Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-02-07
THE TWO CANDIDATES
The Choice Between Colonel Wat
res and Attorney General Blkin.


Watres-Hls Record Without .
stsIn-Tlme For Republicans to Aoi
In Choosing Delegates to the stat,
Convention.
Harrisburg. FEB. s.-Awithin the
past week a decided interest has been
developed in the state campaign I'm
I'll few days ago Colonel waires
Of Lackawanna. was the only Repub
lican candidate in the field for the gu
bernatoriai nomination. but the re
cent action Of the Indians county com
mittee In proclaiming the candidacy
of Attorney General Elkin. brings
squarely before the Republicans o.
Pennsylvania the men and the issues
that are to determine the choice OF
the next state convention. It is more
apparent than ever before that the
mah and what he stands for Will he
the platform this year, and for thhs
reason there will be searching
scrutiny of the candidates. The old
ad captandum style of appeal to the
galleries will not suffice this time tc
sway the judgment Of intelligent men
neither will the stereotyped machine
clamor be permitted to foist an un
desirable candidate upon the party
through a "hurrah nomination" The
Republicans of the state are doing
their own reading and thinking. and
they are familiar with the conditions
that claim their attention.
It was amusing to see a cartoon in
factional Philadelphia newspaper
the other day representing Father
Penn" on the watch and seeing moth
ing but "Elkin" banners all along the
line. If that is actually the condition
Of the old mans eyesight he must be
as blind as bat for although Mr.
Elkin may loom large on the retina
Of the machine optic, he does not by
any means obscure the entire field
neither does he monopolize the atten-
ton or the confidence OF the Republi-
can party of Pennsylvania.
INTERVIEW WITH COL. wATREs.
simultaneously with the Indiana
county manifesto issued the other day
for Mr.. ElkiR, there appeared a brief
interview with Colonel Watres in the
Philadelphia newspapers. 1t is inter
esting as showing the determined
quality of his candidacy. which grows
stronger and more emphatic as the
days go by.
Every mall" he said, brings in
creased assurances of popular sup
port. Although the names Of several
other gentlemen have been suggested,
there are in reality but two candidates
before the people. 1t is even more
apparent now than when announced
my candidacy in September last that
no factional candidate can be elected
governor this year. | have been at
Harrisburg for a number of years, and
the people know where | stand on pub
lie questions and whether they want
me for governor. This is the time, "
he said, "for the Republicans Of Penn
sylvania to speak and say who they
want, and not wait until all the dele
gates to the state convention have
been elected. am greatly gratlfed
by the generous and continued sup.
port of my friends throughout the
state"
Colonel Watres presents the situa-
tion clearly and forcfbly in this modest
statement. His confident tone is the
result of the numerous assurances of
support that have come to him from
representative Republicans in all
parts of the state, and he voices the
general party belief when he says
that mo factional candidate can be
elected governor this year" In saying
this he does not abate one jot OF tit
tie Of his devotion to the party, but
this devotion does not imply sub
serviency to faction As he has al.
ready said. in former interviews, he
believes in the entire party and not
merely in a faction of it, and it is this
big, broad belief that has impelled
him to come forward as Republican
candidate for governor Of Pennsyl-
vania. Those who are not utterly
blinded by faetlonism readily reeog-
nize that it is to such a man as Colonel
Watres the Republican party must
look for its standard bearer, if It is
to WIN a victory in the coming cam
paign, which viii be one Of the hottest
In the history OF the Keystone state.
HIS RECORD WITHOUT A STAIN.
His eminent fitness is recognized
even by those who take issue with his
party regularity. The Philadelphia
North American Of Tuesday last,
while declaring that his candidacy
would not be acceptable to the ma.
chine says: "AIr Watres is a clean
man, his public record is without a
stain. his fitness for the place 10 which
be aspires is unquestioned, his elec.
tion to the once Of governor would
be a distinct gain to the cause OF de-
cent, honest government The North
American adds that Colonel Watres il
honest and abieF but It is Of the opln-
ion that these qualities do not com
mend him to the machine. They are
the qualities. however, which com
mend him to the people, and this
Kidney complaint kills more peo