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NOVEMBER 23, 1906
The Commoner
9
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chairs described in one item of the schedule, on
which Sanderson had bid $32.65, wore furnished
by him 'per foot,' under item 22, for $138 each,
and a couch priced at $36.60 for $386.40." When tho
attorney general asked Sanderson how he meas
ured furniture "per foot" he received the answer
that he took "surface measurement." In this
way an ordinary chair that would retail at $30
almost anywhere in the country, went into the
new state house with the price of $325 attached.
There is a great deal of "surface" to a chair. It
seems that this extraordinary system of buying
furniture extended to; everything in the furniture
line. In this way it was found possible to expend
upwards of $9,000,000 in furnishing a state house
that cost $4,500,000 to build. Sanderson submit
ted his measurements and the money was handed
to him out of moneys on hand and "not otherwise
appropriated." Attorney General Carson, if he
really intends to probe this monumental steal
to the bottom, has a long seigo of arduous labor
confronting him.
A SPIRITED FIGHT is being waged against
United Senator John F. Dryden in his
eftorts to be re-elected. Senator Dryden's homo
county went democratic at the recent election
and this fact is being used to his detriment.
Governor E. C. Stokes and Representative Louden
slager have been spoken of as Senator Dryden's
opponents. The republican caucus to select a
candidate will be held at Trenton, New Jersey,
January 21, 1907. Senator Dryden has powerful
corporation connections, and while there is con
siderable opposition to him in the state and among
republicans throughout the country, his enemies
make no effort to conceal the fact that it will bo
very difficult to accomplish his defeat.
F'RIENDS OF Senator Dryden insist that
Governor Stokes has no right to be a can
didate. They point out that section eight of art
icle five of the New Jersey state constitution con
tains this clause: "Nor shall he (the governor)
be elected by the legislature to any office under
the government of this state, or of the United
States, during the term of office for which he
shall have been- elected governor." This consti-
tutional clause was road at a gathering of Sen
ator Dryden's friends. Referring to that meeting
the Philadelphia Public Ledger says: "In the
general discussion that followed the reading of
this clause it was stated that the term of Mr.
Stokes as governor would not expire until Jan
uary, 1908, whereas the United States senator is
to be elected at the coming session of the legisla
ture. In that view of the case it was argued that
ho could not,be a candidate. The opinions of the
governors and law officers of a dozen states were
presented, the article in the constitution having
been submitted for their opinion. Their con
struction of the clause was that the governor of
New Jersey was ineligible to election as United
States senator. The attorney general of Tennes
see gave it as his opinion that the members of
the legislature could be enjoined from voting for
Stokes for United States senator. Another law
officer declared that the legislators would violate
their oath should they elect the governor as sen
ator, and suggested that the officer who would
issue the certificate of election could also be en
joined." IN THE NEXT congress, after March 4, 1907,
the republicans will have sixty majority in
the house. Referring to this the Philadelphia
Public "Ledger says. "For the first time since
1873 the United States senate will show a clear
two-thirds majority for the dominant party. By
the capture of the legislatures of Montana, Idaho,
Oregon and Colorado they will elect successors to
Senators Clark,. Dubois, Gearin and Patterson, and,
assuming that no vacancies occur meanwhile and
that Delaware chooses a successor to Allee and
fills the continuing vacancy they will have sixty
one votes, while the democrats will have twenty
nine." IN SPITE OF THEIR gains in the senate, re
publican leaders are more and more dis
pleased with the returns in the recent election
Slid in the opinion of many there are some bad
signs all over the country. In New Hampshire
the republican ticket was badly cut and the pe
culiar situation in that state is described by a
writer in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, who
says: "New Hampshire headed the van in New
Tiwinrt ThA unrisiner. led bv Winston Churchill,
against the Gallinger republican machine and its
ally, the Boston and Maine Railroad company,
which controlled New Hampshire aa Quay and the
Pennsylvania railroad held this state, has result
ed in a disastrous mix-up. Floyd, republican can
didate for governor, may bo compelled to seek
election at the hands of tho state legislators. Tho
law provides that the winning candidato must
have a majority over all. Floyd was about ten
votes shy a day ago. Unless he gets a majority
the legislature must elect a governor from tho
two candidates getting tho highest votes. In
1904 McLane, republican, for governor, polled
51,171; Hollis, democrat, 35,437. Roosevelt had
20,185 plurality in 1904 and McKinley 19,310 in
1900. In 1896 the republicans had 35,791 for
president. The effect of Churchill's Lincoln club
fight against tho republican machlno was easily
visible in Tuesday's result. Republicans went
over to Jameson, democrat, as tho shortest cut
to political freedom. Counting all factions as re
publicans, tho party has nearly 150 majority in
the legislature. By combining the Lincoln club,
or Churchill republicans, with the democrats thoro
was a hope that the fusionisls would control tho
situation. The proposition was to elect Jameson,
democrat, governor, and Winston Churchill United
States senator in Burnham's place. This was
abandoned because tho leading Lincoln republi
cans refused to carry their fight outside of tho
party lines."
