The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-03-20
NOMINATE ElklN
Some cogent Reasons Why the State
Boss Should Be Standard-Rearer.


Boss Should Be Standard-Bearer.
1t is not often that the North Ameri-
can finds it possible to agree with the
machine or its organ in any matter OF
state politics or local governmental
fact which goes far to confirm conf
dence in the correctness of the North
Americans views-but it feels con-
strained by the force of logic to ap-
prove the selection of John p. Elkin as
the machines candidate for governor.
BY character, attainments and achieve
ment, Mr.. Elkin is pre-eminently quail
flied to carry the standard of the or
ganization. The organ Of the machine
truly says that his career is one that
the young men might study with profit
to themselves" To young man fit
ting himself for the practice of medi-
cine, the study of a well-developed case
Of cancer would be valuable An as
pirant for judicial honors might de-
rive benefit from thorough acquain-
tance with the history of Jeffreys or
Bacon or the career of Potter. To
the young Pennsylvania ambitious
to serve his state in political Office, we
heartily recommend studious contem-
plation of the career of John p. Elkin.
The North Americans reason for en-
dorsing the choice of Mr.. Elkin as the
machine candidate are not precisely
those advanced by the exuberant organ
in support of its action in making him
not only the organizations, but its
own especial favorite. The fact that
he was born in log house in Indiana
county" does not seem to be an ade-
quate reason for nominating him; and,
moreover, when the statement is
coupled by the organ with the remark
able assertion that Mr.. Elkin "is self
made in every sense of the word" we
must necessarily doubt that he was
born in a log house or anywhere else
Interesting as we may find this theory
OF the autogenesis of an Elkin, it fails
to appeal to us with much force as an
argument in favor of certain line of
political action.
The North American fayors the
nomination of John p. Elkin by the
machine for the single and simple rea-
son that he is thoroughly representa-
tive of the machine, the embodiment
and epitome of machine politics and
machine morals. He is regularity"
personified. His record and the ma
chimes record are written in the same
hand and identical terms upon the
same page of Pennsylvania's political
history. When he began his political
career-the career which young men
might study with profit-he said to the
machine: Where thou goest l will
60" and he has kept that pledge and
gone along not only without hesita-
ton, but with joyous alacrity.
AS the machine candidate for gov
ernor, John P. Elkin will command the
support of every political automaton
whose civic creed is expressed in the
word regularity" Of every political
pervert whose guiding motto is "any
old thing to win;" of every retainer
of the bosses, big and little; every
client of the private license bureau,
and every mythical voter, dead or
alive, on the padded list. His name at
the head Of the ticket will blazon its
character and leave no honest citizen
in doubt as to his own duty on election
day.
The North American is unqualifiedly
in favor of the nomination of John p.
Elkin by the Quay machines state
convention. He is literally the ''logi-
cal candidate" of the gang and its
squalid organ.