Quay
never encountered such a per1lous
situation as the capitol scandal put
up to Penrose this year. He was
equal to the emergency last year and
II he succeeds again this year the
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