AT THE DEMOCRATIC primaries held recently
in Kentucky, Governor Beckham was nomi
nated to succeed Senator McCreary. Senator Mc
Creary's term does not expire until 1909. Obed
ient to these primary nominations tho Kentucky
-legislature of 1908 will elect Governor Beckham
to the senate.
THE DEMOCRATIC governor of Rhode Island
elected in November, is James H. Iliggins
who, being but thirty years of age, is said to be
the youngest state executive. Mr. Higgins is
now mayor of Pawtucket and has forced his way
to the front, in spite of many embarrassments
which confronted him at tho threshold of active
life. The republicans captured the legislature
in Rhode Island and the senatorial fight will be
a vigorous one. Referring to this contest the
Philadelphia Public Ledger says: "Rhode Island,
it is claimed, is the most corrupt state, politically,
in the country. The candidates for United States
senator are the present member, George Peabody
Wotmore, wealth about $7,000,000; Colonel Samuel
P. Colt, head of the firearms trust, wealth about
$10,000,000. The democrats and independents
have indorsed Colonel Robert H. I. Goddard,
wealth about $7,000,000. If Colonel Goddard
should be eliminated from the fight and the bat
tle get down to Wetmdre and Colt the democrats
and Lincoln republicans would have to be con
sidered. It is probable many mortgages will be
canceled as soon as the election for United States
senator is decided."
IN NEW YORK the democrats elected the lieu
tenant governor, secretary of state, comp
troller, state treasurer, attorney general and state
engineer. The Philadelphia Public Ledger says
that the patronage under the control of these
offices amounts to an enormous sum. The Public
Ledger adds: "Lieutenant Governor-elect Chan
ler is a millionaire and a relative of the Astors.
He goes into politics as a hobby, the same as a
man buys race horses or yachts or some other
amusement. John Sibley Whalen, elected secre
tary of state, has been a resident of Rochester
for thirty-eight years all his life. He is national
organizer of the Tobacco Workers' International
Union and president of the Central Trades and
Labor Council of Rochester and the Rochester
local No. 23. He is in good circumstances and a
bachelor, aged 38. Martin H. Glynn, the comptroller-elect,
is a forme'r Albany newspaper man,
a member of the Albany bar, an eloquent speaker
and a self-made man. In 1898, when 26 years
old, he was elected to congress. He- was re
elected to congress In 1900. A master baker by
trade, but a politician by bent, is Julius Hauser,
the successful candidate for state treasurer. Say
ville L. I., is his home. Frederick Skene, the
young Astoria civil engineer who has been elected
state engineer and surveyor, will become one
of the most important factors in public office for
the next two years. He will exercise a direct
influence over the expenditure of the $101,000,000
appropriated to enlarge the canal system; he can
change the plans of his predecessor for spending
what remains of the $50,000,000 appropriated for
good roads. He is 33 years old. William S. Jack
son elected to the office of attorney general, 13
first assistant district attorney of Eric county.
