New-York tribune., 1906-06-29
FrSJON IN pEyNSYLVANI4.

The political situation in Pennsylvania has
been greatly simplifed by the action of the
Democratic State Convention. That body nom
mated for the Governorship on Wednesday an
anti-machine Republican. Lewis Emery. jr.. al
ready in the field as the candidate of the Lin
coin party Fusion has thus been assured be-
tween the Democrats and Lincolnites for the
Lincoln party convention will reasSemble on
July 10 and accept the nominees put on the
Democratic ticket for the offices of Lieutenant
Governor Auditor General and Secretary Of
Internal Affairs. Whether not the Prohlbl-
ton party will enter the combination as 1t did
a year ago is uncertain, for 10 do so ii would
have 10 withdraw the ticket If nominated
month or more ago and abandon altogether ITS
character as a one issue organization. 1t did
practically drop thfs role when ii nominated
Democrat for Governor in the hope of reviving
last years triple alliance But the Lincolnites
and Democrats did not follow the lead of the
Prohibition managers. and if Mr. Berry their
outsider nominee declines 10 run, as he is eX-
pected TO do they will have 10 choose between
accepting fusion in which they have had no
hand or returning TO their original attitude of
aloofness from general politics.
But whether the Prohibition leaders give their
support TO Mr. Emery or not his candidacy
raises an issue which the voters of Pennsyl-
vsnia will understand and in facing which they
will he little governed by nominal party asso-
Citations We said in commenting the work
Of the regular Republican convention that it
unfortunately emphasized the dominance in the
organization of influences which have been pop
ularly discredited and of leadership which is
plainly out of date The people of Pennsylvania
showed last fall that they We're weary Of the
misgovernment which has resulted from too
intimate alliance between party machines and
overshadowing corporations. At the special
session of the Legislature called last February
by Governor Pennypacker a serious effort was
made 10 break the domination of the machine
in politics and 10 restore political power to
the voters. Many reforms have been initiated
and are TO he put to the test of practice i'm
the next four years The old Republican ma
chine granted these reforms only when forced
10 by public opinion. Yet at the resent state
convention il boldly reasserted its right TO
continued leadership and nominated a ticket
framed solely with a view 10 rehabiltating the
Philadelphia ring. whose infdelity tn public in
terests had been most open and most fragrant
The success of the regular Republican state
ticker thus practically made equivalent
to a vote of condonation and confidence for
the repudiated Quay Durham Penrose organiza-
ton
This years campaign will therefore turn On
the question of intrusting the execution of the
political reforms now in progress 10 leaders
who have fought for those reforms to lead
erS who have long opposed and at last grudg-
ingly accepted them. National interests are not
involved in this contest. except in so far as
il may complicate the election Of Congressman
in certain Congress districts. But no fusion on
Representatives is contemplated by the Demo
Gratis and Lincolnites. and the two canvasses
are likely 10 be kept distinct and separate on
national issues Pennsylvania is stanchly Re
publican, and four years ago, when Governor
Pennypacker was opposed by Robert f. Patti
son, the Republican candidates for Congress
ran nearly 100000 votes ahead Of the state
ticket This years division in the Republican
ranks will probably prove greater ca
pscity on the part of the voters 10 discriminate
between vital local and vital national issues