The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-03
WANTED-H LEADER

WE are now within six weeks of the annual
election. Upon the result depends the politi-
cal complexion of the Legislature that is to
apportion the State anew for Congressman,
Senators, and Representatives. and our dele
cation to Congress may save or sacrifice Re-
publican supremacy in that body. Although
no State or national ticket is to be voted for,
the election so close at hand is one of the
greatest moment, and may control political
events for years in the future. If the Legis-
lature should be lost, Democratic power
would be assured in the State until destroyed
by Democratic folly.
1t is strange indeed that contest involving
so much is entirely without general leader
ship. A fraudulent attempt was made to
usurp the Republican organization by Senator
Cameron, through the agency of a so-called
Congressional Committee, but the protest
of the Republicans of the State was so pro-
nounoed that the open effort was abandoned.
Mr.. Covode, the regular Chairman (who
cannot have regular successor until State
Convention is held, called the State Com
mittee together, and it was generally be-
lieved that the campaign was to be
taken in hand with energy at once.
But the committee did nothing but
chill the ardor of the Republicans by for
mally discardipg the issue of constitutional
reform; and, having done its utmost to de-
stroy the vitality of the party, the general
campaign was abandoned to chance. sub
committee was appointed to look after the
doubtful districts, but, unfortunately, that
subcommittee is more likely to promote dis
cord than success. 1t is mainly managed by
prominent candidate for State Treasurer,
who is operating under the shadow of Came
ron. The care of the doubtful districts.
therefore, means simply to force nominees
who will serve the purposes of the ''ring,"
defraud the people out of an honest Republi-
can reform movement, and extend our system
of legislative debauchery until another United
States Senatorship is auctioned of to per
petuate the blistering shame of the State.
There is no general, responsible head to the
Republican party; no plan of organization;
no systematic effort to secure unity of action
and full vote. The result is intrigue, cor
ruption, and discord in many sections of the
State. In Allegheny county two full Repub-
lioan tickets are in the field, without any
pIObpoCt vi ahh u ihiAou OI
Democratic delegation in the Legislature
is certainly possible. In Washington and
Beaver, where there is one thousand
Republican majority in full vote, the legis-
lative ticket is more than doubtful, and a
Republican Congressman is likely to be sacri-
feed in the war of factions In the Erie and
Crawford district, with 1000 Republican ma
iority. the regular Senatorial nominee is
likely to be beaten because of the frauds
alleged in the primary elections, and the
Legislative nominees are not entirely secure.
In the Lycoming, Union, and Snyder district
it is feared that Republican success has been
sacrificed to promote personal ends, and a
Senator and three Representatives are placed
in doubt, where there should be 500
majority. In the double Senatorial district
rumors are rife of subordinating the wishes
of the people to promote the selfish ends of
Senatorial and Treasury rings, and If it be
accomplished two Senators and at least two
Representatives will be lost. Candidates
have been badgered by the eorruptionists to
pledge themselves to become the supple tools
of thieves, under the threat of defeat in case
they refused. In Indiana and Westuoreland
the same Uses are producing like results,
and the Legislative ticket is en-
dangered and the Congressman more
ihan Soubtu'. The same may be