Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-12-13

Of Browns removal he would never
have criticised It in public. Justice
demands that this much be said In his
behalf
THE MAN FOR THE OCCASION.
Having gone so far as to declare
virtually that John p. Elkins candi-
dacy for governor would put the party
In Jeopardy, It will be interesting to
see whether Senator Quay will pur-
sue the theory to its legitimate conclu-
sion. To substitute some other fac
tlonal OF machine candidate for Mr..
Elkin will not suffice. In fact, that
would be no Improvement on Mr. FL
kin himself, since It is not so much
the man as the method which stands
condemned. The great body of Penn
sylvania Republicans, so far as find
from a careful examination Of the feel
ing in various counties, wants a can
didate for governor who will represent
the entire party and be its standard
bearer They want O man who will
strengthen and solidify the party lines
in every one of the ga counties and in
every congressional and legislative dis
trict To set aside Mr.. Elkin and put
some "understudy" in his place would
simply be regarded as a piece of sharp
practice" and the people expect some
thing better at the hands of the party
managers this time. The man for the
occasion has been suggested by eX-
Senator Cameron, and since Cameron
ls not a candidate for any place and is
not regarded even as a boss, but
patriotic Pennsylvanian having the in
terest of his state at heart his sug-
gestion is worthy Of attention. He
for the gubernatOrial nomination, and
1t is no disparagement of other
aspirants to say that in experience,
legal training, temperament and bust
ness standing. he meets all the re-
quirements of the situation. Colonel
Watres is one of the most modest
millionaires in the state. l refer to
his wealth. not to parade It, because
he never does that himself but to show
that, in the office of governor he would
be above the reproach of scandal or the
taint of suspicion. He would be just
to all men, strong in honor. and
actusted by righteousness alone in his
dealings with rich and poor, with cor
poratiOns and workers alike. The fact
that he was elected lieutenant gov
ernor the second time Pattison was
elected governor, proves his mettle as
campaigner and his popularity with
the people of the state 1t is also an
assurance of his fitness through an
experience broadened by his service in
the state senate, and as chairman of
the Republican state committee, not to
speak of the numerous local positions
| filled by him. from bank clerk to bank
| president, and as the law adviser of
Lackawanna county in the critical days
Of its formative period. Take these
things, in addition to the fact that he
is now in the prime Of life, being in his
/ 51st year, and you have in Colonel
Watres an ideal candidate for gov
ernor. He entered upon the duties Of
| lieutenant governor before he was quite
40, and the decade since passed has
been one of development, ripening and
rounding out Added to these are his
descent from patriotic, revolutionary
New England stock; his birth and
| training as a Pennsylvania, and his
/ thorough knowledge of the duties of
the executive, all of which argue elo-
quently for his candidacy and make
| him tower of strength with Republi-
cans throughout the state.
No name is more frequently OF favor
ably mentioned among the people than
that of Colonel Watres. With him as
the Republican standard bearer the
victory would not be in doubt for a
| single moment, and nothing would be
| lost. The legislature, which now seems
most uncertain, owing to the rotten
record made at the state capital by the
last general assembly, with it's rip
per" laws, its trolley grabs" and kim
dred acts Of infamy, would be saved,
and thus the election Of a United
States senator mace certain, the con-
gressional districts would not be split
by the ugly spirit of faction, and the
| state would be anchored safely in its
old place, occupying its proud position
at the head of the column Of Republi-
/ can cOmmOnWealths whose continued
prestige is the glory Of the republic.
! THE MARROW AND THE BROAD
VIEW.
The narrow view to take of next
years campaign is that the substitu-
ton of some other machine candidate
for Attorney General Elkin would sat
| isfy the popular demand This is a
worthy of consideration. If machine
! or a factiOnal candidate is to be nomi-
mated for governor, why then it might
as we'll be Mr. Elkin as anybody else
so far as the result is concerned. The
need of the time is a candidate who
Is more at stake than the governorship
and the standard-bearer next year
should be a man who will not imperil
the prospects OF any other Republican
candidate In a congressional, senator
ial representative or county election
This is the broad view to take Of the
outlook. With a truly representative
Republican, like Colonel Watres, nOmi-
mated for governor the impetus of the
campaign would extend through all
the state and give zest to party en-
thusiasm in every district. IL would
spell victory all along the line, and re-
kindle the smoulderiug spirit OF Re
publicanism throughout Pennsylvania
Is not this worth thinking about? II
Is something that concerns every Re
publican who aspires to Office apd every
Republican who desires to see lis party
successful. The experience Of last No
vember shows that undesirable candi-
dates may sometimes pull through in
the state, owing 70 the great strength
OF the party as a whole, but that even
In achieving this result the reflex in
huence of their unpOpularity means de-
feat for other candidates In city, and
county and district.
Republicans do not want a repeti-
ton Of this experience. They do not
want an unpopular factiOnal candidate
for governor, who may possibly pull
through himself but who will do so al
down the list from congressman tC
constable. This is the idea that should
prevail in the selection of delegates tc
the state convention.
There may be other gubernatorial
candidates whose nomination would
contribute to party success quite as
well as that Of Colonel Watres, but q
careful scrutiny Of the state fails to re-
veal them to the naked eye. His known
qualifications proclaim him the man
for the occasion. His nomination would
INN InmnL Lar The Pam linn Nnnlicun