The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-02-15

and esteemed, even among those who
were envious of the great strides his
church was making. He was
friend of great men, himself a large
hearted liberal thinker, whose in
tluence will be long lived.
Jubilee Meeting Week.
Harrisburg has finished week of
jubilee meetings, commemorating the
founding of the Women's Foreign
Missionary Society. A number of
missionaries delivered addresses,
there was a Children's Rally, quite
the most successful thing of it's kind
ever held here, a ladies' luncheon
participated in by over thousand of
the enthusiastic gentler sex, and a
subscription, to finish with, of over
$1,000 for missions. While each de-
nomination was represented and had
its own denominations rallies, there
was a wonderful unanimity mani
tested in the general work and the
occasion was marked by great inter
est and enthusiasm.
LincOln's Birthday Celebrated.
Monday being Lincoln's Birthday,
several score of statesmen discours-
ed on the merits of one of the great
est of Americans. Lincoln's life,
works and words formed the text
for addresses, in which the speakers
attempted to point out to the Re-
publican party, and the nation in
general, not only the drift of current
opinion, but the way in which we
ought to travel. The Republican
party is rapidly nearing the place
where it will be a question of pol
or reactionary. No
party can grow on it's past record or
policies, meretorious as they may
have been; new conditions must be
met, new alignments formed, new
principles supported, as they appeal
to the bone and sinew of the party.
The Congressional Situation.
Tht situation in Congress presents
most curious condition of things.
President Taft favors reciprocity
with Canada, to which some power
full Republican leaders are opposed.
A Democratic caucus supported the
Presidents position by the signifi-
cant vote of 80 to %, Champ Clark,
the next Speaker of the House, show
ing great political foresight in lining
up his party correctly on this ques-
ton. AS soon as he saw that the
next House would favor the recipro-
city plan, if the present Republican
House did not, the President noti-
fled the leaders in the Senate that an
extra session would be called to en-
act such a law, if the present Con-
gress failed in that respect. Presto!
a bill favoring reciprocity is at once
reported out by the Ways and Means
Committee of the House
1t would seem strange to see a
Republican President depend upon a
Democratic Congress to enact his
policies into laws but that is among
the possibilities. Will reciprocity,
the tariff, foreign policies, trusts,
income tax, direct vote for U. S.
Senators, abolition of the Electoral
College and law providing for a di-
rect vote for President, with other
National questions, result in a new
alignment, temporary or otherwise?
The Congressional elections last
fall indicated that the people were
dissatisfied, perhaps temporarily,
with the Republican party, and the
Democrats were given an opportun-
ity at making laws. The high cost
of living, a belief that the tariff
should be revised downward, a sus-
picion amounting almost to belief
that the tariff now in force was in
tended to, and did foster and
strengthen certain interests, to the
detriment of the common people,
with other things, swing the politi-
can pendulum to the side of the DEM
ocracy, and the eyes of the country
will be fixed on the next House,
hopefully, but observant, ready to
criticise the first sign of weakness or
impotency. Some history is likely
to be made in the next year or two
Governor Seeks Information.
Governor Tener has surprised his
friends as well as his foes. When
the leaders suggested a Legislative
recess, he quietly caused it to be
known that he did not favor such
plan, and the recess question was
dropped. Many people thought the
lawmakers had not worked hard
enough to need a recess though the
recess was said to be necessary to
find time to formulate and agree on
certain policies. The Governor has
caused inquiry to be made respecting
the attendance of Trustees on the
Boards of State Institutions. Nom
attendance may mean removal at the
end of the term of the appointee.
This is a new move, but a thorough
ly practical one, and to be commend
ed.
Not little comment appeared on
the appointment of County Superin-
tendent, NJ. j. Brecht, of Lancaster,
to the position of State Railroad
commissioner. Mr.. Brecht has al
ways belonged to the Independent
class of Republicans, and was a can
didate for Congress twice against
the regular Republican nominee,
showing considerable strength. His
to this lucrative berth,
with $4,000 year, is credited to the
sagacity of Congressman Griest, who
saw an opportunity to eliminate a
strong antagonist, at the same time
securing for his county an office, to
compensate it for the loss of the
State Treasury, by reason of the
death of Senator Stober. Mr.. Brecht
is an unusually bright man, and
brings to his new position ability of
a high order.
Wayne County Justice.
Wayne county is to be congratu-
lated on the very satisfactory ter