Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-11-29

anu NNMhinlHNL supporter Ul Ulh NhIAN
and its policy, is the firm and unwav-
ering advocate OF unity and no fac
tionlst. That Is just the type Of man
Colonel Watres Is, as his public record
attests The possibilities
Of Mr.. Pattison's candidacy have given
rise to a good deal Of political specuia-
ton. One theory which ! heard adj
vanced today will bear repetition here.
II Is that in case Mr. Pattison should
be elected governor Of Pennsylvania
next year, he will most likely be the
presidential nominee Of his party in
1904. As the governor OF the great
Republican state Of Pennsylvania for
the third time, he would be invincible
IN the Democratic National Conven-
tlon. The glamor of his thrice re-
peated success In the very Gibraltar Of
kepublicanism would make him a
striking figure, and carry an inspiring
prestige. It would hold out the hope
that the man who could achieve SO
much would be most likely TO carry the
state In a presidential campaign, and
II there should be turn of the tide OF
prosperity by that time who can pre-
dict what might take place. This Is
the thought underlying Mr.. Pattison's
and 1t has it's destinations
for a good many Democratic minds. ]
believe there is enough in It to give
the Republican managers food for
situation is sufficiently grave to set
thinking seriously, not
only In Pittsburg, but throughout the
state.
IMPORTANCE OF NEXT YEARS
ELECTION.
Let US look for a moment at the i'm
portant offices to be filled in next years
election. In addition to the governor,
there's congress, the state legislature,
and, incidental to the Legislature a
United States senator to succeed Sena-
tor Penrose, not to speak of the minor
Offices to be filled throughout the COM
monwealth, and which will be largely
influenced by the result Of the state
election, as was the case in the cleo
tlon held this month. Now the battle
will revolve around the candidate for
governor. If he Is factionist he will
split the party throughout the state,
and imperil not only his own chance
OF election, but strike down candidates
for congress in close districts, and
make possible the election of a legisla-
ture that will elect a Democratic sue
cessor to Senator Penrose in the United
States senate. Can the party afford to
confront such grave possibilities for
disaster by going into next years cam
paign handicapped by a factional cam
didate for governor, and so run the
risk of losing the governship, United
States senator, congressman, and the
legislature, in addition to bringing to
the fore a Democrat of destiny for
president of the United States, for so
Mr.. Pattison will be regarded If he
should again be elected governor OF
Pennsylvania? And, in case there
should be a slump In the present ma
tional prosperity by the time 1904 rolls
around and a wave of discomfort
should follow as a natural result then
look out for the Democrat who carried
Pennsylvania three times, and make
way for him to the White House
THE PITTSBURG FACTIONS.
Since coming to Pittsburg, a few
weeks ago, l have had an opportunity
to study the operations of political fac
tionalism at short range. / am free
to confess, without prejudice TO either
side, that ! am not favorably impressed
with 1t. From the beginning of time
faction and schism have been hurtful
to the human family and ruinous to
organizations and parties. The fac
tional feuds which rend the peace of
Pittsburg at the present time are the
result of the notorious "ripper" law
which is proving a Pandora's box to
this city, its government, its people
and its politicians. 1t has produced
discord where harmony prevailed prior
to its enactment, and made sworn enc
mics of friends who up to its introduc-
tion we're closely allied in politics and
social life. My judgment, as a casual
observer, is that 1t will never provide
a stable government for this city. be-
cause 1t is too revolutionary In its
operation, as It surely was in its incep-
tion. | may be mistaken in my esti-
mate OF its permanent value in the
years to come, but / certainly make
no mistake in regarding it at present
as one of the most misunderstanding
faction breeding laws ever placed on
the statute books OF this state In
contemplating it one feels as If no
terms would be too violent to condemn
It, In saying this let me not be mis-
understood as desiring to say aught
against the men who are holding Office
under It or those opposed to them. Both
stand well, and deservedly. Having no
FEELING whatever Of personal nature
In the matter, / think / may say with
all sincerity that Recorder Brown and
his friends are men who would reflect
credit upon any community, and the
same is true Of those who oppose him
The ugly feature Of the situation is the
spirit of faction by which it is per-
meated. A close study Of the Pittsburg
situation will not make any iudiciOus
Republican anxious for the spread of
faction, with its demOralizing tenden-
cies to the party throughout the state
/ saw a good illustration of the
spirit of faction in one Of the news
papers here today telling Of freak of
nature at the Zoo in Central Park, New
York It is a two-headed snake. Both
heads Of the reptile are perfectly de-
veloped, and so rare indeed is the
specimen that unusual care is exer-
eised by its keepers to keep 1t alive
But this Is no easy task. The queer
creature is entirely tranquil until food
is brought Then the two heads, that
have hitherto maintained a peaceful
attitude, suddenly swell with rage and
determination, each anxious to destroy
what It regards as its mortal enemy
With one body and two hostile heads
this reptile, IL seems to me, furnishes
striking example of the blind, un-
reasoning force Of faction as it exists
in Pittsburg today, and as 1t may exist
in the party throughout Pennsylvania
unless prudence prevails in the nomi-
nation of a candidate for governor
whose name will carry with It an as
surance that factionalism will not be
encouraged or promoted and whose
election would be a victory not for a
mere faction, but for the entire Repub-
lican party from end to end of the
commonwealth.
The man whose past record and pres
ent Views measure up to this high
standard, and under whose administra-
tion all members Of the party may ex-
pect fair treatment, Is the man around
whom to rally at this time He is
Colonel L. A. Watres, straight-out
Republican, and no factiOnist the firm
advocate Of unity. His name would be
a certain guarantee Of victory in the
state campaign, and his candidacy
would leave no room for bitterness
anywhere. The nomination Of such a
man for governor would have the eff