The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-11-24
state Politics.
tspecIal correspondence.l

NSpcclal Correspondence.l
Philadelphia. Nov 22.-Political mat
ters in the state at large have been
rather quiet during the past week, but
the attention OF the people of the COM
monwealth is now centered upon the
| fight that is being made against the
! political machines in Philadelphia and
| Pittsburg. The citizens in both places
are in a state Of revolt. 1t should be
clearly understood, however, that they
are not fighting the Republican party in
these municipalities, but that the con-
tests are directed against the arrogant
bosses that have made the party ma
chinery offensive TO thousands of loyal
Republicans. The people admire lead
ership and will follow a brainy, ag-
gressive leader who has the interests OF
the state and the party at heart but
they will not submit to the distatlon
of self appointed political masters who
are in politics solely for personal profit
and self aggrandizement.
The fight in Philadelphia is partic-
ularly interesting. In spite of the
stories that have been circulated con-
cerning a deal between Senator Quay
and David Martin, nearly all Of the
warm political supporters of the United
States senator are now engaged in a
lively fight which has for its main OBJ
ject the dethronement of David Mar
tin as the political boss and master of
the Republican party of the Quaker
City. Mr.. Martin defiantly declares
that he will renominate and elect his
brother-in-law.W William ]. Roney, as re-
ceiver of taxes. Senator Durham and
more than half Of the active party
leaders in Philadelphia have served no
tice upon Mr.. Martin that he will do no
such thing. United States Senator PEN
rose has come out in a public interview,
in which he declares his intention of
supporting Senator Durham. He adds
that II 1t is necessary he will take the
stump in favor of the Durham candi-
date for receiver of taxes. The whole
affair is likely to have a healthy eff
feet upon the politics of Philadelphia,
and 1t may be the means of averting
worse troubles In the future.
One of the interesting events Of the
week has been the complete vindica-
ton of General Reeder from the false
and malicious charges that were made
against him by some of his bitter po-
litical opponents. Mr. Fred Van Val
kenburg, the secretary of the Bust
ness Mems League of Pennsylvania,
was compelled to pay the costs of the
prosecution after the grand jury had
ignored the indictment against Cen
eral Reeder.
Ex-Field Marshal Thomas " Cooper,
a very careful student of American pol
ltics, agrees with The Inquirer's analy-
sis of the election returns. This is the
manner in which Mr.. Cooper diagnoses
the case:
THE remarkable vote received by the
sensation loving Swallow will not bear
any sort of analysis of special discom-
fort to the Republicans His 11S,000
votes are readily traced. His Prohib-
itory colleague received half as many
votes as Swallow, or 41,OOO above the
usual Prohibitory vote. Beacon re-
ceived 10000 less than his Republican
colleague, McCauley, showing that 40,-
900 Republicans voted for Swallow. Fiji
teen thousand more voted for Thomp-
son, Independent Republican, making
$1,000 disaffected Republicans. Swal-
lows actual Prohibitory vote was $4,000,
his actual Republican vote 10000 and
his Democratic vote $4,000. So we can
readily see how this vote was manu-
factured There was Democratic dis
gust at the Reading convention and it's
Chicago platform. and there was di-
rection from some quarter to Dem
ocrats to swell the Swallow vote, so as
to help the Democratic party next
year. Returns like these are just a lit
| tie thin, not thick enough for a Re
publican revolution next year or any
other year"
An independent vote cutting from
both parties in anything like equal pro-
| portions cannot harm the Republican
/ party. Nevertheless, II behooves the
Republican party to see to it that there
is no occasion for grumbling; that there
shall be a fair contest and that the
state convention shall do its work un-
| trammeled.
There is no disposition thus far to
''slate" any one. It may be stated posi-
lively that so far as Senator Quay is
| concerned he has kept hands off.