Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-11-07
JENKS A WINNER.

| " 80 'A.'o A. ~ - AlAe
THE TREND OF PUBLIC SENTI-
MENT ON THE GUBERNATORIAL
ISSUE MADE MANIFEST BY THE
| CHANGED AND STILL CHANGING
ATTITUDE OF THE HERETOFORE
ANTAGONISTIC OR NON-COMMIT-
TAI NEWSPAPERS-IF ALL THE
DEMOCRATS COME OUT AND
STAND FAITHFUL JENKS AND
HIS COLLEAGUES ARE SURE
WINNERS.
Two weeks ago Hon. George A. jerks
mad but one friend among all the news
papers in Philadelphia, but one that
had faith in even the remotest possi-
bility of his election. But since then
the people have heard and seen Mr..
jerks, and the Philadelphia newspa-
pers have evidently heard from the
| people.
The Philadelphia Press, claiming to
| be the leading Republican journal in
| the state, said edit" tally on Sunday:
| mo one question: Mr.. Jenks' capac-
ity, high character and unusual attain
ments as a lawyer. In many respects
he would make an ideal governor;
nothing could be better than to have
the crude work of the Legislature sub
jected to his keen scrutiny and sharp
criticism, and winnowed by the vetoes
of one of the greatest lawyers in Penn
sylvania. Pennsylvania has rarely had
governor so well qualified for its
| duties as President Clevelands solic-
itor general Yet how can Repub.i-
cans vote for man who is a free sill
yer Democrat? True, there is no mint
In Harrisburg, and Mr.. jerks views on
silver bear no relation to the duties he
would be called on to perform as gov
ernor. His Democracy, too, is rather
of the old fashioned type of the Jere
Black George Sharswood, Charles r.
Buckalew variety. Nevertheless. Re-
publicans will pause long and debate
much before they bring themselves to
vote for a free silver Democrat, how
ever great his attainments, unimpeach-
able his character and profound his
learning"
At the same time The Press, in an
swer to the inquiry of a Republican,
who is against Stone, whether he
should vote for Swallow or jerks, said
first conceding DR.. Swallows honesty
and good intentions:
There are many, however, who,
while wishing him well, are not salts
fled that he has the sobriety of judg-
| ment and sound horse sense necessa-
ry to make a safe and successful chief
executive of such difficult and com
plex institution as the commonwealth
of Pennsylvania"
If this is not asking that jerks be
voted for, as far and as plainly as a
Republican would dare ask such
thing, then there is no meaning In "the
kings English"
On Monday McClure's Times, which
has been all along insisting that jerks
had no chance of election whatever,
and that Swallow was the man to
support, in the course of a lengthy ar
ticle on the situation, said:
Colonel Stone is weaker today be-
fore the people of Pennsylvania than
lie has been at any time since his NOM
| ination for governor, and Mr.. jerks.
the Democratic candidate, is certainly
stronger today than he has been since
| his nomination at Altoona. DIR. Swal-
| lows loose aggregation of enthusiastic
| but undiSciplined free thinkers in pol
itics, has suffered during the last fort
| night by the attacks of the regular ar
mics of the old parties, but he has
made a most gallant fight. and to
whatever extent he has lost in the va
rying political tides Is due wholly to
ostentatious incompetency in the lead
ership of his organization and not in
any degree due to himself
THE vote of Colonel Stone is not
likely to exceed 400, 900, and it Is pos
sble that 1t may be from 80, 1000 to SO, 900
less If he shall receive 400, 900 votes
his election would be assured. but If
he shall be reduced to ,000 as is quite
possible, his defeat would seem newt
able; and in the present political tides.
which are not likely now to be changed
on the brief homestretch, Mr.. jerks
would be the winner. There Is one
possible chance for DR., Swallow, and
that is a groundswell from the silent
voters of the state. His forces are
without effective organization and his
cause would be better today If he had
been without any organization at all,
but it is remotely possible that his en-
tire freedom from machine complica-
tions may give him the dsaffected vote
of the state that certainly embraces
close to one-half of the whole people,
but all the surface indications now
point to a contest on the homestretch
between Stone and jerks, with the
success of jerks quite possible
The Ledger and others equally un-
friendly, very short time ago. have,
In a similar way, changed their minds
and are giving now, some of them
| grudgngly, 1t is true, but all so that
| the wayfaring man can understand
their belief that Mr.. jerks is the COM
ing man.
Now, collate with this the coming
to Mr. jerks support of the Pittsburg
Leader the leading Republican even
ing paper of that city. The Dispatch,
of Pittsburg. the best known independ-
ent Republican paper of the state. was
already with him. On Oct. 80 the
Leader said: