Ambler Gazette

              The Ambler Gazette.
VOL.  XVII.-NO.  6.
AMBLER,  PA.,  JANUARY  19,   1899.
$1.25  A  YEAR
NORRISTOWN   LETTER.
Tha Postofflce and Local Paper. —Hill t*
Compel Jurors to Stand Aside Instead or
the Right to Challenge — Th« tseaa est
Dingley—Senatorial Fights.
Xorristown, Jan. 16.
The prospective removal of the Norristown postoffice from its present dingy
abode in Music hall to tbe Times building gives great satisfaction to us who
are accommodated with a more convenient station,and brings baok to my mind
and memory several localities where
the postofflce has been variously located in the last half century. I remember it at Main and Cherry, at DeKalb
and Penn, at the Odd Fellows' hall and
upon Swede and Airy. But the Times
building is now perhaps the best location that bas ever been selected in the
borough, both hy reason of railroad
communication and of its centre of the
business circle and population. Here it
will be unobstructed by the loungers
that crowd around Music hall, and here
the employes of the postoffice will have
light and air, and yet will be on one
floor,  as before.
The Norristown Times is now one of
the leading local papers of the county,
albeit it takes an undecided position
on politics. It is a little like some
churches I know of: it don't interfere
with one's politics or religion. We have
three daily papers—the Register, representing tne nni-icut Democracy, with
its new coat of iininy colors, anil tbe
Herald the old Whig and Republican
regime, so that with the Timea no
town is better supplied with local pa-'
pen. And all appear tn be well patronized, judging from the indications
at the postoffice and the several news
stands. Norristown is thc home of an
army of readers of newspapers, and
many county papers come here, as well
as city journals.
A move is again made in the legislature to take a wav the arbitrary power of
district attorney to compel jurors to
stand aside instead of exercising the
right of challenge. It was never the
rule or considered the right of the district attorney in this judicial district to
exercise the arbitrary power except in
homicide cases. Our district attorney
has never exercised it in misdemeanor,
nor was it believed 'lift this official had
the right lo do so until a-f»\v years ago
the supreme court ol* Pennsylvania
stretched itself out bv n broad declaration that a juror may be made to stand
aside bv the district attorney till the
whole panel is exhausted! Chief Justice
Paxson went the whole horse, saddle
and bridle and all, on the subject, and
therefore until the supreme court itsejf
reverses itself it is now settled by judicial authority that a district attorney
can st.-ind aside as many jurors as it
may please his fancy and thus annul
the poo-pr of jury commissioners and
the right's of jurors themselves to serve
unless challenged according to the.
statutes relating challenges. There is
no limit to challenges for cause; neither
should there be, for as long as there is
good cause shown for challenge the
right to exercise the challenge cannot
be denied. But to compel a dozen or
two of men to stand aside without assigning any reason makes the men thus
ostracised appear like fools and blockheads.
It is strange, that there is no statute
on this subject. But every emergency,
like every war, brings new revelations
as well as new relations: the war for
the union was followed by constitutions
and statutory laws abolishing the whole
system of slavery and fugitive slave laws;
sod the recent war with Spain will
bring new legislation to the American
nation. We have still many British
statutes in force in Pennsylvania, many
old English laws and law forms. But
many of thc old laws are. harmless compared to the newer or more modern inventions. I took occasion to call attention to n very mischievous little law
enacted in lfinfi,. which requires every
magistrate to docket every criminal prosecution commenced by affidavit filed,
and to certify every felony to court
within live days. This law, if construed strictly and according to the letter
and not. the spirit, costs the state annually millions of dollars. The magistrate
must, be given more discretionary power over petty cases, trifling spite prose;
cntions and suits instituted in anger"
Often times parties after reflections and
a cooling time has intervened become
very sorry for their haste and seek to
get relief from follv bv trying to have
the cases settled without going into
court. Bnt they flnd it costly and diffioult. A good man in the office of burgess or justice of the peace could save
tii.e-j-fClfrty juiuch cost, labor and expense if he had and could exercise
more ample power. Justices do not
always know how to draw the line between a felony and misdemeanor and
have to avoid danger to themselves.
