The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-08-15
no punishment for these colossa
crimes or restitution.
GOOD CHARACTER INADEQUATE.

4
crimes or restitution.
GOOD CHARACTER INADEQUATE.
No man will question the person
al integrity of Senator Fisher. SEN
ator Sission enjoys the confidence
of the community in which he lives
and Representatives Fair and
Shields are held by their neighbors
as models of good citizenship. Yet
for the purposes of political expe-
diency, according to evidence which
comes from the seat of the Com
mission, they were willing, and
even anxious, to make such a re-
port of their prolonged and arduous
research, as would have made the
investigation a farce. In other
words without even the suspicion
of moral turpitude these excellent
gentlemen would have become ac-
cessory, after the fact, to one of the
greatest crimes of the age in order
to promote the interests of the par
ty at the expense of the public.
Their purpose has been defeated,
it may be said, though at this writ
ing the text of their report has not
been made public But we have
assurances that they have yielded
to the opportunities of the minority
and consented to recommend the
prosecution of the malefactors.
That they haven't come to this
conclusion cheerfully may easily be
believed. Kind hearted men are
reluctant to give their friends over
to justice however palpable their
guilt and a proper report involves
such abnegation on their part. But
they had no alternative. The mi
nority members of the Commission
refused to compromise and under
the circumstances a white washing
report would have done their party
more harm than good. 1t would
have destroyed all pretense of inn
proved party morals.
POINTING A USEFUL MORAL.
am discussing this question
now not for the purposes of argu-
mentation or filling space, but with
the idea of pointing a useful moral.
The good effect of minority repre-
sentation on the fiscal boards of the
State has been shown by Mr.. Ber-
rvs exposure of the graft i'll the
construction of the capitol. The
impossibility of preventing graft
when the fiscal boards are compos-
ed entirely of men of the same par
ty is proved by the delinquencies of
Samuel w. Pennypacker, William
p. Snyder and the weakness of the
Republican members of the Inves-
tigating Commission. That is to
say that the records of these events
demonstrate that there must be
member of the minority party pres
ent to secure honest public service.
Nobody, so far as I know is iu-
clined to question the personal in
tegrity of the Machine Republican
candidate for State Treasurer,
though his legislative record is very
vulnerable. But he is neither more
honest nor more courageous than
Governor Pennypacker who prosti-
tuted himself to the full measure of
his opportunities. Quay knew Pen
nypacker and Penrose knows the
man he has chosen to fool the peo-
pie. A year ago the machine man
ayers lacked confidence. If it had
been possible then the restoration
of the gang in Philadelphia would
not have been undertaken. But
the Mayor Of that city feels safe
now in condemning fidelity to the
people and openly rewarding SER
vice to the machine.
HARTMAN THE EQUAL OF BERRY.
The good effect of minority rep
resentation having been thus clear
ly shown, why should the people
of Pennsylvania vote to discontinue
it and restore the old methods and
iniquities? The election of the ma
chine Republican candidate for
State Treasurer this year will make
the Board of Public Grounds and
Buildings and that OF Revenue
Commissioners unanimously Re-
publican. The election of the Dem
ocratic candidate, John G. Har-
man, will preserve the present stat
us and put in Mr.. Berry's place
man who is his equal in every re-
spect. Mr.. Harman has ability of
the highest order and courage of
the infexible type. Why not vote
for him, therefore, and complete
the reforms which Berry began?
G.. ID. II.