Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03
WORRIED ABOUT HIS STATE
Depending on the President to Help
the Machine.
THE CONVENTION THIS WEEK
Threatened Fusion Of Independents
With Observation-Disclosures Help
ing the President in the Senate.

Senator Penrose Of Pennsylvania spent
good while with President Roosevelt last
night, being the only visitor of the even
ing. The political situation In Pennsyl-
vania Is anything but satisfactory to the
republicans, and the organization In that
state Is depending upon the President to do
much toward rescuing them from possible
defeat for governor, legislature and men,
bers Of Congress. 1t was to help the organ
izatfon that the President promised to go to
Harrisburg in October. just before the No
vember election, to attend the laying Of
the cornerstone of the state capitol That
visit of the President is expected to do
much toward holding up the regular
ticket.
Significant Facts.
There are one or two significant facts in
connection with the conference with SEN
ator Penrose last night. The first is that
the republican state convention will be held
at Harrisburg next Wednesday The regu-
lar organization is confronted by an inde-
pendent republican ticket and q threatened
fusion OF all the Independent forces with
the democrats. The nomination Of g. good
man by the state convention is an tmpera-
tive necessity. II they select a man that
will command reform and independent sup
port they may save the ticket. II they
nominate man who has not the confidence
OF this element they are almost sure to lose
out. -
The situation is critical one. The help
Of the President Is needed now as well as
in October next Senator Penrose would
like to arrange things so that he can give
the impression to the republicans of the
state that the nominee Of the convention
has the backing OF President Roosevelt, and
the President Is said to be willing to help
possible without being regarded as losing
his reform ideas. Strangely enough the
President was tooth and nail against the
Pennsylvania organization In the elections
last year and did not turn his hand to htlp
In any direction. Elihu Root, his premier
cabinet official, was one OF the attorneys OF
Mayor Weaver in the great reform fight
that was won by the reformere. Since then
the discreet but astute Penrose has been
getting closer to the White House. What
he speaks of as his social visits are fire.
quent, and the President seems to enjoy
them. The good understanding between the
reformers, and the successor Of the greatest
machine man the country ever knew, Quay,
has become matter of frequent and inter-
esting comment. 1t is Penrose who Is TAX
ing care of the fight on Barnes in the Sen
ate and 1t Is Penrose who has stood by the
President In a number OF close fights in
the Senate.
Penrose a Reformer.
Penrose himself. though, has become a
reformer. He has nobly placed himself at
the head OF the moral and reform forces of
the state. He proposes to let the people
nominate their own candidate for governor.
or at least make them think that they have
done so. Naturally 30 good a reformer as
Senator Penrose looks to the White House
to aid in carrying forward the betterment
Of political conditions and the advancement
of mankind in moral and political methods.
Senator Penrose didn't care to talk about
1t at all last night. But he seemed to be
satisfied.
The coming convention is to adopt some
resolutions that may be of Importance, and
the suggestion Is made that the Pennsyl-
vania senator has not only consulted the
President as to the right sort of man to
nominate for governor but as to the reso-
luttons the convention will adopt.