Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-01
PetiKc4 l.
Ps't~o4eeo~in
By the Ex-Conmitteeman

Appointment of Public Service
; Commissioner Samuel NJ. Clement,
, Jr., for the ten-year term following
the end of the tenure of Commission
er James Alcorn and the selection
r of James S. Benn, Philadelphia
newspaper man, to fill out the two
, year term vacated by Mr.. Clement
on his promotion, which were an
nounced from the Governors office
late yesterday, are regarded as pure
: ly personal appointments. Mr.. Glenn
ent is close personal friend of Gov
ernor William G. Sproul, while Mr..
, Benn is generally believed to have
been named through the influence
of Attorney General William 1.
SChaffer. He is credited with having
: done much to set the Philadelphia
, North American in line for Sproul
in the primary campaign.
The dropping of Mr.. Alcorn was
not unexpected at the Capitol. He
was named July l. 1918, by DR.. Mar
, tin G. Brumbaugh for a six-year
term and his tenure ends with to-
day. He was former city solicitor of
Philadelphia and close personal
friend of Edwin s. Stuart. He was
lregarded as a Ware man. He has been
one of the most active commission
ers and handled many water and
traction cases, some OF which have
!, not been finished. He was in con-
isultation with his colleagues yester-
day afternoon when the word of the
changes came and was greatly sur
lprised. but gra acefully accepted the
fortunes of politics.
The shake-up is the second to
occur in the commission since the
Sproul term began. Two Brumbaugh
lappointees, NJ. J. Ryan and William
\. Magee, were dropped February II
for 5. Ray Shelby and Mr. Clement.
Judge H. NJ. Mcclure. who died re-
Gently, was named on that date. He
was succeeded by Judge John w.
/ Reed. of Clearfield. With Mr.. Benn
| Governor Sproul has named four
CommlsSloners' although in Office
| only half a year.
MIR. Benn's appointment makes |
two laymen on the commission. All
others except Commissioner Milton |
! =. Brecht are attorneys. Mr.. Benn
| mas been in newspaper work a long
time and years ago travelled with the
Attorney General on campaign tours.
He has been a frequent visitor here
since the Sproul administration be-
gan.
engaging the attention of many
newspaper editors, most of whom
are frankly curious as to what is
gong TO happen to Palmer, McCor-
| mick, Guffy and the rest of the
reorsanization bosses. The recent
dinner to Attorney General Palmer
at scranton and the visit of the chief
law officer to Bedford when the State
Bar Association was meeting were
neither such big events as forecast.
The Philadelphia Press saws
eoltorlally in this connection: AT
lorhey General Palmer gets his
PRESIDENTIAL boom started in Scran-
ton. We should be very well salts
fed to see our Democratic friends
make him their candidate next year.
II Tor no other reason than to shat
ter the everlasting talk that no
! pennsylvania Democrat is availa BILE
{ because he could not carry the State.
and no Republican availa BILE because
any Republican can carry il
That kind of logic may do for the
politicians, but the people in general
want the best in candidates. and
right here in Pennsylvania is the
place to get them"
Here is an interesting Demo-
cratic view of the anti-sedition bill
which until it became a law attract
ed national attention and got much
editorial comment. The Philadelphia
Record, the States leading Demo-
crat daily says: Governor Sproul
Will be commended by law-loving
citizens everywhere for placing the |
anti-sedition law, which received
his signature yesterday, on the
statute books. There is no danger of |
any law passed by any Legislature
prohibiting or halting free speech of
! the kind guaranteed by the Consti-
tuition. There has been lacking in
Pennsylvania a law to check and
punish some of those who have
/ abused free speech, and who have
| taken advantage of this fact to at
tempt to discredit the Government.
If the new law meets the need long
felt to deal with the comparatively
few to whose kind of speech it will
| apply ii is well that it has been
adopted in Pennsylvania, as it should
be in every State"
The campaign in Philadelphia
has already started. The newspapers
are talking of various men for mayor
and the Evening Bulletin after men,
tioning several men says: "If this
| lO"H ever itGuGu tic may OTdllN
a first-rater in point of common
sense, square-toed honesty, and a
good working knowledge of munich
| pal affairs and of the people at large.
! he will be needed there after the
end of this year Within a few
weeks, the period during which
nominations for the primary cleo
| ton in September will be made will
come to a close, and it is now time
| for wIde-awake and healthy public
sentiment to get into action for the
! production of candidates who will be
something more than either faction
al creatures or ornamental stuffed
/ shirts
| What the Bulletin says is true of
some other cities it might be said in
| passing.
The Pittsburgh GaZette-Times
! in the course of an editorial on
state support for State College urges
{ more attention to farming. saying
Tho producers OF our foods have
| been shown that at paratlvely
slight expense the millions OF acres
| ot Pennsylvania lorg since aban-
doned as useless for agriculture may
be made to yield abundantly and
with large profit to the husband
man. There is no necessity for our
| people, tired of urban existence and