Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-30
Pet;tsc4 L.
Pess~eqesa~ia
By the Ex-Committeeanan

Newspaper comment upon the
Legislature which has just ad-
Journed is generally favorable, al
though a few Democratic news
papers take shots at it for political
reason. The Pittsburgh Post, for
instance, gives it a good old fash
ioned Democratic scolding while the
Philadelphia Record makes some
comments on extravaganza which
have a familiar ring but are not
tinged with the mean spirit which
permeates the remarks of a certain
inland Democratic daily on the sub
ject.
In the main the thought of Gov
ernor Sproul in his praise of the
record of the General Assembly in
the precedent making good-by ad-
| dress seems to have been also in
the minds of the editors. The Leg
! islature of 1919 is regarded in spite
of the lengthy session as having a
respectable list of achievements and
most of them of solid political
value. Barring men who slipped in
regard to liquor and some other
| legislation the average man who sat
in the session will not have so much
to explain and most of the men can
! go to bat for reelection on their
records.
! The Philadelphia Public Ledger.
one of the most independent news
| papers in the State, voices objec-
| tion to the length of the session,
but says: There can be no doubt,
that while credit is due to the Leg
! islature of 1919 for many important
] acts, that credit must be shared
! with the tactful and experienced
! politician in the gubernatorial chair.
! The ratification of the two Federal
| amendments to the constitution,
| the Philadelphia reform legislation,
| the Strengthening of the workmen's
! compensation system, the further
| ance of the road-building program
and provision of the increase of
| teachers salaries were all signal
| achievements. Less conspicuous in
the news, but none the less import
ant, were the measures reorganiZing
and simplifying the machinery of
| the State Government, and these
owed their inspiration chiefly to
| Governor Sproul."
The Pittsburgh Gazette Times,
at the other end of the State, praises
the legislative record but says edi-
torially; "A lot of fuss at the end
might have been avoided had the
/ Legislature worked earlier. The
teachers salary raiser has been
passed. Ais we'll that ends we'll"
An interior view is presented
| by the Altoona Tribune, which says:
During the session the relations
between all the servants of the peo-
| pie have been remarkably pleasant,
| the chief disturbing feature being
| the factional outbreak by Senator
Ware and his adherents. 1t is be-
| lieved that the ultimate result of
the session will be for the welfare
of the Commonwealth and the more
effective administration of the Gov
! ernment."
-Williamsport, Erie, Wilkes
Barre and other up State papers
also see much good accomplished
but Scranton newspapers COM
ments are tinged with regret at the
| failure to- solve the mine cave"
problem.
The Pittsburgh Chronicle-Tele-
graph, one of the conservatives in
the matter of editorials, says Gov
ernor Sproul "emerges from the
| session with conspicuous credit for
wise, progressive leadership"
The political side of the session
| is summed up by Odell Houser in
| the Philadelphia Press in the course
of which he records that there were
| several developments, saying THE
| first is recording of the phenom-
enon of the complete collapse of
real Democratic leadership. There
are not a great many Democrats in
either branch of the Assembly, and
the few there, are divided into two
camps, the Penrose Democrats and
the real Democrats. The former
work hand in glove with the Re-
| publicans and the latter do not
seem able to work against them.
That makes it nice for the Repub-
licans. 1t is a real evil, however,
so far as the Independent voters of
the State are concerned, for it means
the obliteration and an active and
effective minority party"
Governor Sprouts selection of
Judge Joseph P. McCullen for the
vacancy on the Philadelphia bench
seems to have been acceptable to
everyone except a certain Gems or
! ious Democratic newspaper which
need not be named. The Philadel-
phia Press says the new judge has
"all the proper qualifications" the
Inquirer calls it IAN admirable Sc
lection" the Bulletin says it should
give general satisfaction" and the
Public Ledger says it was an Eek
cellent appointment"
Northeastern Pennsylvania
newspapers have received with en-
thusiam the announcement of the
appointment of Former Congress-
man Thomas w. Templeton as Sup
erintendent of Public Grounds and
Buildings. Luzerne and Lacka-
wanna journals irrespective of party
affiliation hail the Governors choice
as an exceptionally good selection.
THE Governors choice will be
an especially acceptable one to the
thousands of Mr.. Templeton's
friends, who recognize in him an
able man for the post" says the
Wilkes-Barre Record. THE good
natured, whole-souled Plymouthite
will undoubtedly make a success OF
the position and will have the hearty
cooperation of his subordinates
simply because it is impossible not
to be inspired by his genial pres
ence." The Wilkes-Barre Evening
News says, 'Templeton will make
good, of course, for he doesn't fail
in anything he undertakes. He is
to be congratulated as is Governor
Sproul, who up to the present has
picked fine timber for his cabinet
The Scranton Republican comments
on Templeton's acquaintance and
popularity in Lackawanna county
saying among other things: HE has