Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-01-13
PAY THE DEBT IN
CASH, ADVISES MEEK
Democratic Editor Recommends
That wilson Thus Wipe Out
His Indebtedness to Palmer

P. Gray Meek, for many years sec
retary Of the Democratic State Com
rnittee. and one of the best known
newspapermen in Pennsylvania, is re-
ceiving many letters of felicitation on
an editorial in his newspaper, the
Democratic watchman.
This illumination against the leader
ship of A Mitchell Palmer seems to
have acce1tuated the factional differ
ences in the State Democracy.
Pay the Bill in Cash" is the head
line OF ths editorial which is supposed
to voice the feelings of the "Old
Guard" sgainst the leader of the "re-
organizes"
This Il, what Editor Meek, who was
Surveyo- of the Port of Philadelphia
during Cleveland'S second term wrote:
"Somsthing ought to be done by
the Democrats of Pennsylvania to
discharge the obligations of President
Wilson to A. Mitchell Palmer. The
frequent references to them in the
public prints is scandaious. The pay
ment of personal debts with public
patrd1ege is abhorrent to political
morals and yet whenever a vacancy
occurs In the public service Mr.
Palmer sets up an unsatsfied claim.
Fq example, the other day, according
TO washington dispatches. the Presi-
dint Indicated a purpose to appoint
Dr Comptroller of the Currency a
Rntleman recommended by the Sec
etary of the Treasury.
1T seems that Mr.. Palmer had
candidate for the office as usual, and
upon the announcement that the
president had determined to follow
Ithe ADVICE of the gentleman respons-
lble for the administration OF the Of
nee, Mr.. Palmer's friends set up the
howl that the obligations to him
were being repudiated.
This sounds bad in the public ear
and looks worse in the public eye.
That public Office is a public trust is
an unwritten law in the Democratic
party. Therefore the use of public
patronage to pay the personal or po-
litical debts of the President to Mr..
Palmer or anyone else is an infrac-
ton of moral and political ethics.
But in the case In question Republi-
can papers in Philadelphia and else
where in Pennsylvania, obviously in
spired. declared that an injustice had
been done to Mr.. Palmer
But for him, these newspapers de-
clared, Mr.. Wilson would not have
been nominated and in that event
would have had no patronage to dis
pose of. Why they add, substan-
TALLY, during the balloting in the Bal
umore convention, when a majority
of the delegates had voted for Champ
Clark, Wilson telegraphed to his party
manager. Mr.. McCombs, asking that
his name be withdrawn. But when
Mr.. Palmer saw the telegram he tore
it up and on one of the subsequent
ballots Mr.. Wilson was nominated
The friends of Mr.. Bryan boldly
claim that the nomination of Mr..
Wilson was the result of the Nebras-
kan's mastery management of the
convention and they are justified in
some measure because when Champ
Clark's vote reached the proportions
of majority Mr.. Bryan, though in
structed for Mr.. Clark, deserted him
and started the tide in favor of Will
son., The friends of Mr.. McCombs in
sist that Mr.. Wilson's nominal ton was
the fruit of his splendid management
OF the primary campaign and Mr.
Wilson has given encouragement to
this claim by calling Mr.. McCombs to
the management of the final contest
and praising his ability and fidelity
at every opportunity.
"Other claims have been set up.
more or less well supported and all
the several claimants have received
some consideration. But we don't
glutinous in his demands for recon-
pense or as unwise in the distribution
of the favors which have been be-
slowed upon him as Mr.. Palmer.
For the sake of argument, how
ever, we will admit that President
Wilson is under some obligation to
Mr.. Palmer. Pennsylvania gave him
no electoral votes, it is true. and II
the party in other States had slumped
as it did in this State, the nomination
would have been of little benefit to
Mr.. Wilson. But the laborer is
worthy of his hire and whether Mr..
Palmer appeared in the campaign as
lawyer. lobbyist or simply campbell
lower, he is entitled to his fee.
But the fee should be paid in cash.
Only petty-foggers engage in litiga-
tion on the basis of contingencies.
and Mr. Palmer doesn't want to be
put in that class. For that reason he
ought to be paid a round sum and
the Democrats of PENNSYLVANIA should
pass around the hat and collect the
amount needed to discharge the debt.
This constant repetition of an unset
tied claim is unfair to the President,
humiliating to the party and demoral-