USA > Pennsylvania > Pennsylvania, colonial and federal : a history, 1608-1903, Volume Two > Part 35
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During the month of May, 1891, great excitement was cre- ated in the financial and political circles of the State by the failure of the Keystone and Spring Garden National banks of Philadel- phia, in which John Bardsley, the city treasurer, was a depositor not only of moneys belonging to that municipality, but also of taxes collected for the Commonwealth. A few days after the failure of these banks, it was found that Bardsley's losses would make him a defaulter to the city and the State to a large amount. He at once resigned his office, and was prosecuted for embezzling public funds. On trial, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment and to pay a fine of $237,000. In ap-
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pointing a successor to Mr. Bardsley there was a legal contro- versy between the city authorities and the State government. Governor Pattison appointed William R. Wright, as city treas- urer : but he failed of confirmation by the Senate. After ad- journment, the appointment was renewed; but. Mr. Wright was denied admission to the office by the gentleman selected by the authorities of Philadelphia. The matter was referred to the Su- preme Court, which body decided in favor of the Governor's ap- pointee. Upon investigation it was found that the personal prop- erty tax collected by the city and due the State for the year 1890, amounted to $472,013; for 1891, $289,232.96, besides which there still remained unpaid $367,614.18 in license taxes. Gov- ernor Pattison attached some blame for this defalcation upon the Auditor-General and the State Treasurer. In view of these facts, he convened the Senate in extraordinary session on October 13, 1891. An investigation followed; but after a lengthy session, the Senate decided that it had no jurisdiction in the matter.
By an act of June 19, 1891. the ballot reform system was established, the first practical test of which was made at the State and local elections on November 8. 1892. This is popularly known as the "Australian" ballot system, which provides for se- crecy in voting, thus insuring the citizen freedom from intimida- tion. The first practical test of the method proved very satis- factory, and but few complaints were heard in any of the counties of the State. In suggesting revision in some of the minor details of the law, the Governor said: "The entire subject ought to be approached in a spirit of non-partisanship and to be treated in the light of experience, so as to secure what all good citizens of the Commonwealth approve-an electoral system which will pro- vide a secret and honest ballot, enabling every voter to exercise his franchise with the greatest freedom and independence, sup- pressing and preventing coercion, interference, bribery or corrup- tion, and securing a fair count, and an honest return of the real will of the people after it has been plainly expressed."
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In 1892, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad endeavored to make a lease or consolidation of the Lehigh and Susquehanna and the Lehigh Valley Railroad companies. It was feared that this ar- rangement would have serious effects, since these railroads were the great coal carriers, and united into one system, they would
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William Findlay
Member State Legislature, 1797 and 1803; State treasurer, 1807-1817; governor, 1817-1820; United States Senator, 1821; treasurer United States Mint, 1827-1840
destroy competition, and have a monopoly of the coal trade. The Attorney-General examined the proposed lease, and decided that it was in violation of the constitution. On March 14, bills of equity were filed in the courts of Dauphin county for a perpetual injunction restraining the lessee from operating the corporations it had thus acquired. Before a decision was reached in our courts the combination was broken up by a decree of the Chancellor of
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New Jersey, setting aside the leases between these companies. The Central Railroad of New Jersey, operating the Lehigh and Susquehanna, thus resumed possession of its lines and began op- erating the same; while shortly afterward, the Lehigh Valley railroad passed from the control of the Reading system.
