Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-30
THE SENATE SIZED UP.
Personnel of the Court Called to Try
Celebrated Case.
REPUBLICANS HAVE THE VOTERS,
But the Democrats Have the Old Timers
and the Orators.
A CHANCE FOR BOLD JACK ROBINSON
rsrEc1Ab TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.

at the Continental to the Democratic head
quarters at Penn Square, from the Custom
House where Tom Cooper sits, like Mat
thew, at the receipt of the custom" down TO
the club houses and the favorite resorts of
the politicians small and great, Governor
Pattison's latest move is the subject of dis
cussiOn.
Why did he call it? To this the Demo-
Gratis answer patriotic duty" and Rcpubli-
cans politics"
What evidence has he against Bower and
NcCamant? Nothing but what has been al
ready made public, say the Republicans.
"And isn't that enough to satisfy honest men
that they're guilty. cry the Democrats.
What effect will il have on the election?
''None at all, - answer the Republicans with
confidence that sounds just little forced
"The vcters will see through his little
scheme" And the Democrats just as loud
" cry, at will show to the people the cor
ruption which has had its fountain head in
the Treasury Department for quarter of a
century. and they will sweep the gang
which has fattened on it out of existence in
November"
And so the thing gees. Already the two
men whose good names and standing are at
stake are being lost sight of, and the ques-
tion is assuming a merely partisan and po-
litical aspect.
REPUBLICANS CANNOT HIDE THEIR FEARS.
Both sides realize its importance That
1t will have an influence and effec; uron the
coming election all Republicans must admit
10 themselves, whatever they may say pub
liclv. They fear the situation and its prob
able complications. In view OF what has
been brought TO light. affairs are in veIy un-
satisfactory shape. IF there is anything
worse behind. it can only add to the diff
Guilty. The Democrats have little, if any
thing to lose, let it result as it may. If the
guilt Of The accused officials is established,
the Democrats will reap an advantage. If
nothing further is brought out and the Re-
publicanS carry the State, the Democrats
can saw, at was hopeless fight, anyhow.
We never expected TO win. y
But there is going to be a fight from now
until the election. and the three hottest
weeks will be those which lie between Oc-
tober Is and November 3. 1t will he such
a fight, so tar as charges, countercharges |
and vituperation 60, as the State has not |
seen since the one which ended i'm the elec- |
tion Of Hartranft in 1872. and set the seal of |
defeat on the Presidential ambitions of |
Horace Greeley Both sides are playing |
for the biggest stakes that have lain on the I!
table Of political chance for MANY years. 1t |
is true this isn't 4 Presidential year, but it |
is the wear preceding one: and while Penn |
Sylvania has gone Democratic several times |
since the Republican party was formed, she |
has never left her moorings two years in |
succession, nor in the wear preceding the |
Presidential fight What effect, then, would |
Republican defeat have in this wear of |
grace, 1891? How would it fare with the
Blaine boom. so auspiciously launched at
the late State Convention, did the Republi-
cans of the native State Of the imam from
Maine repudiate ticket framed amid the !
enthusiasm evoked by the mention of his |
name and standing on n platform whose |
most prominent plank was one which in
everything but the very words themselves I
proclaimed him Pennsylvania choice in !
1892? How would this second defeat affect |
Quav's chances in the Senatorial fight next |
wear? And how about the Democratic
stakes? Governor Pattison has twice been
elected ii is true, but ii has always been
argued that his success was due TO the
weakness Of his opponents, not TO his own
strength. Let his party carry Pennsylvania
this fall. on an issue which he has thus
made the issue of the campaign, and, with
Hill and Cleveland fighting in New York,
what might not be the result of the delibera-
convention?
1t is No wonder, therefore, that both par
ties are agog with interest and excitement
as TO the outcome of the extra session. And
the question which Republicans are begin
ming 10 most seriously consider iust now is
who shall take the lead on their side in the
Senate. Il is always easier to attack than
defend, and in this contest the Democrats
will make the charges, while the Repub-
icans will have TO be on the defensive.
THE SENATE NOT WHAT 1T USED TO BE.
1t is a plainly apparent fact that the
Senate of Pennsylvania is a weaker body
than it has been for many years The older
leaders. on both sides, have dropped out,
and men have taken their places, who in
some instances lack the ability, and in |
others the experience TO take their places. |
Wallace, Cooper, Hall, Herr, Mcneil, |
RUtan, Reyburn, Gordon, Newmyer have |
gone, and their seats are filled by men who |
are, not vet, at least, able 10 take the part |
they would have taken in such a battle as is |
now approaching. The Republican side |
appears to have suffered most. 1t lost the |
shrewdest adviser, the readiest debater and
best parliamentarian the Senate had seen
for years when Tom Cooper resigned his
seat tor the Collectorship, while Herr, of
Dauphin, Mcneil, of Allegheny, and Rev
burn, of Philadelphia, all serving in the
memorable extra session of 1888, would have
been of great service in the coming contest.
Judging from the proceedings of the last
session, ii looks as though the brunt of the
battle would fall upon General Goblin and
Jack" Robinson. The latter has certainly
an excellent chance to win his spurs and
show the League of Republican Clubs it
made no mistake in electing him its Presi-
dent He has the ability, and can make a
batter, quick to take advantage of a flaw in
his opponents armor, and has wonderful
faculty for saying most unpleasant things
in a most unpleasant way. General Gobin's
stvlc is heavier than the Delaware Senator's,
palmer and soldier, as becomes one who has |
TO talk most 10 Pennsylvania Dutch audi
ences and iuries, but he is a good lawyer
and argues we'll Penrose and Grady are !
the only ones in the delegation of eight /
from Philadelphia who take much part in |
debate.
MORE WORKERS THAN ORATORS.
Practical politics, that system which has |
only place for the workers" and the ''hus- |
tiers, - has kept the Quaker City from tax
ing the place among the lawmakers that she I
is justly entitled to. Senators Porter. !
Grouse, Smith, Thomas, Becker and Os- |
bourn are good political workers and shrewd !
pVl4.Ildiisi dNdNS va cuIul ONCi 4 hiA'uSA-
phIa's interests, but at give and take de- |
bate, or a discussion of a legal or constltu- |
tional question, they wouldn't ''be in it !"
Penrose talks well when he will talk, but |
doesn't care tG overwork himself, while |
Grady is somewhat given to carplng at little |
things. Newell, of Bradford, Smith, of |
Lancaster, keefer, Of Schuylkill, Woods, of |
Perry, Lemon. of Blair, Showalter, of But
ler, take up little time in debate and Me- |
hard, Of Mercer, Crawford, of Yenango, and