The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-18
Time for Reason to Rule.

Time for Reason to Rule.
1t is high time for the disaffected Re-
publican voters in Pennsylvania to put
aside feelings of personal dislike for
certain Republican leaders and con-
slider the political situation in this state
in the broad light of common sense.
Four years ago the Republican ticket
in Pennsylvania won at the polls by
plurality closely approximating 100000
votes; two years ago it's plurality eX-
ceeded 100000 votes. In each of these
years there were Republicans of con-
siderable number who entertained per-
sonal dislike for individual Republican
leaders within the state, with cause no
greater now than then; but these Re-
publicans subordinated their personal
antipathy to the larger interests of
their party, and we don't believe that
one Of them has since regretted it. The
vote of four years ago put into the gov
ernor's chair in the person of Daniel II.
Hastings an executive whose admins
tration has been efficient, honorable
and progressive; and the vote for Nc
kinley helped to elect a president now
recognized universally as one of the
best that this country has ever had
This year, when all the rumor and
clamor and accusation which have been
maiciously injected into the canvass
| is sfted down, no fact appears which
reflects in any degree upon the Repuh-
lican state ticket. The worst that has
been said against the nominee for gov
ernor, Colonel Stone. is that he has
been friendly to Senator Quay; but so
had Hastings been and so had McKin-
ley. IT is not asserted that Stone is
dishonest, that he is unprincipled, that
he lacks in ability or experience. On
| the contrary. a long career in public
| life, into which he lifted himself by his
! own individual energy and grit over
! the handicaps of poverty and limited
| opportunity when youth, has shown
William A. stones fitness for executive
| trusts and has exhibited those admir-
| able traits of large-hearted personal
| character which endear him most to
! those brought most closely into contact
with him.
The men who have made personal as.
sault and detraction are unusually ac-
tive factor in the Present campaign
have not spared Colonel Stone because
of any feeling of chivaIry or generosity,
! but because their painstakinG searches
into the details of his career brought
forth no ammunition which they could
employ against him. The front and sum
| of hDir nbi 10 i'm, &c hot in iS
| canvass for the nomination he received
| in some instances the cooperation of
Senator Quay. Had he been nominated
without that help his canvass would
| present absolutely no point whatever
| at which Republican opponents of
Quay could direct their arrows of
criticism. We do not believe that the
Republicans of Pennsylvania propose
| to so out of politics as a party and
turn the state government over to the
Democrats simply because their own
admirable nominee for governor num-
bers among his many friends the senior
member from Pennsylvania in the SEN
ate of the United States. Whether they
admire Quay or not, to sacrifice their
party for so small a reason would in
a common sense view seem the height
| of childish folly.
One of three men will for four years
beginning next January be governor of
the state--Swallow, jerks or Stone
The first has no experience in public
affairs and no well-organized party
back of him; his temperament is OBJ
jectionable and to make him governor
would be to put Pennsylvania along
side Kansas, Nebraska and the other
disorganized western states that in eX-
cesses of similar emotiOnalism have
chosen freak executives. jerks is per-
sonally a man of ability; but politically
he is the creation of the worst elements
in the Democratic party, an opponent
| of the government during the civil war
a Free Silverite in 1896 and in ever;
way different from what the great, Wig
orous Keystone state needs and requires
to preside over its executive affairs. Col
onel Stone alone, in personal quality
and record and in representation OF
public policy, measures up to the high
office, and his election will satisfy the
truest interests Of the people.