A magistrate will return tbe case to I
court and give himself the benefit of
the doubt. And we cannot blame him.
A fine of $300 and costs must be avert- j
ed, he thinks, so off goes the case to
court within five days.
The American Lawyer, a monthly
journal serving the best interests of
the sound legal fraternity in America
—and I use The word in its continental
eomprehension, for tbis paper circulates through the states and Canada?,—
gives us in the January number much 1
useful information that cannot well be
obtained in the press and political papers of this country. I see in it that
the Christian science people are coming
to the front in prosecutions brought
against them for the violation of laws
enacted in many states to protect the
medipal fraternity from infringements
of their prerogatives, and it is curious
to note the run of the authorities and
statutes now in force against empirics
and charlatans of every kind who seek
to heal, defying the laws of the scientists of tbe p'den school. The law. are
as various as they are numerous.
When Dingley died it was not And-
roscoggin alone that sighed; the whole
Republican party—I speak now in a
sense of a Republican who is also a
Democrat as opposed to the aristocrat,
autocrat or officer of the realm—but
the whole nation felt that a great man
had gone.   Kelson Dingley was a good
lawyer, a good editor, a good citizen, a
strong man, and although he waa voung
In- had worn out his strength ia
arduous labors for the laws he deemed
advisable for our nation. As a statesman he was earnest, sincere, industrious and successful, for be was a man
of action as well as a man of ability
and learning, and always a gentleman
I hope our members of the legislature
will keep us posted us to proposed legislation, and if we can give them anv
assistance I know that as far as the
"Amiller Musette" is concerned it will
be on the right side. I have given my
own views of laws that ought to be
passed and of 1 uvs that ought to he
repealed. Among the latter I place
the abominable ballot bill and all other
laws relating to nominations; 'lie reinstatement of the fence law and the repeal of the act of 1883 compelling justices to return cases to court within
five days. The law constituting school
directors a board of health in every
township would be wise, of course,as I
have heretofore expressed myself. The
legislature may fight over tlie senators
about an idle sentiment as to which
side shall boss, and then there, will be
nothing done but wrangle. The little
state of Delaware is having its usual
circus over the election of United States
senator and a few ambitious politicians
in Pennsylvania, each trying to down
the other, are willing that all lawmaking
may go to perdition, only so that each
one can sav, "I did it. I downed
him." I see some of the papers speak
of the time when Henry W. Oliver,
of Pittsburg was the caucus nominee,
as an ignorant and obscene man. Mr.
Oliver was a prominent business man of
Pittsburg and represented large iron
interests, and was selected for that
office because of his firmness on tbe
tar iff question. Crow hud not been a
conspicuous advocate of a high tariff.
Iron men were coining to the front
and forcing other men off the track for
congress and senators. John Wood, of
Conshohocken, and later Alan Wood,,
of Conshohocken, were sent to congiess
because of their large interest in the
iron business. Grow and Wilmot and
many of that class were laid aside to
gratify these aggressive iron men;
nnd although Oliver and Grow had to
both go under, the state merely got John
I. Mitchell, who was but a country
lawyer after all, just like M. S. Quay.
Let us hope that the question may be
settled as to the succession to the senate
as soon as possible. The state onght
to he represented by a Republican at
once, and he. should be a man in accordance with the president; but if the
maji"iritv can't rule, then elect George
\. Jenks and give the state to the
Democrats, and be done with it. Penrose will keep up this end of the state,
at any rate.
Sunday was a summer day with us,
and following the great storm st Pittsburg it nmy prove ominous of a change
before my letter shall appear in print.
It has been a wonderful year and woeful ; for perhaps never in the history of
the new world hus there been such
suffering and mortality among all classes of men. "OLD FRIEND.
Lifuisdale.
That beautiful production, "The
Mystic Midgets," was witnessed by
crowded houses on Friday and Saturday nights. Every seat in our large
Music hall was taken. The performers
were all composed of onr school children, small and large. Lillie Freed took
the part of "Queen of tlie Fairies,"
and Robert Thomas, son of A. K.