There were numerous strikes during Pattison's administra- tion, in the suppression of which it was necessary to use the strong arm of State authority. About six o'clock on the morning of April 2, 1891, the Governor received a dispatch from the sheriff of Westmoreland county, giving the information that, in a riot, seven persons had been killed and twenty-one wounded. As the sheriff declared himself unable to restore order, the Governor at once ordered two regiments of the National Guard to his assist- ance. The troops reached the scene of disturbance in a few hours, and at midnight peace was restored; but it cost the State $35,- 350.13 to bring about these results. On July 6, 1892, the sheriff of Allegheny county telegraphed to the Governor, asking mili- tary protection from the mob at Homestead, where several colli- sions had occurred with fatal results. The strike here was caused by the effort of the Carnegie Steel Company to reduce the wages of its employees. Armed men were employed by the company to protect those men who wished to work, while a large force of Pinkerton detectives was brought there to guard the property. The striking miners attacked these detectives, and in the riots a dozen lives were lost. The Governor insisted that the local au- thorities must exhaust all means to preserve the peace before the National Guard could be called out. On July 10, the sheriff of Allegheny county again telegraphed for assistance. Governor Pattison immediately ordered the Major-General to move two brigades of the troops to Homestead, which place was reached on the morning of July 12. The presence of the soldiers had a salu- tary effect upon the lawless mob and order was restored, impos- ing a cost on the State of $430,056.88. Governor Pattison
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was convinced that the authorities at Homestead had made no serious effort to suppress the disorder. In referring to this matter, he said: "The entire community seemed to surrender to the disorderly element. At the beginning, fifty determined men, moved by a love of order and a patriotic spirit, would have suppressed this whole disturbance. I therefore suggest to the legislature that the costs incurred in suppressing local disturb- ance in which the civil authorities call upon the military power of the Commonwealth, should be placed upon the county calling for the troops. This may be an incentive to local authorities to de- termined action in the beginning of a disturbance, rather than have their treasury mulcted in a large sum to defray the expenses. At least the State can make some effort to prevent the often hasty and unwarranted calling for the presence of troops." These riots continued at other places. On January 27, 1893, there was a strike at Mansfield, Allegheny county, resulting in the destruction of property and the loss of life. In June, 1894, the foreign min- ers in Jefferson county caused a strike, and the disposition to de- stroy property rendered it necessary to call out two regiments of the National Guard. Statistics give fifty-three strikes for 1893. and twenty-seven for 1894, all the latter failing in their purpose save three.
The State of Pennsylvania made a very commendable show- ing at the World's Columbian Exposition held at Chicago in 1893. The legislature granted an appropriation of $300,000, of which sum $130,000 was used for the erection and furnishing of a State building. The various interests of agriculture and forestry, hor- ticulture, live stock, fish and fisheries, mines and mining, ma- chinery, transportation, manufactures, electricity, fine arts, liberal arts, and ethnology were all represented. The exhibit well illus- trated the material and educational progress of the State, and the commission in charge of the work performed their duties in a most faithful manner, meeting all expenditures, and leaving an unused balance of more than twenty-four thousand dollars.
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An effort was made to promote the interests of forestry in 1893, the legislature having voted an appropriation, thus en- abling the Governor to appoint a commission. William F. Shunk was selected as engineer, and Dr. J. T. Rothrock as botanist of the commission. Within two years they made a careful study of the forests in thirty-three counties, and made an interesting re- port thereon, the closing part of which read as follows :
"We have found extensive areas of the State depopulated. waste and becoming each year more impoverished, and we have arrived at the profound conviction that unless some counteracting agencies be set at work, the productive capacity of from a sixth to a fourth of the Commonwealth will be most seriously impaired. Between lands stripped of timber and steep hillsides, which have proved unremunerative in agriculture, there exists a vast area, the present tendency of which is to become constantly worse, until no crop can be hoped for from it.
"It is hardly likely that we shall be able personally to cover the State before the expiration of our commissions; nor, indeed, is it required by the act under which we work that we should do so, but we shall have ample facts to indicate the need of prompt and positive action on the part of the State."
In 1893, the legislature appropriated half a million dollars for the erection of a fire proof building on the east side of the Capitol grounds, to be occupied by the State Library and the va- rious executive offices. The building was promptly completed. thus making a handsome addition to the Capitol buildings, and at the same time affording a permanent home for the State Li- brary with its hundred thousand volumes.
