The National tribune., 1905-10-05
PENNSYLVANIA VETERANS AND
POLITICS.

the way that many more promising Re-
form movements have gone, and all Re
form movements are only too likely to
go. That is. it has degenerated into a
scheme by which unfit and disappointed
disappointed because unfit-aspirants
can work themselves into office The
first and greatest danger of any move
ment toward Reform is that it will fall
into the hands of the men who have been
chronic fice-seekers but have failed to
have their ambitions gratifed, for good
and sufficient reasons. In some way or
another they have lacked the character
or qualifications which commended
them to the people and the voters Most
frequently they wanted more than their
abilities and history warranted. These
men arc always loud in their claims
that their worth has not been recognized,
and they are the first to rush to the
front of any party Instruction or I'm
dependent" movement. They scruple at
nothing to get control of it, usually sue
coed. being more experienced politicians
than the mass of the plain people and
business men who have been beguiled
into it, and sooner or later this proves
fatal to the new departure. Plain peo-
pie are not long I'm discovering the in
ferior quality of the leadership, and
that the only choice that is left is to
vote for this ffOtsam and jetsam from
all parties. and time and again discred-
tied by all, or for the regular candidates
of their own party, who have been tried
and tested.
This is precisely what has happened
in Pennsylvania The ticket put up i'm
opposition to the Regular Republican
seems like a roll-call of the men whose
names we have been seeing in the
Pennsylvania newspapers for years as
unsuccessful candidates for nominal
ton and also rams" at the polls. 1t
seems incredible that the voters of
Pennsylvania will seriously consider as
'Reformers'' men notorious for their
chronic hunger for office, and who have
| forced themselves to the head of the Re-
form movement in hopes of getting
purely selfish advantages that they
could not secure from the regular or
ganization.
| The platform adopted by the regular
! Republican Convention at Harrisburg,
April 20. 1905, strongly commends it.
| self to every veteran in and out of the
State. 1t heartily applauds President
| Roosevelt and his Administration, and
approves of the loyal manner in which
the Senators and Representatives from
the State have upheld his hands 1t
calls for the upbuilding of the navy, to
leave no danger about the enforcement
of the Monroe Doctrine, and commends
the Legislature for it's practical and
| businesslike legislation to secure a
pure water supply; for the proper care
of the INDECENT, afflicted and insane, for
a liberal extension of the common
school system; for good roads; for
stringent prohibitions against child la
Dor, and for other very necessary enact
ments for the well-being of every citi-
zen and interest of the State. The
States finances are in a better condi-
ton than those of any other in the
country. as a result of wise and hon
est management. The plank relating
to pensions is as follows:
"Once more with thankful hearts and
keen appreciation we acknowledge our
National and individual Indebtedness to
| the soldiers and sailors of our several
wars, whose brave and valorous services
can never be surpassed. We sympa-
| thiZe with our veterans in their in
creasing infirmities, due to increasing
years, and express the hope that the
| laws already enacted for their benefit
may be so amended or extended that
no soldier of the Nation, his widow or
orphan children may ever be dependent
upon the charity Of the world
This is sympathetic, gratefully appre-
ciative, and practical.
The ticket nominated by the Conven-
FALL has on 1T two of the best repre-
sentative veterans of the grand old SOL
der State of Pennsylvania, a State
which lost more men killed upon the
battlefield than any other, and which
lost a larger proportion of killed to its
total enrolment.
At the head Of the ticket it J. Lee
Flummer, of Hollidaysburg He was
too young to enter the army, and his
father, an earnest patriot was prevented
from doing SO by the loss of a large
part OF MS na11S while 1rlng salute
by the militia battery of which he was
"a member, Mr. Plummer has always
been warm friend Of the veterans
and worked untiringly and successfully
TO elect to office such as were candidates
in his County and District. He has a
long record of faithful public service to
his credit, and he never held an office
but to distinguish himself by unusual
care for the public interests. AS a mem
Der of the Legislature he made a rep
utation by his successful efforts to i'm
prove the care of the insane, and to
fight that dread scourge. consumption.
Ex-Gov. James A. Beaver is the nom
inee for reelection for Judge of the
Superior Court. No one who enlisted
for the defense of the Union, whether
from Pennsylvania Or elsewhere, was a
Drawer man, more Jealous patriot, OF
} more faithful officer than JAS A
Beaver. He prepared himself for the
struggle when he forsaw it coming on
. He enlisted in the militia, studied tao.