Thomas, was "Prince Obdillous," ruler
of the "Mystic Midgets." Your correspondent wonld suggest that tbe Ambler people should have the show and
see it for themselves. Half the proceeds go to our public schools.
It is now projected to extend a trolley
line westward from here 10 miles to
Harleysville and Lederachville. This
would bring into easy communication
a wide region now left out in the cold,
and would compete with no steam lines.
The Skippack Transcript improves
npon the proposition to urge a further
extension to tbat village and tben across
to Collegeville and ending at Royersford on the Schuylkill. So be it; perhaps the longer the route the better,and
binding the two sides of Montgomery
county by a short cut through a populous region. There will have to be
oceans of talk and a mnltitude of
promises and predictions first and then
some time the thing will be done.
A very large quantity of thick ice
was gathered here on last Thursday and
Friday by three or four parties, who employed ail the men they oould scare up.
In one oase they worked not only all
day, but till 1 o'clock next morning at
tbe rate of IS cents an  hour.
There were 26 deaths in Lansdale last
year, of whom one was 90 years of age
and 13 were under five years of age; six
were above 70. Compared to population, this shows a very good recoid for
health. What are the figures for Aiiibler?
Very much less corn is left unhusked
in tba fields up this way than do. n
country. It has. long been a proverb,
however, that corn husking is always
finished earlier in the northern part of
Montgomery cousty than nearer Philadelphia.
Prospectville.
One day last week tho two-vear old
son of Reuben Finley fell, striking his
face against a red hot stove, which
burned him badlv. It is feared be will
lose the sight of one eye.
Last Friday several of our farniers
who attended the Philadelphia hay
market were compelled to return home
on horseback, owing to the inclement
weather.
The Ladies' Aid will bold a measuring party and hat trimming contest on
Wednesday and Thursday avenings,Jan.
25 and 26, instead of a pleasure party,
as reported in last week's paper.
Mrs. Thos. Fillman was, confined ,to
ber bed with grip last week, but at last
reporta is slightly recovering.
Thomas and Harry Fillman attended a
shooting contest at Hartsville last week.
Joseph Gouak has recently erected a
I new wagon house.
THE LIBRARY DANCE.
The Ambler I'moii Library Company Gives
a, SiiccckkIuI Dance In the Ambler Opera
House — Spleii'liil M lisle Allils to the
Pleasure of the Dancers.
The Ambler Union Library company
held a very successful dance in the large
ball room of the Ambler opera house
building on Wednesdav evening, Jan.
1), which waa attended by fully 150
people, and which netted the treasurv
the sum of S34.22.
Fully 290 invitations were issued for
the event, but unfavorable weather had
rendered roads well nigh impassable,
and no doubt sickness played an important part in keeping down the attendance. As it was the floor was comfortably filled by the dancers, and every
one appeared to have jnst sufficient
room, which has not always been the
case at such dances. Numerous responses in tbe shape of donations were received from many of the friends, and those
who contributed to the event in this
way are: Mm. II. C. Hart, Mrs. Milton
Newberry, Mrs.Pickering, VVm.S.Acuff.
Esq.. J. Sims Wilson, J. Watson Craft,
Mrs. Margaret Hacker, Frank Hacker,
Sarah Epright, David J. Ambler. R. V.
Mattison,M. D. .Mrs. M. 3. Ambler, li. V
Miittisnn..!r.,W.A.l>avis. Mr. Jno.Kelly
also kindly assisted the committee in
their labors on the evening of the
dance, as also did Mr. John S. Buchanan. Rees C. Roberts and Dr. J. Howard
Oaias.
G. Herzberg A Son,of flOfl Arch street,
Philadelphia; fumiahed the music,
which consisted of violin, cornet and
piano, and the committee feel that
much of the success of the dance was
due tn the splendid music furnished by
this orchestra. Every one who was on
the floor expressed himself as pleased.
It was without doubt the finest music
ever furnished a dance in Amb'er.