He was concerned in the proaocutlon of the Burralo
comotoiy scandal thlovos, and made an cnvlablo
record In connection with that."
HARRY B. WOLF, who was elected on No
vember 6, to represent the Third Maryland
district in congress, will onjoy tho distinction
of being tho youngest member of tho Sixtieth
session. But this is not Mr. Wolf's only, distinc
tion. Ho carried a district that had not gono
democratic In years, and ho defoatod a seasoned
campaigner, W. W. Johnson, who was postmaster
of Baltimore, when Wolf was a newsboy soiling
papers on tho streets. When Wolf was a small
boy reverses compelled him to seek work that
ho might help support tho family. Ho took to
selling papers and lighting fires In offico build
ings. One day a lawyer, noting tho bright face
of tho boy, asked him how he would like to study
aw. That settled tho boy's future. That night
he took tho big yollow law book home, after
stopping on tho corner ten mlnutos to convlnco
the policeman that ho camo by tho book honestly
Two weeks later ho took tho book back and said:
Im through with it. Giv.o mo another." Tho
astonished lawyor questioned tho Jad and found
that he had really mastered tho book. That end
ed tho paper selling and flro building. No becamo
office boy, within a year ho was going to law
school, and two or three years later was practic
ing at tho bar. Harry Wolf's fathor died tho day
the young man wns nominated for congress. "Tho
only tinge of regret In It all," said tho successful
candidate, "is that dad could not have lived to
THE DEMOCRATS of North Dakota aro being
congratulated on the result of tho battlo
fought In that state November 6. It is a victory
for good government, and for Independence In
politics. Hon. John Burke, tho governor-olocf,
was the democratic candidato for congress In
1896. Tho democrats elected their candidato for
supremo court judge, Hon. C. J. Fisk, by 12,000,
majority. They also elected many sheriffs anil
county officers all over the state, which will form
tho nucleus and outposts tov tho great fight of
1908. M. A. HHdreth of Fargo, N. D writos:
"Our party was never in as good condition as at .
the present time. Tho republican party under tho
leadership of Alex McKenzle, of Alaska fame, Is
practically split in two, and it will be many years
before it will get together again. I believe
Governor Burke will give our state a groat ad
ministration; he Is a lawyer; splendidly equipped;
the people have confidence In him, and he made
one of the best campaigns that was ever made
for six weeks. Ho traveled over the state. He
was assisted by many other democrats, and all
pulled together. The party is reunited in this
state, and is In splendid fighting trim."
GEORGE E WALLACE, of Wahpolon, N. D.,
writes "I am proud of the fact that de
mocracy triumphed over railroad rule and elected
my friend John Burke, the democratic nominee,
to the exalted office of governor. We have sur
prised you, as we hope to do again in the presi
dential campaign. Democracy has been In tho
hopeless minority in this state for years, but a
few of the tried and true kept up the fight until
public opinion has yielded. We are now organiz
ing for two years hence, and intend to be more
aggressive than ever before. We can afford to
be aggressive, and will surely win in the long
run because we have right on our side. John
Burke is a native of Iowa, having been born at
Sigourney about forty-four years ago. He Js an
attorney of great ability, a graduate of the law
department of the Iowa State University,
and an active campaigner. His personal ability
and excellent habits helped his "cause wonder
fully. Mr. Editor, tho tide has turned against
predatory wealth and none can stay it. We of
the north must be considered In calculating
future success of true democracy. Minnesota and
North Dakota both went democratic last week.
We hope we have been divorced from gang and
gag rule forever."
TREASON!
The New York World says: "it has been
thirty years since a governor of the first rank
sat in the executive office at Albany," yet, Gro
ver Cleveland and Theodore Roosevelt held tho
governor's office during the last thirty years. In
what rank would the World place these eminent
gentlemen?
KttjitoadtefeMi--