Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-02-14
THE POLITICAL ARENA
Rsnssylvania's TIVE Candidates
Fer Governor



dsts-psfsat Win Follow Machine
DomIustlon-rhe Man ts Win With
10 the Man Who Represents the
Party-erewins Strength Of Colonel
wstrss-senater quay 10 NOn-com-
INITIAL.
Harrlsbura Feb. IO.-The wise
calf who studied humanity while sit.
ting on his bridge In Bagdad would
dnd much to interest him, these days,
we're he to take his place on some ele.
vated point at the state capital from
which he could view the antics OF the
Pennsylvania politicians am sure
he would be particularly amused with
the efforts Of those who are endeavor-
ing to create the impression that the
people IN various parts Of the com
monwealth are clamorinE to have a
machine candidate for governor.
Never did the prestidigitator con
I jure more diligently to make his an.
dience believe that his sleeves were
innocent Of the bric.a-brac which he
/ delved from the bottom Of the hat
/ than tho machine clack in its eager.
ness to convince the public that the
| spurious demand for a factional can
/ didate for governor is genuine and
general The effort to achieve this
/ however has been a dismal failure
The factional boom was scarcely ex
posed until It struck chilling frost
Republicans have longer memories thar
/ the machine politicians give them
/ credit for, and they remember that
! precisely one yeyar ago the state was
ringing from end to end with the in
/ famies Of the ripper legislature and OF
I the ripper statesmen who are now bid
ding once more for the confidence
they 50 ruthlessly betrayed but few
short months since.
II argues the possession Of monu
mental modesty on the part Of those
who we're foremost in the ripper in
fanny the trolley grab and kindred
schemes OF public pillage, TO come for
ward now and say that they are the
true representatives OF Republican
opinion, the guardians and conserva
ters OF the interests Of the people, and
that they alone represent honest
loyal and true blue Repnblicanism. AS
well might the Bulgarian bandit claim
that he is the true representative OF
the Bulgarian government It is time
as Colonel Watres suggested last
week that Republicans throughout the
state spoke out and protested against
the reproach of such gross misrepre
sentation. II Is far better to enter 8
vigorous protest now than be com
pslled to do it at the polls next No
vsmbsr against a gubernatorial candi
date who will be overwhelmingly re
pudiated by the great majority of the
party as sure as he Is nominated
HISTORY WILL BE REPEATED.
In the event of a factional candi
date, who is identified with ripper
and trolley grab legislation, being
forced upon the Republicans Of Penn
sylvania this year, history is likely tC
repeat itself. Twice in the memor!
of the present generation has the Re
publican party been beaten in Penn
sylvanla, despite its great majority
because of the fatuity of those whC
controlled the nominating power II
thrusting undesirable nominations OF
the people The same peril Is -presenf
this year, but 1t ought to be possible
to avoid the same mistake, since th'
same men are at the helm. Surel!
experience should count for some
thing, and If It does the danger of de
feat can be averted by the nomination
Of a gubernatorial candidate whose
record, experience and integrity will
commend him to popular conidenc'
and support. The nomination of sucl
candidate would mean Republican
unity and Democratic dismay. Since
writing last week there has been n,
accession to the list of proclaimed can
didates. There are only two in th'
field, to wit: Colonel L. A Watres. o
Lackawanna, and Attorney Genera
John p. Ell1in, of Indiana county. On
represents the party the other the ma
chine. Colonel Watres stands for pop
ular rule from the primary up; AT
torney General Elkin represents th'
machine from the administration
down Indeed, Mr.. Ellin, as the Law
adviser Of the administration, Is par
of II, just as he is part of the ma
chine, while Colonel Watres In com
ing before the public, on his merits
acts in accordance with the best ira
ditions Of the party which have hell
in the past that it was the priyileg
Of any Of It's members to aspire 70
any office in the gift OF the people.
There is no more alluring theory o
our popular system Of goveTnmen
than that which holds out to the poor
est lad in the land the prospect tina
he is heir apparent" to the most ez
alted Office in our form Of govern
ment provided his deserving be SUE
as to commend him to his fellow cit
zens. Such adyentitious aid a. th
favor Of the machine may confer in
plies inferiority rather than worth. Il
order to be the candidate Of the ma
chine one must have rendered servic
to the few at the expense Of the many
II ia absurd. therefore, 70 try TO Great
the impression that the fayorite q
tho machine can at the same time b
the choice of the people. II pract
cal demonstration Of this propositio
is needed It may be had by ncmina
ing a machine candidate for governu
this year and submitting his claim
to a popular verdict This, however
would be a costly lesson aud on
wholly unnecessary ia view Of tn
election on two recent occasions G