The arrangement of the program was
made by Mr. Herzberg and it gave general satisfaction. 18 numbers were
provided and one change was made of a
waits to a lanc.iers, which was kindly
agreed to bv Mr. Herzberg. A closing
waltz was also rendered in addition at
the end of the program, which was
mnch appreciated. and which with
two others Was encored.
The program was entirely completed
hv 12.49. a fact due to the prevalence
of round instead of square dances,
avoiding the necessary delay nf making
up sets, and also to the elimination nf
the usual time of serving refreshments,
which through the kindness of E. A.
Yost, the opera house caterer, were
l>ning served in an adjoining room continuously during the evening. They
consisted of lemonade and mixed cakes.
Card tables were at the disposal of the
guests not desiring to dance, and were
well patronized, serving to pass an enjoyable evening for those who did not
especially attend for the program itself.
Last Saturdav evening the committee
in charge of the dance held a meeting
in the library room to balance up the
accounts. The receipts were; Donations,
819.29, receipts at door, $96; total receipts, $71.29. Expenses; Printing,
$8.90; music, 821.75: K.A. Vn-*t,$2.69;
nostpgp, $3; lemons,?!. 13; total, 837.QP.
Net receiptti, $34.22. It was unanimot.-
•v decided to recommend to the new
board of directors to be elected in March
that another dance be beld during the
spring.      	
Brake—ism Killed at Glenside.
A freight train on the northbound
track of the Philadelphia and Reading
railway above Jenkintown crashed into
a runaway section of the freight ahead
early Sunday morning and in tbe fire
that resulted Jacob Ruth,(he rear brake
man, was burned to death as he lay
wedged in the ruins of the caboose.
Three cars were destroyed by flre aud
further progress of the flames was prevented by the efforts of the trainmen
and the Jenkintown Fire department.
It was reported tbat tbe cars broke
loose from some unknown cause,hnt the
trnimnen declare the disaster was caused hy tramps who loosened the brakes
on the rear cars at Glenside and, after
knocking Ruth senseless, robbed him
and left him in tbe caboose.
The regular freight stopped at Glenside to pick up some empty cars. The
train was cut and tbe brakes set on the
rear section. The trainmen said that
four tramps hoarded the train at Fern
Hock,and that tbey loosened the brakes,
allowing the cars to slide down the
grade. Accounts differ as to the assault
on the brakeman*, but it is claimed that
bis pocketbook was found beside the
track witb only one cent in it,although
Saturday was pay day.
The cars continued on tbeir backward course until tbe extra freight following struck them at tbe second crossing above Jenkintown. The train was
moving at a fair rate of speed, and the
shock of the collision tumbled the stray
cars in a heap and shook the train from
end to end. Whether Ruth was asleep
in the" caboose or insensible from the
tramps' attack is, of course, not known.
No outcry from him was heard and tbe
flames from an overturned stove left
only charred remnants of bii body.
The road was blocked for some hours,
and the wrecking train did not leave the
place until nearly noon. Ruth, the dead
brakeman, lived in Bethlehem, and he
leaves a wife and several children. The
bodv was viewed on Sunday by Ooronor
McGlathery and sent to Bethlehem.
The Sineerly   Farms.
The various properties in Owynedd
and Whitpain townships belonging to
the estate of William M. Singerly are to
he resold. This time the sale wili take
place on Saturday, Jan. 28, and will
bo conducted by the assignees, Rich-lid
Y. Cook and George H. Earl, Jr , with
James A. Freeman's Sons as the auctioneers, who give notice of. the same
in tbe "Gazette." The sale will comprise tbe Thornton farm of 30 acres,
the Scarlett farm of 32 acres, the King
farm of 91 acres, tbe Davis farm of 116
acres, the Shepherd lot of two acres,
th. Rile lot or six acres, the homo farm
at Franklinville of 82 acres, the Hurst
farm of 33 acres, tbe Swarti lot of five
acres, the Greger farm of 73 acres, and
the Hamilton farm of 102 acres.
John Nepley is having hia fence finely painted around his beautiful residence.
Howard Butk for many years a resident of tbia place, moved to the city on
[Wednesday.
A. L Aiman, our grocer, ia now doing a strictly cash business. All those
asking for credit will be refused.
