The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-07-11
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Special Correspondence.
Harrisburg, Pa, July 8, 1907.

Harrisburg, IA, july ., 1907.
When State Treasurer William Ii.
Berry declared in his address at the
Democratic State Convention that the
first essential to the completion of the
reforms inaugurated by himself in the
State government is that his successor
shall be a Democrat, he didn't speak in
n partisan sense. If the State govern
ment had been administered, during
recent years, under the auspices of the
Democratic party; if the abuses that
have eliminated in the colossal iniqui-
ties of the Capitol construction had
been organized and sheltered by the
Democratic party, any movement for
Improvement would necessarily have
to come from the Republicans 1t is
one of the accepted truths that no po-
Htical party will purify itself. 1t may
embrace men of the highest character
for probity and honor. But when its
acknowledged leaders abandon them
selves to corruption, there is no possi-
BILE chance of the rank and file of the
party controlling it in the interest of
virtue.
Mr.. Berry who is profound student
If affairs had these facts in mind when
he made The significant declaration
quoted. He knew that the political
history of this and all other countries
proves this proposition and that his
own recent experience had vindicated
the accuracy of history. When he came
into the administration of the State of
Pennsylvania a trie more than a year
ago, all his colleagues III the work were
protesting reform. They had been re-
Duked by his election and they profess
ed to understand and approve the ac-
ion of the people But they didn't
join in his plans of reform or aid in his
efforts at improvement. On the con-
trary they tried to deceive him into ac-
quiescence in their iniquiJies If he
had been of their political faith, hon
est and earnest as he was, they would
have succeeded. Party loyalty, fideli-
ty to party leadership and that subtle
torce which appeals to all men, ambi-
ton, iwould have combined to make
him yield and he would have gone
along"
No man who has not had the per-
sOnal experience can realize the poten-
ey of the power of party organization
when it is brought to bear on man
who has been favored by it, The ca
-eer of former Governor Samuel w.
Pennypacker exemplities this. Before
entering upon that office he had served
swelve years on the bench and was
Known as Il man of the most uncom-
promising probity. He abhorred all
lorms of iniquity and hated all kinds
Of venality. But when he was brought
face to face with the monster he de-
Tested what did he do? Did he spurn
and denounce it as an intolerable evil?
Not by large majority. He dallied
with it, tried to conceal the truth con-
cerning it and finally became accessory
uter the fact TO every crime commit
ed by Architect Huston and Coutrac-
tor Sanderson. He has fallen from his
high estate and it may be doubted if
any intelligent man in commonwealth,
conversant with the circumstances,
would believe him under oath today.
MINORITY PRESENTATION THE POINT
What Mr.. Berry really meant, there
fore, was that in order to complete the
reforms which have been begun the
mi Iority party in the State must be
represented in the administration of
the government Like the Federal
government, the government of Penn
sylvania is divided into three co-ordi-
nate branches, executive, legislative
and judicial. There is mistaken no.
ciOn in the popular mind that the Gov
ernor is the Executive Department.
That is far from the fact. The Execu-
live Department consists of the Cover
nor, Auditor General State Treasurer,
secretary of Internal Affairs and what
are commonly called the Cabinet offic-
ais. The Governor is responsible for
the actions of those he appoints to of
ice, but not for those who are electt d