Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-11-14

Oh IAlTHeSS inherent III luo mass "a
the people who would naturally re-
sent every such scheme, however
subtle as an attempt to create an Of
fice-holding junta. The constitution
bars succession on the part OF the
governor and a transfer of the office,
through his efforts to his attorney
general, or his private secretary
would be even less desirable. With
most members of the Republican par
ty of Pennsylvania "a fair field and
no favor" is the correct principle.
Any man who aspires ought to be able
to do so on equal terms with any
other man in the party, and without
having to run the gauntlet of opposi-
ton from the state administration.
refer to this particularly. because
since | came to Harrisburg | have
heard ii stated, no less than a dozen
times, that the present attorney gen.
eral is the .'residuary legatee" of the
executive for the governship. This is
something new even for the practical
politics of Pennsylvania. l don't be-
lieve that General Hartranft, who
ond term to forward the gubernatorial
ambitions Of any member Of his cabi-
net | do nos think such a thing was
thought of unde' Governor Hoyt, or
Governor Hastings, or any other gov
ernor in the memory of the present
f.~s1era.ion until now. So far as
can ascertain, it is not looked upon
with favor in the present instance;
because. if successful, it will establish
the sinister precedent Of having he
chef magistrate of the common
wealth us.rg his Office to elect a sue
cessor on among his Official family,
ari. so. -sc.Ibing the opportuni-
Il ) of those VINO are not so fortuna .e
as 10 receive appointments to his
cabinet
If this undesirable ii ng can be ac-
compiishea now, way not four years
hence: aad if thsn, why not four
years later. and 50 on al infinitum.
This is why | agree with those who
think it would be a good thing if the
constitutional provision which pre-
vents the governor from succeeding
hinself, were extended to the mem
bers OF his cabinet
The Good Of the State.
The men who framed our present
co1s.i ution were about the most in
tei,igent and earnest that could pos
sibly have been chosen for that great
duty They were straightforward
mon, holding ragged views of right
safeguarding the rights of the people
as well as it was possible to do 80 in
the state charter. They felt 1t was
not for the good of the COM
monwealth that governor
should succeed himself and they
said so. they knew if it were per-
miss2ble for him to do this, he would,
especially if ne were more politician
than statesman, devote most of first
term planning as to how he could
best insure his election to a second.
We have had high-minded governors
in the past who would scorn to stoop
to such business; but this was before
the era of political cunning which has
invaded high places. The makers of
lHe constitution desired 10 keep Ine
office of the executive and its sur
roundings above and beyond the
reach of compromise with evil, and,
SO, they made the reelection OF the
governor, as his own immediate sue
cessor an impossibility. am sure,
had they looked a little further they
might have taken equal precaution
against keeping the Office in the Of
fetal family of the chief magistrate of
the commonwealth.
| am inclined to think that it is not
the wisest plan to select members of
congress for our governors. Down
there at Washington they seem to be-
get a disregard for the state constitu-
ton which is not shared by those who
receive their political training in the
service of the state, and a careful OBJ
server cannot fail to have noticed
something of this sort in the history
of recent legislation here
HeadN ss- STREPHON
A Choice of Cures.