; Herbert F. Gillingham, of Philadelphia, was looking np old acquaintances
here on Sunday last.
Fred Kief ner and family, Wiri.Ravior
and wife, Jobn and Edward Dickinan,
of Philadelphia, were guests of George
Ravior and family on Sunday last.
Jacob Scbneipp, our enterprising grocer, who nas recently engaged iu butchering, is doing a flourishing business.
During the past week several fine cattle
have been slaughtered and disposed of.
He will buy and slaughter calves,
hogs and sheep. Owners • if cattle having any to dispose of will flnd it to
their advantage to give him a call.
Miss Ruth Blair while returning
hop'c from Flourtown on Tuesday last
met with what might have been a serious accident. Coming along tbe Valley
Green road her horse took fright and
became unmanageable. On ascending
the hill near Schliiiuiie's stone crusher
the horse reduced  bia speed, enabling
I Miss Blair to jump from the wagon
without receiving any injuries. The
horse still continued to run unit! he
was captured at A. L. Aiman's store,
with the wagon slightly damaged.
Charles Ravior entertained  a   large
I circle of frienda on Saturday evening
I last to celebrate his father's 60th birthday.       Tho evening  was devoted   to
I sociability,music and dancing,and it is
safe to say it waa one whicb will long
be rememhered by all present. Frederick Mason rendered some charming
selections on the piano, and Harry Beas
sang several tine solos. Precisely at 12
o'clock tbe party left fur their homes,
wishing Mr. Ravior many more happy
birthdays. Among those present were
the following: Harvey Blair, Daniel
Stout, Fred Mason, James Blair. Harry
Beas, Charles Ravior, Mr. Hurley,
George Ravior,Miss Lilian Watkins, Miss
Ethel Parlance, Miss Fannie Nelson,
Miss Elsie Walters, Miss Dorothy Wendell, Miss Carrie Audenreid,MI_* Lvdia
Ravior, Miss Augusta Ravior, William
Stout and William Blair.
-larreltowii.
*
Wilbur Morgan will farm Mrs. Gil-
| hert's ground in connection with tbe
| Houpt place, where he now is, during
I the coming season.
Mr. Herbert Wagner visited his parents at Fagleysville  last Saturday  and
! Sunday.    He attended tlie  local  teach-
\ ers' institute while t-li'ei.".
.'mini Lightkep is doing some earpen-
i ter work for Benjamin F. Houpt on his
j Horsham farm. Xew weather boards
j and doois have been placed on a part of
I the barn. Other repairs are also being
made,
Probable candidates for the different
! offices to be filled at the February elec-
i tion are now being discussed.
Mr. Beyer spent last week at   Morris-
I ville, preaching euch night  at  the  revival meetings in progress there.    Sunday last he preached and administered
j the c immunion  at Prospectville M. E.
j church, the pastor of the latter  church
exchanging pulpits with him.
It is expected (hat the Krier quartette
will be present at the poultry sunper in
I Odd Fellows' hall on Thursday evening
j of next week. Their singing, in connect ion with the grsphophone entertain-
I ment by John G. Williams, of Frank-
I ford,should form an attractive program
| for the evening's enteitaimnent.
As time passes the cases of sickness
I among us from tlie grip seem to increase in severity. Mrs. Jobn Rod em -
i ich has been verv ill,and only energetic
| work upon tiie part of ber* attending
! physician, Dr.Clemens, saved her from
I heart failure. Mrs. I'm uh, Mrs. Neal
land Abram Morgan have also been
! under the doctor a care for some time.
I With Mrs. Neal the grip developed in-
: to pneumonia. They are all doing as
i well as can be expected.
Weldon.
The family of Mr.Diller, whose liouse
I was   burned   to   tbe  ground   on  New
j Year's day, are now occupying Mr.Jos
l eph C. I lance's house  on   the Jenkin
cown road,tlie summer residence of Mr.
Adam  S. Bare.   'Ir. Diller proposes   to
erect a new house on the site of the old
one.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kirk are still
entertaining at their home Mr.Diller's
sister and aged mother.
On Thursday evening, Jan. 26, Mr.
Frederick J. Smith advertises a clearing
sale of some stock on hand. Mr. Smith
wishes to make ' room for new goods
and undoubtedly there will be some
I bargains at thin sale.
The Jenkintown Electric Light company are extending their plant through
the Glenside farms in tbe direction of
Weldon. We look for electric lights
and water mains through our village
at no very distant date.
r_mciist ci-ville.
The bome of Calvin Butler was brightened last Friday by the advent of a
bouncing baby bov.
Mr. DeHaven and family are recovering from an attack of tbe grip.
Our school teacher at tended tin- funer-
1 al of Miss Sybilla Staley last week.
'Mrs. Lydia Ferguson, of Mooretown,
bas been visiting ber mother, Mrs.
Hersh.
Mrs. Navlor, of Flourtown, and Mrs.
Van Horn visited Colcmans, in Ambler, last Thursday.
George Schaffer Is afflicted with the
grip.
A Wonderful Success.
The Buffalo National   Acetylene  Gas
company, of Buffalo, N. Y., are placing
on tne market on 30 days' trial a  machine for the manufacture of Acetylene
I gas, which   ia bound to take the .plaeej
j of all other illuminants.   Thia machine
is the latest improved and is recommended by all standard insurance companies.
They light churches,   stores, factories,
residences and  country homes.     Tbey
I want good representatives.     janlO-lt
FROM   CAMERON TO  QUAY.
I'ast Stale Politics Snsi;cHt th* Present—
Heniorratlc Betrayal of 1'in-ly KlectM Cameron — QoaY I,l_ely to Fail. Hut May
Name His Successor.
"Penn," the versatile and interesting
writer ou tbe Evening Bulletin stafl,
gives the following timely review of
the United States senalorship contests
during the past 40 years:
Forty-one years ago Simon Cameron
was elected to the United States senate,
becoming the first senator nf the Republican partv from Pennsylvania.
His election was made possible by tbe
votes of three Democratic mem bets of
the legislature—Maneer, Leho and
Wagenseller. These names were long
memorable as a triumvirate of infamy
in the politics of Pennsylvania. At
one time, in hotels in Harrisburg they
were not allowed to be inscribed upon
the registers. The men themselves
were branded with the stigma uf treachery by the Democrat i < ■ party; for years
they were followed with contempt and
ostracism, and to thia day they are referred to occasionally as examples of
tbe shame with which public perfidy
may be punished. There bas never
been a grosser betrayal of a part} and
a candidate than wben tbese men sold
out John W. Forney and delivered
themselves into the hands of Simon
Cameron. Six years later, when the
Democrats had only one majority and
when Cameron was again a candidate
for the senate, there waa fear that tbe
same tactics of seduction and venality
would be employed among them. The
fighting Democracy were called upon
to enforce honesty and to halt deserters.
At doorways and windows of the legislative bain of the old capitol were
stationed Democrats of the Mcivlullen-
Bob Lister Smith type, with instructions to shoot or bludgeon tlie first
Democratic member of the legislature
who was unfaithful to Bnckalew.
There used to tie Democrats who would
Insist that Charles R. Buckalew would
have been juggled out of bis election
hy some other Maneers, Lebos or Wag-
enseilers if the Democracy on this oc
easion had not been armed for them
and kepi them op to the "fighting
line."
Theae well-known episodes in the
past politics of the state are suggested
by one or two features of the present
senatorial situation at Harrisburg. It
has been frequently remarked this winter that the Republican's who are supporting Senator Quay for the senate,
In utter indifference to the peculiui circumstances in which he hus Been placed,
have displayed amazing effrontery.
Yet it has not been more of nn exliibi
tion of moral obtuseneas tban the support which the Republicans of Pennaylvania gave to Simon Cameron after tiie
scandal of ins election to the senate,and
in view of a general record whicb Senator Quay has not exceeded in the commercial or the main chance department
of politics. The hides of the three recreant Democrats wbo yielded to
Cameron were nailed to the fence. Tlie
mark of Judas was set upon them.
