The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-27
A Pecipe for Harmony.

Representative Adams, a Philadel-
phan on terms of considerable inti-
macy with the senior representative of
this commonwealth in the United States
senate, is quoted in a dispatch ftom
the national capital to the Wilkes
Barre Record as saying advisedly that
the Independent candidacy of Mr.. New
itt for receiver of taxes in Philadelphia
will be called off by its sponsors. Mr..
Penrose and Mr. Durham, out of def
renee to the earnest desire of Colonel
Quay for harmony in the Republican
ranks. It will be recalled that the
hewitt candidacy was set up by a mi
no,ity which boltcd the regular Repub-
liCan cunyeutioa after being beaten in
that convention two to one.
We do not know whether this report
is true nor whether. if true and in due
course verified, it would suffice wholly
to allay the very considerable evil
wrought in the public mind by the cir
cumstanCcs attending the bolt itself
The calling off of hewitt, while highly
crcditable to Senator Quay's perspica-
city as a politician, would no doubt
still leave a bad taste in the mouths
Of those Republicans throughout the
commonwealth who, as the vote for Dr.
Swallow clearly indicated, are becom-
ing somewhat tired of "set ups and
"knock downs" on the political chess
board, concerning which the people
themselves, while expected to foot all
the bills Of expense, have apparently
the least to say. As a matter of party
regularity hewitt should of course re-
tire, inasmuch as among Republicans
who believe in regularity as the great
est of party virtues he now has not @
leg to stand on. But will his retire
ment alone suffice to disperse the storm
clouds which are slowly gathering along
the Republican horizon in Pennsylva-
mia?
IT is our belief that the hewitt affair
is simply one incident, and by no means
the most ominous, in a flock Of sig
nificant and portentous facts. Much
more dangerous to the prospects of the
party in the approaching gubernatorial
campaign is the spectacle afforded in
the methods employed by those most
actively engaged in promoting the cam
didacy for governor Of the Hon. Will
liam A. Stone, Of Allegheny. Here, ac-
cording to seemingly trustworthy re-
ports not yet responsibly denied, we
have the anomalous condition of state
chairman and many direct lieutenants
in the regular party organization at
work with the prestige arising from
their official position within the party.
seeking to encompass the nomination
of a man for whom there is among the
masses no audible call, and against
whose candidacy there can be brought
the same charge of political manipula-
ton and disregard of public opinion
which eight years ago proved fatal to
a then equally popular citizen of North
western Pennsylvania, George Wallace
Delamater. Does tbs tend to encour-
age harmony in the party? Is it cali
culated TO popularize the organization
among friends of the other candidates? a?
Evidently not.
We feel disposed to credit Senator
Quay with sincerity in his reported de-
reasons of his own for such prefer
en- e. That under any circumstances
he could effect his own reelection next
winter is very probable; but the tri-
umph would be robbed of it's sparkle
If at about the same time the executive
mansion at Harrisburg should be CIV
ing shelter to the third Democratic
governor elected in this stalwart Re-
publican commonwealth since Hon
Matthew Stanley Quay became the rec
ognlzed Republican leader of it. To
avert such party misfortune with
its element of personal rebuke. Senator
Quay has only to follow to the limit
his own better judgment, which urges
him, We believe with increasing en-
phasis, to cut adrift those who abuse
his favor and stand forth assertively
in behalf Of political fair play.