The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-10-27
THE DUTY OF
INDEPENDENTS.

Whats Really Independent Republican
Paper Has to Say. Upon the Subject and
Regarding the Chances in the Guberna-
torial Contest-How Independent Voters
Can Make Their Votes Count For Reform.
The Pittsburg Dispatch is the leading
Independent Republican paper of west
ern Pennsylvania. 1t is independent in
1act, and not alone by profession. It is
owned and edited by men who have
convictions, are not afraid or ashamed
10 express them, and 1t labors diligently
ana effectively for reform-within its
party lines when possible; outside them
when duty to the state and people de-
mands. The following editorial article
appeared in the Dispatch of Oct. IL:
The citizen who desires in this elec-
tion to cast his vote for clean govern
ment, irrespective of the ordinary ties
OF party, will naturally ask: How can
make my vote most effective to secure
that end?" He has two candidates to
choose from, jerks and Swallow. Both
men are sincere and conscientious: each
stands for honest government, and Ell
ther one, IL elected, w. faithfully do
his best, according to his ability, to BEN
eft the whole people and not CORPORA
tions or political machines. How shall
the voter choose between them?
Theintelligent voter, carefully studying
this question, will make his decision by
the answers to the two following aues.
tions: First, which of these two -andi-
dates Is likely to receive the largest
vote. and. therefore. which is my vote
most likely to help in electing; and, sec
ond, which of the two is the best
equipped to serve in public affairs, and,
therefore. will be most efficient in carry
Ing out the public work Of reform? Take
the facts. and there is little doubt as to
the answer to either question.
First. Mr.. Jenks has the united Demo-
cratic vote Of Pennsylvania for a nu-
cleus. At the last election for governor,
with an apathy that was overwhelming.
the vote was 1893. 404: at the election for
governor before that 1t was $4,000: at
the national election of 1896 It was 427,-
1875; at the national election of 1892 II
was 452. .264. The average of these votes
is 420,00
On the other hand, DIR. Swallow
has the Prohibition vote for a nucleus.
This vote in 1890 was 18,108, and in
1894 1t was 23,433. Last year, when,
except for Mr.. Thompson's candidacy,
DR.. Swallow was the candidate dis
tinctly representing reform, he polled
100000 votes; IN the presidential elec-
tion of 1896 the Prohibition ticket re-
ceived 1924 votes. If we take the av-
erage of the Prohibition VOTE as in the
Democratic case. 1t has been Al, ,000 The
average Republican vote for the same
elections has been 532, 900. 1t will take
the change of but $1,000 independent
Republicans to overcome the average
Republican plurality. It would require
q change of 243.500 votes to bring the
average Prohibition vote up to the
average Republican; or II we suppose
DIR. Swallow to start with his vote of
last year, the change required will be
100000. In other words, an Independent
Republican vote given to Jenks will be
nearly four times as effective as one
given to Swallow.
Second. The Independent voter wants
the best equipped man in Office. A
conscientious voter will select the one
who, by training and experience, can do
the best work for reform. Which of
the two is It? Every one admits that
George A. Jenks is a man of marked
standing and high ability at the bar.
He has had experience in the making
of laws, in the Interpretation of them
and in their administration. He has
served in congress; he took a leading
place among the noted men who ap-
peared in the Hayes-Tilden controver-
BY, and efficiently discharged the duties
Of solicitor general of the treasury. DIR.
Swallows life has been that of a min
lister of the gospel, an editor of a
weekly paper, and an aggressive free
lance candidate for state treasurer.
Honorable and useful records. both Of
them, but can there be any doubt AZ to
which affords the best evidence of
qualification for the discharge of the
luties of the governorship as the peo-
lie want them discharged?