But Cameron himself seems to bave
lost nothing by the transaction. He
became tbe candidate of Pennsylvania
for the presidency only three years
afterward us its favorite son in the convention which nominated Lincoln.
And Abraham Lincoln, moreover, was
prevailed upon to take him into his
cabinet and to keep him there until
public opinion enforced his resignation
of a maladministcred office, and even
then he was tenderly sent out of the
country in a dignified exile to represent the government at the court of the
czar. Subsequently, coming hack to
Pennsylvania, he made another dash
for the senate, won a great factional
fight, and henceforth sat among the
conscript fathers at Washington until
he was ready to toast his aged shins at
(be family fireside and to hand his
senatorial chair to his son for thu next
20 years.
And so it is tbat, looking at Cameron
pere in retrospect and remembering
now, when lie was even an older man
than Quay now is, be lived down the
great senatorial and war department
scandals,mastered the Pennsylvania Republicans and caused them to send him
twice agait to tbe senate, the fact that'
Quay can rally more than 100 Republicans of the legislature around him', in
■■is present plight before the courts, is
by no means an ethical novelty in
Pennsylvania politics, lt is a remarkable historical fact that up to this time
the state has had the two Camerons
and Quay in the senate for actually
more than half a century in tbeir combined vesirs of service.1 The only other
Republicans tbat have been permitted
to sit with them up to the time of
Boies Penrose stretch over a period of
less than 20 years. These were David
Wilmot, John Scott, John H. Mitchell
and1 Edgar Cowau; and Cowan became
a "Johnson man" before he went out
of office and into obscurity like Scott
and Mitchell. Indeed, no other large
state in tbe Union at any time in its
istory can present a parallel in the
representation which Pennsylvania has
maintained in the senate for so long
a period,of men with tbo peculiar methods and \\ ith the personal characteristics of the senior and junior Cameron
and Quay. The fidelity to Quay may
be puzzling to the moral teachers, but
it is not a new thing; it is a sort of
inherited instinct, which has been
manifested in the docility with which
the Republican organization has been
used to bend or break or keep down
every man of large ability and independent spirit who has heen disposed to
be critical or to set up with an opinion*
or ambition of his own.
Thus it is that with a commonwealth
as populous us the whole Union was
when Jefferson waa president, there is
now n notable paucity of candidates
wbo "size up," aa tne phrase goes,
to the United States senate. Out of 27
Republican congressman, or as manv as
the entire New England delegation,
only four or rive have won anything like
national reputations, and one or two of
these are among the ancients. In some
respects Dalzell, with his experience,
industry, clean hands and the gift of
utterance, is hy far  the  strongest  and
most capable. Charles W. Stone is a
bright and shrewd congressman, with
a tarn of mind for statesmanlike discussion, and although be was tho Wanamaker candidate for governor laat summer he served Quay well when he voted
in tbe pardon board to keep Kemble
out of a cell in the penitentiary. Tiie
only anti-Quay candidate in the discussions of the hour is John Wanamaker. But there is little hearty enthusiasm for Wanamaker: he hails from the
oity whieh already has a senator, aud
it does not look as if the Democrats,
with whose united aid his election is
alone possible, can be induced to fall
into line for him.
So long as the anti-Quay Republicans
are without a candidate of their own,
they are at a comparative disadvantage.
I When tbe legislature of 1881 was dead-
! locki-d in tin- fight against Henry W.
Oliver, bis opponents were a unit for
Galusna A. Growjat the very beginning
of the movement against the caucus.
But before that contest wits at an end
each aide dropped its original candidate
and brought out a new one—the stalwarts, (ieneral Beaver, who had not
tben been named for governor, and tbe
independents, Thomaa M. Bayne, then
a congressman from Allegheny. It
was not until late in tbe winter that
the queer compromise by which John
H. Mitchell was saddled on the state,
a senator with a half epicene or nerveless quality in bis politics, was consummated.
The legislative leadership of the anti-
Cameron movement on that occasion
was of a better grade of ability and
sincerity on the whole tban the Ugisla-
tive leadership of the present and anti-
Quay movement, officered as it ia chiefly by a set of little Quays, without
Quay s mental outfit. The present con •
test is also notable for thc absence of
any open interference on tbe part of
tbe administration at Washington.