On October 7, 1894, Andrew Gregg Curtin died at his home in Bellefonte, in the eightieth year of his age. This event caused profound sorrow in all parts of the land, and the newspapers were filled with tributes and eulogies on his heroic character. The great "War Governor" of Pennsylvania was called to join the ranks of the soldier dead, whom he had so often inspired with
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courage during the Civil War. His funeral took place at Belle- fonte on October 10, and the ceremonies were a fitting tribute to his worth as a citizen, a lawyer and a patriot. One of the most beautiful references to his memory was that of his old friend, Colonel A. K. McClure, who said : "Just as yesterday's sun was lifting the curtain of night in the east, with the promise of the brightest of autumn Sabbaths, the life of Andrew Gregg Curtin ended in that dreamless sleep of the dead. Measured only by his great public record that is rarely equalled in patriotic achieve- ment, in field or forum, he did not die untimely. He had passed the period allotted to mortals and his great work was finished. For several years he has rested from the wearying exactions of public affairs, but he did not lag superfluous on the stage. His interest in the country in whose annals he has written a most illus- trious chapter, was never lessened; and his life closed in that mellow grandeur of ripened years, with all the cherished affec- tions of youth, and beloved by all who came within the range of his acquaintance."
In the election for Governor in 1894. there were five candi- dates : Daniel H. Hastings, Republican ; William M. Singerly, Democrat ; Charles I. Hawley, Prohibition ; Jerome T. Allman, People's ; and Thomas H. Grundy, Socialist-Labor. Notwith- standing this array of candidates, the Republican party was united, and Hastings was triumphantly elected, receiving the largest vote in the history of State elections. After retiring from office on January 15, 1895, Governor Pattison entered into busi- ness in Philadelphia, where he became president of the Security Trust and Life Insurance Company. In 1896, he was the choice of the Pennsylvania delegation in the Democratic convention at Chicago for nomination for President of the United States, re- ceiving about one hundred votes. In 1902, he was again the Democratic candidate for Governor, but was defeated by Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker.
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CHAPTER XXII.
HASTINGS'S AND STONE'S ADMINISTRATIONS-1895-1903
ANIEL HARTMAN HASTINGS was inaugurated as Governor on January 15, 1895. Popular with the masses, as his plurality exceeding 241,000 votes indicates, the people looked upon his elevation to this high office with great favor. General Hastings was born of Scotch-Irish parentage in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, in 1849. He passed his boyhood days upon his father's farm, and in the winter months, attended the country school. At the age of fifteen, he became a teacher in Clinton county. In 1867, he was elected principal of the academy at Bellefonte, and a year or two later was principal of the public schools at that place. At the same time, he edited the "Belle- fonte Republican," and studied law, being admitted to the bar of Centre county in 1875. Later on, he became interested in the mining industry in Cambria county, in which business he acquired considerable wealth. Although too young to participate in the Civil War, General Hastings always manifested great interest in military affairs. In 1877, he became a captain in the National Guard. In 1884, he was commissioned colonel of the 5th Infan- try, which he commanded until he was appointed Adjutant-Gen- eral by Governor Beaver. The work done by General Hastings in connection with the Johnstown flood, made him a popular hero. From that time on his name was frequently mentioned in connec- tion with the governorship. In 1890, he was a candidate for the
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nomination ; but was defeated in the convention by eleven votes. Four years later he was nominated and triumphantly elected.
In his inaugural address, Governor Hastings urged improve- ment and expansion in the methods of transacting the business of the State through its various executive departments. He said : "The people have the right to demand, and do expect. that the business of the State shall be conducted on principles which expe- rience and sound judgment have established as safe and prudent, and that the General Assembly will act as promptly upon the work before them as prudence and proper deliberation will permit." Following the Governor's suggestions, the legislature created several new executive departments. By an act of June 24, 1895, the Superior Court was organized to relieve the pressure of busi- ness in the Supreme Court of the State. On November 5, of that year, James A. Beaver, Edward N. Willard, John J. Wickham, Charles E. Rice, Howard J. Reeder, George B. Orlady, and Peter P. Smith, were elected judges of the new court. On March 13, 1895, an act was approved for the establishment of the Depart- ment of Agriculture. The wisdom of this legislation was at once demonstrated. The new department, through its Secretary, at once began a vigorous campaign to improve the agricultural con- ditions of the State. Farmers' institutes were organized and held in the different counties during five months of the year. In four years seven hundred and forty-three of these meetings were held, with an average daily attendance of three hundred and fifty, thus reaching at least two hundred and fifty thousand people. One thousand lecturers assisted in the work, which, it may be said, was supplemented by the courses offered in the School of Agriculture at the State College. The act establishing the De- partment of Agriculture directed the Secretary to obtain and publish information as to the extent and condition of the forests in this State. The legislature in 1897 passed an act authorizing a commission to secure State forestry reservations. Up to No-
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vember 30, 1898, 55,681 acres of woodland located at the head- waters of the larger rivers, had been purchased for forestry re- serves.
On July 3, 1895, an act of the legislature was approved for the erection of a monument to each of the Pennsylvania organi- zations engaged in the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, the said monuments to be placed on their respective battle lines. An appropriation of $1,500 was made for each monument, and an executive committee was appointed with power to act. The work was completed in 1898. and it reflects great credit to the State, and to the regiments interested in these memorials.
In 1895, the number of factory inspectors was increased from twelve to twenty, and the work of supervision was distributed among fifteen men and five women. Up to 1897, 6,636 factories were inspected and one hundred and sixty-one children under thirteen years of age were dismissed from employment. In 1895, an act was also passed providing for the safety of persons em- ployed in tenements where clothing, cigars and other articles are made. By means of this legislation, larger factories were se- cured, provided with sanitary improvements and fire escapes.
In 1895, the Cotton States and International Exposition was held at Atlanta, Georgia. Realizing the importance of this event, our legislature, by joint resolution. authorized the appointment of a commission to prepare an exhibit. An appropriation of $38,000 was made, and a State building was erected. The display made by our citizens was creditable, and compared favorably with those of other States. November 14 was "Pennsylvania Day," when fitting ceremonies were held at our State building.
On the afternoon of February 2. 1897, the main capitol build- ing at Harrisburg was destroyed by fire. The legislature, then in session, having no place for assembly, Grace Methodist Episcopal church was hurriedly fitted up for that purpose. The Governor at once urged the erection of another building. and suggested that a structure suitable for the use of the General Assembly could be
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William Tilghman
Member Maryland Legislature several years; chief judge United States Circuit Court 1801- 1802; judge Court of Common Pleas in Penn- sylvania, 1805; chief justice State Supreme Court in 1806. Photographed especially for this work from original canvas at American Philosophical Society
Hastings's and Stone's Administrations
built at a cost not exceeding $550,000. The legislature promptly authorized the appointment of a commission to devise plans for the new building, and to supervise the erection of the same. The corner-stone was laid on August 10, 1898, and the structure was occupied by the legislature in January, 1899. There were many disputes in the Commission during the construction of the build- ing, which, when turned over to the State, must have been in an unfinished condition, according to Governor Hastings's account of it. The Governor said : "The act requires that the building 'shall be built in that phase of the renaissance style of architecture known as the Colonial.' This structure bears no more resemblance to Co- lonial architecture than does the Egyptian sphinx. There are scores of farmers' barns in Pennsylvania more attractive in appearance than this building. It is made of common brick, embedded in cheap mortar, looks like a hastily erected factory building, and is repulsive to the eye. The roof is made of hemlock and pine boards covered with tarred felt, pitch and sand; the gables and dome are covered with third-rate quality of pine fencing boards ; and the floors are made of common pine boards which give under the feet. The stairs and staircases, including the main entrance, are all wood, and the partitions between the rotunda and west wings and upper floors are of seven-eighths inch matched pine fencing, and the same material is placed in front of the elevator shafts. Only about one-fifth of the entire building is plastered at all, and such as is plastered is of two-coat work. There is no plastering whatever in the halls of the Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate Chamber walls are finished with burlap stained green, fastened to the rough sides of the wall composed of brick and tiles. The walls of the House of Repre- sentatives are finished with burlap stained garnet, and fastened to the rough brick walls, also made of tile and brick. Although the act of Assembly requires that the building shall be 'made as nearly fire-proof as possible,' the roof and most of the interior fittings are as combustible as possible."
