Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-21
"FABRICATIONS," SAYS
GOVERNOR OF CHARGES
(Continued From FYrst Page

hours. Mr.. Baldwin was serenely con-
hdent when asked about his campaign
and said that he would have votes to
spare.
Auditor General-elect Snyder smiled
to-day when asked about the Penrose
charges and intimated he was working
along the same line. Mr.. Sayder is
very active at the Baldwin head
quarters.
The Lycoming county contest is at
traeting attention at the Capitol. as
the certificates went to two Repub-
hcans. The Democratic contestant is
claiming the seat of Clyde Harar.
Representative George W. Williams
sent word here to-day TO friends that
he was in the fight to the finish and
that he would be glad to welcome
members to his cause. Mr.. Baldwin
said that he would be glad to have
Mr.. Williams vote for him.
1t IS said that John P. Gallagher. of
HaZleton, clerk in the Insurance De-
partment, is doing some fishing in the
troubled waters and would be pleased
10 receive the endorsement of the state
administration for Secretary of Inter
nal Affairs next time. There are
others.
Visitors to the Governors Office were
Representatives Miller. Lehigh, who
said he and the Governor did not
1SACNt I-SS oLH4lN, aNGLIe. COOK,
York; Corbin, Mifiin; Gormley,
Beaver, and Rininger, Blair. The lat
ter is strong partisan OF Baldwin
Representative W. NJ. Benninger, of
northampton, was in town. He is a
Democrat and called on Baldwin for
alt friendship" as he put It.
Inquiries in regard to the Local
Option Committee letter favoring Cox
has been made on the "Hill". but no
one here seems to know. much about it.
What the senior senator said Is vari-
ously reported in the newspapers this
morning. Practically all having special
correspondents at Washington give It
iirst page space and IL is regarded as
the sharpest attack yet made upon the
Governor. The Democratic Philadel-
phia Record sums ii UP by saying:
The senator charged that the meth
ods being used against Baldwin SAVIOR
strongly OF bribery and ventured the
opinion that the Legislature may deem
~ wise TO order an Investigation and
that a grand jury investigation may be
invoked The senator announced that
despite the campaign against him.
Baldwin is now assured of election on
the first ballot by at least 10 votes"
This Is the Philadelphia Ledger's ac-
count; Senator Penrose to-day indt-
Gated his view of this situation in Il
brtstling interview given the Public
Ledger correspondent on the subject
He is confident that he will be able to
elect Representative Baldwin Spea ker
and control the next legislature. Pen
rose was very emphatic in his state
ment that the offer Of places to legis-
lators constituted bribery and fur
nished material for legislative inves-
ugation, as we'll as for criminal pro
ceedings before grand Jury.
Baldwin's lineup remains un-
broken throughout the state said SEN
ator Penrose, Every effort has been
used to influence state representatives
TO desert Baldwin, but without sue
cess. Threats of dismissal and dis
charge have been repeatedly made.
and In some cases promises of an
pointments have been rendered repre-
sentatives, which would seem to come
within the definition of bribery, and
are likely to furnish ample material
for legislative investigation, If not for
action In criminal proceedings before q
grand jury on bribery charges.
There never has been in the his
tory of Pennsylvania politics a more
reckless use of the power of patrona ge
to intimidate and coerce the legis-
lators. This is being done in the face
of a personal pledge made in the last
gubernatorial campaign to enact civil
service laws for the state departments.
transfers are contemplated in impor-
tant state offices. removals are threat
ened of tried officials who never have
interfered or participated in politics,
and the last consideration at Harris
burg seems to be the interest OF the
public or an efficient administration.
Desperate political methods are
being ruthlessly resorted to in order to
coerce an Independent branch of the
state government, namely, the Legis-
lature. and destroy It's independence
and usefulness. This course is largely
prompted by a factional contest of
certain ward politicians in PhiladeI-
phia for the purpose OF injuring the
good name of the state, destroying the
efficiency of the government and the
harmony of thelapproaching session.
:" The situation, however. is well un-
derstood throughout the state. and the
contest will go on until the finish, end
Ing in the election OF Baldwin as
Speaker by a substantial majority of
the Republican members on the first
ballot. The result of the election will
show that the people are fully alive to
the politics operating and that they
resent the methods which have been
employed"
16 HURT IN CRASH
pittsburgh, Pa, Dec. 2t. - Sixteen
nQFQn0a Uora in inrad two of =.