Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-11-15
THE STATE ELECTION
Some Of the Lessons Suggested by
the Vote Of Pennsylvania,



the voters Of Pennsylvania on Tues
day last, renders an intelligent survey
of the situation possible at this writ
ing. The first impression one receives
is that a great many regular Republi-
cans voted for the Fusion candidates
for the office OF supreme court jus
tice and state treasurer, and that with
more time and energy on the part Of
the Fusionists, who did not IN reality
make their nominations until the
closing days of the canvass, they could
have made even greater inroads on
the majority.
It would be futile 10 ignore the fact
that this outcome Of a comparatively
tranquil canvass is due to the deep
and widespread discomfort caused by
legislative rapacity, executive con-
tempt for the will Of the people, and
the lowering of the judicial tone as
revealed in the disclosures made by
the leading Republican newspapers of
the state It would be superfuous to
supply a bill of particulars; every in
telligent reader knows the facts, and
knows. also, that they cannot be gain
said The great Republican majority
of Pennsylvania has registered its
disapproval of the men and methods
at the head Of the party in unmistak-
able terms, and in such a manner that
he who runs may read. 1t will not do
to say that this is "an of year." and
that the defect in the Republican vote
Is not as significant as it might other
wise be. 1t Is a warning and a whole
some one to the men in charge of af-
fairs that unless they modify their
methods, and get closer to the people
in the choice OF candidates for i'm
portant places, they viii receive even
a more emphatic rebuke next year,
when more important Offices and is
sues are to be at stake.
THE MAJORITY PARTY.
with its great majority and its
power for usefulness in the common
wealth, there is no reason why the
Republican party should be on the
defense, or occupy the position of an
apologist, as it was compelled to do
this year It is all potent to shape
proper legislation and to defeat unjust
measures; it has the strength to take
high ground in behalf on honest pri-
maries and honestly conducted cleo
/ tions, as Colonel L. A. Watres de-
clared in a recent interview; and it
| is powerful enodgh to elect men OF
integrity and of eminent personal fit
ness to high places. The position of
| Colonel Watres, as l understand it
from his publicly expressed opinions,
is that the Republican party possesses
within itself power so ample and
so great as to enable 1t to assume
complete responsibility for the gov
ernment of this commonwealth without
fusion or alliance with any other
party whatsoever Possessing this
great advantage, why will 1t permit
itself to be shorn of its Samsonian
strength by alliance with the Delilah
of corruption, no matter what direc-
tion it may come from? II it is only
true to its own traditions its place
is secure as the dominant party of
/ the state but it must show that it is
the minister and not the master of
the people; that it is the true eX-
| preston of their sovereign will, and
not the means by which designing
men may fasten themselves securely
in place, like barnacles on a great
ship to voyage across oceans and ride
triumphantly through swelling tides
/ where they could never hope to ven
ture on their own merits. The result
of Tuesdays election was, in reality,
shaped by Republican votes, and il
Yerkes had been elected supreme
court judge and Coray state treasurer
/ it would be the work OF Republicans
as surelS as was the election Of Judge
Potter and Representative Harris.
WHAT THE VOTE SHOWS.
Although the Republican party car.
ried the staIe, the report shows that
1t was dos by greatly reduced plu-
ralities as compared with the cleo
tiOn OF two years ago. In many coun-
ties there was a remarkable falling
OF in the vote, resulting from dissatis-
faction with the Republican managers
/ and their nominees. Luzerne county,
the home Of Mr.. Coray, the Fusion
candidate for state treasurer, gave
him a tremendous vote. and Lacka-
wanna, close by. jumped clear out
OF the Republican column and gave a
surprising majority for Coray and
YeFkes. IN addition to electing the en-
tire local Democratic ticket by amaz-
ing majorities. Scranton, the princi-
pal city Of Lackawanna, took this oc-
easion to show its displeasure over the
passage OF the Ripper" act. which
swept its mayor out Of ONCE, and
put a recorder in his place. Ordi-
narily Lackawanna county is Republi-
can BY 5000 majority on Tuesday
last It gave the Domocratic ticket q
majority Of 5000 Such a sweeping
change Indicates deep-seated displeas-
ure with the state decentralization and
the methods Of the party managers.
In Northampton county the Repnbli-
cans cut their party ticket, as they
also did in Lycoming, Northumber-
land, Montgomery. Venango, Warren
and ali along the line. The remark
sble feature Of the vote in Delaware
county IL the falling Of Potter behind