While Quay has the benefit of most of
the federal officeholders, there is no
prime factor outside of tbe state, as
Blaine was in helping along the movement against Cameron and Oliver.
It is pretty generahy conceded that
while Quay may, and "is likely to, fail
in getting enough Republican votes,
be can name bis successor. It is a curious illustration of the continuance of tbe
old-time conditions that there is also
a disposition to concede that if he
wanted to name Chris Mugee he would
not have much trouble in finding ready
acquiesce line. This possibility aa one
of the outcomes of the fight against
Quay is iu one sense highly amusing,
and if accomplished, would bave in it
all the material of a Gilbertian satire
or paradox, ft would be a good deal
like forcing old Fagin to give up his
fence and placing one of his expert pupils, like Charley Bates or the Artful
Dodger, in full command of the shop.
Nobody else in tbe legislature or in the
service of the state at Harrisburg has
been mentioned seriously as a possibility by either faction. Governor Hastings, who fondly nursed the ambition
in his early davs, is now on the eve of
going out of otiico without a following,
and the victim of the "gold brick
policy all around as none of his predecessors has been. Well may it be said
of the governor in the old lines:
Ot praise, a mere -jliittoii, be swallowed what
came.
Ami thepuffo' a nnnce. he -mistook it for fame.
Till. Iiis relish grown callous almost to dieeim'.
Who peppered the highest was surest to please.
Occasionally there is mention of
Judge Rice, of the superior court; J.
A. Brown, of Lancaster; P. A. * B.
Weidner, Judge John Stewart and Don
Cameron aa possibilities; and one member of the legislature has contemplated
Sheriff Crow as a solution of the problem in the event of a deadlock.
It is curious—this scarcity or tlie
timidity of big men to stand up in the
great shadow of Quay, even when be is
under a partial eclipse.
Horsham.
Muddy roads,
Rev.   Wm. H.   Bisbing, of Prospect- •
ville, preached at  the  Horsham M. . _
Sunday school on Sunday hist.
Jonathan Stackhouse* has two fine
canopy top hay wagons, made by J. L.
Rush A Son, Willow Grove.
Harry Rutherford is on the sick list.
Charles Rutherford, our enterprising
blacksmith, has rented Isaac .Seiner's
shop for the coming year,
Harold Comly is confined to his home
with grip.
Miss Belle Walton has been visiting
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Walton.
Horace P. Clark and Mies Katie
M. Clark visited Enos Kerbaugh on
Sunday last.
Miss Bertha limner,of Willow Grove,
and MissMellie Stackhouse, of Ambler,
were the guests of Miss Mabel Kneezel
on Sunday last.
It is reported that the Bucks County
Railway company will place six more
cars on their line during the coming
summer. They are doing a good business.
Next meeting of the H. W. L. S. at
the home of Ellas Krewson, Hatboro,
on Tuesday evening, Jan. 24. A collection will be taken up at the close of the
meeting.
Those on the sick list are Harold
Comly,Edith Megargee, aud Mrs. Isaac
Brooks.
H. Warner Hallowell, of the Horsham club, read a paper on Monday
before the farmers' institute at Rich
borough, entitled "Our Farmers of tbe
Twentieth Century." The paper was
very well written and contained a number of good points.
Bine Bell.
W. L. S. at the home of Mr. Elliott
Zimmerman on Saturday evening.
Later grip patients: Miss Hester Preston, Mrs. Eugene Wentz, Mr. C. DePrefontaine and Mrs. Levi Slingluff.
There wilt be preaching at Union M.
1 _ church Sunday   afternoon  at 2.30.
Mrs. Jacob Bucaman, Mrs. Elizabeth
Buckman and Master George Johnson
visited at Mrs. Mary Shoemaker's on
Sunday.     "
—The case against Augustus Heck-
man, of Edge Hill, charge, with falsi-
pretense by Dnan Neffe, of Philadelphia, was settled before Magistrate Lenhardt last weejs.