Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-26
THE DEVIL THE UMPIRE

TNHAT patriotic reformer and astute
i aneelerator OF progress. Francis
"shrunk' Brown, being keenly alive TO
the honor Of the State, is sure that cer-
tain facts should not be paraded. but
for myself do not intend to lot pass
unresehted the scurrllous attacks upon
the Administration by men who have
not the civic spirit to create, but who
are ever willing and ready for the sake
OF financial and political advantage to
destroy"
Let the plot proceed. Listen, citizens,
10 the Attorney General;
II Senator Penrose wishes to
investigate and enlighten our people
] will help him, and the record OF
him and his allies from my knowl-
edge Will raise such q stencil that the
people will have little nose for aught
else. have long kept silent upon
the past OF SOME OF these men who,
though guilty OF all the crimes IN the
political calendar, are now quick TO
attack, but N the time should now be
ripe 1 can tell Il real story.
Mr.. Brown is on truthful ground, He
Is, indeed. in possession OF facts the pub
lication OF which would cause men every.
where to hold their noses. He was in
possession of these facts two years ago,
when he hid them, as he Is hiding them
now, and did what he could, In addition,
to delude the voters OF this Common.
wealth into voting for Boles Penrose.
Arc we wrong In this characterization?
Why, Mr.. Brown himself confesses It
further on in his statement. Listen;
II was common rumor about tho
Capitol during the last session of the
Legislature that Grundy and his
associates had raised n large sum OF
money to aid in the election of Pen
rose to the United States Senate, and
that the reward was to be the defeat
of the Brumbaugh program Of pro.
gressive legislation.
Mr.. Brown is the Attorney General or
this great Commonwealth. There is in
tho statute books a corrupt practices act.
That act was violated. monstrously vic.
lated, as Mr.. Brown says and as Mr..
Brown knows, during tho 1914 campaign,
but Mr.. Brown, a sworn officer of the law,
does nothing except talk, and he would
not be doing that unless factlonal pur.
poses demanded It.
He does not daro do anything else, for
is he not himself in the Cabinet of
Governor who, It is alleged, violated that
same corrupt practices act by transfer
ring to his private bank account funds
contributed for campaign purposes?
There is enough dirty linen to go
around. For all the washing, unofll.
cially, that Mr.. Brown can do. Senator
Penrose and his gang can find balance.
ful to hang from the front windows. 1t
would do the public conscience good to
get view of all OF It. But 1t won't,
These fiery rivals do lot OF barking,
but the toes OF all alike freeze when n
real exposure OF the actual facts is con-
templated.
Yet we could wish that each side. in a
spirit of public decency, would quit
parading under holy banners, Why not
at least nvow that the fight is q pursuit
OF tho fieshpots and nothing more? That
would simplify matters and even soothe
the feelings OF tens of thousands of good
citizens who are indignant that gangs OF
political adventurers, Varieties on one side
and Penroseltes on the other, should be
parnding through the public prints with
magpie wings glued to their spotted
shoulders. in the ridiculous expectation
that they win be mistaken by a gulllble
public for angels, Each would steal
the livery OF heaven to play pinochle
with tho other on an asbestos platform,
the devil being the umpire and the desti-
nies OF Pennsylvania the stake.