Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-01-24
THIN NEXT GOVERNOR
Republicans Looking Anxiously to
the State Convention,


Factionsl Candidate Would Affect
the United states senstorship.
Democratic Hopes For Republican
Mistakes.
Harrisburg, Pa, stp The re-
cent return Of United States Senator
Quay from the everglades Of Florida.
with fresh stock of health and the
promise Of renewed activity in public
life, delights his friends at Harris
burg and elsewhere.
Among Republicans, who are more
concerned for the success Of the party
than for the sway Of a faction, the
impression prevails that when Colonel
Quay's health is good and his hand
is on the helm prudence is more likely
to prevail than when men Of small
callbre and subordinate rank under.
take to speak the language of states
manship and to frame platforms in
accordance with their own insular no
tions of things
striking example in this line was
furnished in the construction OF the
ANFHubAANaAf nAaAH HhiaL ny
the party jouneymen during Quay's
absence from the last state conven-
tion. That pronuneaimento was so
"fearfully and wonderfully made" that
II excited the risibilities of the ir-
reverent throughout the state. and
even the orthodox we're moved to
mirth by its idiosyncracies It was
full Of those things that were best
unsaid" from beginning to end. and
when, some days after the eonven-
tion. 1t came under the notice OF Mas
ter Workman Quay, the atmosphere
was of a cerulean hue for a few sec.
ondss and It was well for the crafts
men who put it together that he was
not within hailing distance.
No such accident will befall the
party platform this year. judging by
the iiatterlng reports concerning Colo
mel Quay's health which are sent out
from Washington, and it is even more
to be desired that there be no blunder
in the nomination of a candidate for
governor. Colonel Quay is credited
with two brief statements since his
return to the national capital. One
of these is that he does not intend to
resign his seat in the senate, and the
other that he has not declared his
preference for any particular candi-
date for governor. believe both
these statements are correct, all in
terested reports to the contrary not
withstanding
A WINNING CANDIDATE
At no time in the history Of Penn
sylvania has there been greater call
for eircumspection on the part of
the dominant party than there is this
year, and the party managers cannot
fail to be aware OF the fact From
end to end Of the commonwealth the
demand of the Republicans is for a
gubernatorial nomination that will
win all along the line The opporl
tunity to score a decided success is
just as great as is the opportunity to
perpetrate a monumental blunder, and
either the one or the other hinges on
the nomination for governor. II the
men who have the party machinery in
their hands use it ruthlessly to force
factional nomination there can be
no doubt whatever that such action
will have a demoralizing effect and
be a source of comfort to the opposi-
tion, whose hopes of victory are based
on the expectation that such a mis-
take will be made. With the nomina-
tion Of such a candidate as Colonel
L. A. Watres all danger Of defeat in
any district of the state would dis
appear and party harmony would
pFesage victory. This is no guess
work, but a statement founded on
fact. Everywhere / find his candi-
dacy regarded with respect and in
many counties with enthusiasm. The
rank and file Of the Republican party
take kindly to his simple, straight
forward announcement that he Is a
candidate for governor as a straight
out Republican. without grievances or
grudges and in strict accordance with
the principles of the great political
organization with which he has been
in accord since his boyhoOd. Up to
the present writing the candidacy Of
Colonel Watres is the only one before
the Republicans Of the state. and, so
far as l am able to learn, it is every
where accepted as that of a man of
experience. ability and party fealty,
whose nomination would mean har-
mony and victory.
AS have stated IN a previous letter,
neither Colonel Watres nor his friends
claim that he is the only Republican
who can unite the party and lead 1t
70 success. That would be an ex-
travagant assumption wholly foreign
to his ideas, as well as the purpose
Of this letter: but the friends OF Colo
mel Watres. and they number q good
many have firm confidence in his
ability, his integrity and what may
| be termed, for lack of q better word,
his availability. They regard him as
r. Republican whose nomination would
be a ereditabie one, because It would
represent merit and experience; and
prudent one, because It would not
injure the party anywhere OF threaten
its success through disaneetion in
any county OF district in the state.
Moreover, the friends Of Colonel
/ Watres are convinced that hts nomi
nation would be a wise one. becausa
[ Il would leave the Democracy no pos.
sibla opportunity to expect a victory
in the state. or In any Republican
county or district thereof
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PICTURE
Now let us look for a moment al
what the far-reaching consequences Of
an unpopular Republican machine
Frank Treadwell. Bennett. la.