Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-05-07
PeeiEca In
Pe~~eqeOaI@
BY tho Ex-Comlnittecman


became the fifty-fifth man to hold
the office of State Treasurer of Penn
sylvania, is a member of family
which has been prominent in the
politics of PENNSYLVANIA in the hast
twenty years. He is Cambria
countian and a self-made man. One
brother is Judge John Kephart, of
the Superior Court, and another is
captain in the United States army.
The new treasurer was elected by
majority of over 21 5000.
The office of Treasurer of Penn
sylvania dates from 1777, in which
troublous year David Rittenhouse
was made the treasurer. From that
year to 1874, when the new consti-
tuition went into effect, the Legisla-
ture elected the treasurer. Thirty
two men held the office under that
plan. Since 1874 twenty-five men
have been elected treasurer by the
people or appointed to fill vacancies.
Treasurer Kepharts father was a
soldier in the War of the Rebellion
and at an early age he entered the
McAllisterville Soldiers Orphans
Home, Juniata county. At the age
of sixteen he left this school and
secured employment as a worker on
the Pennsylvania railroads tracks.
Promotion followed promotion till
finally he reached the position of To-
comotive fireman, which he filled for
number of years. Next he was
made a locomotive engineer on the
Pennsylvania and afterwards, in or
der to secure better run, changed to
the Baltimore and Ohio. For twelve |
years he ran an engine on this rail-
road. In 1894 Mr.. Kephart was
elected to the Legislature, but retired !
after the session of 1895 and at once |
entered vigorously into the business
life of his adopted city, Connellsville,
Fayette county. Soon he was con-
nected with a bank as director and
later assisted in organizing a trust
The Senate elected Mr..
Kephart its chief clerk in 1907. This
was brought about through the in
fuence of Senator William E. Crow,
the Republican State chairman, who
had been for years previously and is
still. the potential Republican leader
Of Fayette county. Crow welded
his greatest influence in the city OF
where he resided, while
Kephart was equally strong in the
other Fayette county municipality,
A few years before
Crow and Kephart were on opposite
political sides and the story is that
kephart fought so hard and success
fully that Crow decided to make him
his leading county lieutenant.
Quite a number of State officials
and legislators who went to the
Treasurer Kephart conplimented
Robert K. Young, the retiring State
Treasurer, upon his administration,
which was in the expression of a
of callers admirably con-
Quoted" and without any circus ac-
compartments.
-Ex-Judge A. L. Shay has sue
ceeded Auditor General Charles A.
Snyder as county solicitor in Schuyl-
kill county. The salary is S1,SOO a
year.
Representative James 6. Dell, of
chairman of the Rural
Members League, is said to have
senatorial aspirations. Blair county
has the senator now.
Representatives r. ]. Graeff, of
Quinton T. Reitzel, OF
and S. A. Whitaker, OF
three lawyer members
of the House. and officers of the Ma
tional Guard. may be in active ser
vice with the Guard before the end of
the month.
There is little probability of a
special election for senator being
held in Schuylkill county.
Lieutenant Governor McClain is
quoted in the Philadelphia North
American as urging that Roosevelt
be sent to France with a division.
w. Frank Mohr, former member
of the Legislature from the Reading
City district and a member of the
Troop during the Span
ish War, died yesterday at his home
in Reading. Mr.. Mohr was editor
of the Sunday edition of the Reading
Eagle with which he had been con-
the Spanish War with the local
Troop, he went to the Philippines
with one of the army regiments as an
officer, and on his return resumed
work. He was we'll known
to many here.
In years gone by when deserv-
ing Democrats got jobs on the legis-
lative payroll the demand for econo-
my and reform was not as noisy as
II Is at present. Those who recall
the DAYS of Jesse J. Lybarger, of
"Forgettery'' fame, will read with in
terest the protest" printed this
morning by seekers after campaign
thunder and dealing with the steno-
graphic forces of the two branches.
Democratic State Chairman Nc
Lean seems to be quite canny In
staying away from the Democrats in
the LEGISLATURE. The State chairman
has a perfectly good excuse as he is
liable TO be called for war service at
any moment, but at the same time
he cannot be held accountable for
the sorry showing made by the DEM
ocrats under Market Square leader
shin. Even Acting State Chairman
Joe Guffey keeps away from the Leg
islators and as for Chief of the Ring
masters E. Lowry Humes he is con-
tent to allow the Democrats to be
conducted from the wind
mill.
Columbia county folks have en-
dorsed Judge Evans for reelection
on a "dry" platform.
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