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In the fall of 1897, the peace of the State was disturbed by a series of strikes in the coal regions. On September 10, the Governor was informed that a collision had occurred between the sheriff of Luzerne county, and the miners in the vicinity of Hazleton. In this struggle eighteen miners were killed, and a large number were wounded. The excitement became intense, and the strike spread into adjoining counties, until more than ten thousand miners were involved in the uprising. At a public meeting held in Hazelton, resolutions were adopted requesting prompt action on the part of the State government. The sheriffs of Schuylkill and Carbon counties also informed the Governor that they were unable to preserve order. The strikers had threat- ened to march in a body on Hazelton and avenge the death of their comrades. The serious condition of affairs prompted the Gov- ernor to call out the militia; accordingly, orders were issued, directing the Third Brigade, General Gobin commanding, to report at Hazelton. In a few hours, 2,499 officers and men were at the scene of disturbance fully equipped for any emergency. The presence of the troops had a salutary effect, and order was restored without firing a shot. On September 24, the soldiers began to break camp, and by October 4 the last division had left for home.
The Spanish-American war aroused much enthusiasm in the National Guard of Pennsylvania. On April 25, 1898, President McKinley called upon the Governor for 10,860 soldiers for the volunteer army, the troops to be taken from the State militia. On the same day, orders were issued for the National Guard to report at Mount Gretna on April 28. The Guard assembled here with characteristic promptness, when a general order was issued. part of which read as follows :
"The Commander-in-Chief desires to impress upon the officers and men of the National Guard of Pennsylvania his appreciation of the patriotism evidenced by the prompt response to General Orders No. 7, A. G. O., c. s., and directs attention to the fact that
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Thomas Jefferson Drafted Declaration of Independence, 1776; third President of the United States, 1801-1809. Photographed especially for this work from the painting by Sully in possession of the American Philosophical Society
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the necessities of the situation do not require that any member of the National Guard of Pennsylvania shall consider himself bound by such membership to enlist in the service of the United States, if such enlistment shall impose upon him personal sacrifices not made necessary under the limited call of the President, or hard- ships upon those who are dependent upon him for support, nor shall such non-enlistment be in anywise considered an avoidance of duty or be to the prejudice of men who, willing to endure everything for their flag and country, are not called upon to render service that can be rendered by those upon whom the demands of home and family do not rest so heavily, and who await the opportunity to serve their country."
Although this order was read to each command, at least seventy-one per cent. of the National Guard volunteered. On May 13, the work of recruiting was completed, when it was found that 592 officers and 10,268 men had enlisted in the service of the United States, for a term of two years unless sooner dis- charged. On May 25, 1898, the President issued a second call for troops, this time the number being 75,000 men. Pennsyl- vania's quota was 6,370, which was promptly furnished. The Pennsylvania troops were at once ordered to the military camps in the Southern States. The Tenth Regiment was ordered to Manila, where the troops of this command made a gallant record for bravery in several engagements. The artillery, cavalry, and the Fourth and Sixteenth Regiments served in the campaign in Porto Rico. The other divisions furnished by our State re- mained in camp in this country. With the return of peace, the Pennsylvania troops were all honorably discharged, excepting the Eighth, Tenth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments. Great efficiency was displayed by the military de- partment of the State on this occasion. Pennsylvania offered her full quota of men before any other State, and our troops, when in camp and field, displayed all the qualities of regulars.
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When fever broke out in the military camps, the hospitals of the State offered quarters and medical treatment to the stricken sol- diers. Finally, Camp Meade was established, near Harrisburg, and with the assistance of the Pennsylvania Sanitary Commission, regular hospital trains were provided to carry from the camp those suffering with fever. The Pennsylvania Sanitary Commis- sion developed into a National Relief Commission, which rendered valuable aid to the entire volunteer army. and did so much to alle- viate the sufferings incident to war.
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