Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-09
GROWS WEARY OF
CONSTANT ABUSE
DR.. John Price Jackson Comes
Back at Critic With Force
full Rejoinder

Many good citizens of Pennsylvania
are growing weary of the constant
abuse of the State by uplifters and
others who have no knowledge of what
is really being accomplished in the
various activities of the Common
wealth. At the Americanization meet
mgs in Washington last week a promi-
nent immigrant worker of national
reputation made some sighting and
scathing remarks about the alleged
shortcomings of Pennsylvania with re-
gard to its alien population. 1t so hap
pened that DR.. John Price Jackson. the
Commissioner of Labor and Industry,
was present and he came back at the
criticism with forceful rejoinder.
Mrs. Semple. of the Pennsylvania In
dustrial Board reported, after attending
meeting a few months ago of the
American Association of Political and
Social Sciences in the West, that the
general attitude of those present con-
cerning Pennsylvania. particularly of
her treatment of industrial regulations.
was benighted. Mrs Semples strong
address was in itself refutation of such
an attitude. Something over a year
ago, at large national gathering on
the employment problem in Philadel-
phia, the head of great Pennsylvania
charitable organization, who had been
imported to his position from a west
sylvania to shreds and stated in effect,
that our Commonwealth was the black
est spot on the map of the nation.
shortly before this, at great national
meeting held also in Philadelphia on
workmen's accident compensation, the
primary theme of a number OF the
prominent speakers from New England
and the western States, was the rot
tenness of our Commonwealth. On that
occasion DR.. Jackson again had an op-
portunlty to cram the words of these
gentlemen down their throats.
This kind of attitude toward Penn |
sylvania is to be found in scores of
great nationwide gatherings attended
by really influential leat1ers of the best
clements of our people throughout the |
nation and in a woefully large num-
Der of such cases the attitude is al |
lowed to stand unchallenged. This con-
dition of affairs is not only unjust to
our great Commonwealth and it's peo-
pie, but is a serious impediment to its |
best growth, prosperity and health |
Those who would bring business to our |
State have been deferred by reason of |
the often unchallenged and untruthful |
attacks upon us. 1t appears that one |
of the greatest weaknesses of Penn |
sylvania is that of permitting those
who are ignorant of our great State (
to thus blacken us without taking |
active and fearless steps to make the |
s.
we are quiescent to such an extent |
that, under attack, we actually seem |
to side with those who are belittling |
and blackening us.
Certainly we have no excuse for this |
weakness. AS Commissioner jackson
pointed out, Pennsylvania did more than
her share in the Revolution; she did |
more than her share in the Civil war; |
she has built UP quietly the most pros |
porous effective and useful industrial
organization to be found in any of the |
States in the Union. She has absorb !
ed into her citizenship, during recent |
years, approximately fifty per cent. of |
those of foreign birth, and has done 1t |
SO wei that 1t has not injured her de-
Nelopment or the character of her peo-
pie. She has taken a mountainous
country, and by unremitting industry
and bone labor has made 1t one of the
greatest agricultural States of the
Union. There are few farms abandon
ed, because, unlike those of some other
States, Pennsylvanians for generations
have not been too lazy to pick the
stones and have not robbed the soil of |
its natural fertilization. She has great |
natural resources and the beauties of |
the mountains and streams are unsur-
passed in the Union. Her people are
kindly and generous.
Indeed. Pennsylvania by reason of the |
conscientious uprightness and patriot
ism of her people by their energy and
industry. and by reason of her natural
resources, has always been a real bull
Wark and keystone of stability among
the States of the Union. Moreover, she
VIII continue to be so during the
struggle which we are possibly enter
ing into. 1t will be Pennsylvania
which will more than any other State
furnish the sinews whereby we will
lead the world from the clutches. of
barbarism to plane of high bu-
manity and universal peace. Why should /
any Pennsylvanian remain uuiescent /
under the ignorant, churlish and selfish L
attacks OF those who, for sensational or
personal advantage, would do her in.
jury?