Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-31

for years, was mentioned as likely to
so up.
The assumption is that the Attorney
General having been defied in the
Capitol because of his methods will
now proceed to make his organization
effective and no one here would be
surprised at political activity.
How He Resigned
The letter to the Governor was as
follows:
Hon. Martin q. Brumbaugh,
Governor of Pennsylvania,
Harrisburg. Pennsylvania:
My Dear Governor hereby tender
my resignation from the position of
Insurance Commissioner of Pennsyl-
vania, to take effect at your earliest
convenience.
My reasons for taking this step are
set forth in a letter ] have this day
sent to Honorable Francis Skunk
Brown. your Attorney General, copy
of which / herewith enclose.
Respectfully yours,
(Signed) CHARLES JOHNSON.
Letter 10 Brown
The letter to Mr.. Brown read:
Harrisburg. March 80, 1915.
Hon. Francis Skunk Brown,
Attorney General of Pennsylvania,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:
My Dear Sir-I am in receipt of the
following letter on the stationery of
your department, bearing date of
March 21. 1916:
Hon. Charles johnson,
"Norrstown, Pa:
MY Dear Sir-I beg to suggest the
importance of obtaining declarations
or interviews from the prominent
people of your district who are favor
able to the Governor and the stand
which he has taken for the reuniting
of the party, etc. These, from Re-
publiCans and from Progressives who
left the party and have since re-
turned. will be most effective. They
will be given publicity throughout the
State.
please give this your present,
earnest attention and send such decla-
rations. together with any other mat
ter which you deem to be of interest
and that will be helpful to me-
with assurances of my regard and
good wishes. 1 am,
Very truly yours,
(siened)
"FRANCIs SKUNK BROWN"
Although my name and address
I ,
and the signature is your own, the
letter is plainly mimeographed copy,
and has Doubtless been sent TO every
other State official who responded to
your summons to a meeting held in
the Governors private office at the
Capitol on March 16. Although have
taken an active part in politics for
many years. / have never seen any
thing comparable with that meeting or
with your mimeographed order of
March 21.
The men whom you called together
in the Governors room are paid by the
people of this Commonwealth to trans
act the public business in their various
departments and not to advance the
interest of any man or clique in Penn
sylvania politics.
In spite of that fact, you told us in
so many words that we were holding
our jobs by the grace of Governor
Brumbaugh, and that any one of us
who would not or could not deliver
presidential primaries in May would
find his position with the admins
tration decidedly uncomfortable.
For sixteen years ] have served this
Commonwealth in various capacities
During all that time I have never be-
fore been told that the price of hold
ing office was personal service and not
public service. 1t has never been inti-
mated to me heretofore that the con-
troll of the voters of my county was
what would be expected of me, rather
than the efficient management of the
public trusts placed in my hands.
The presumption shown in attempt
ing to purchase Brumbaugh votes with
salaries paid by the State of Pennsyl-
vania is probably without precedent in
American politics.
desire to inform you that I will
not take such orders. / will not en-
deavor to persuade or inveigle promi-
nent men in my district into making
the declarations l have been asked to