The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-02
MONDAY, JULY 2, 1906.
HOPE FOR PENNsYLyANIA.

It really seams now as if there is hope of the political redemption of Pennsylvania, and no State stands in greater need of regeneration. For many years it has been the most thor onghly gang-rjdden and machine-c con trolIed State in the Union. For a long while it was virtually the property of Quay. He controlled the Republican Party and the Republican Party con trolled the State. His death gave only slight relief, for he left the State as legacy to bosses of his own kind and they have really made bad conditions worse.
 But we are told that 1t is a long lane that has no turning" and 1t begins to seem that the turn Is at hand. The Republican posses and their practices have become so Inendurable that there was revolt in the party and a large number of them drew out of the regu- lar organization. They call themselves 'Lincoln Republicans" but the name is of little consequence, for their evowed object is to deliver the party and the State from the hands of the gang of thieves and rascals that have so long held power there They have been to some extent handicapped by the avowed hostility of the administra- ton at Washington but this has not prevented them from perfecting an or ganization and nominating State tick ct. Lewis Emory Jr., their candidate 9 fighter of the gang and all It's mem- bers. He is a Republican. but is one of the kind who refuses to train under the banner If Penrose or follow in the footsteps of the machine leaders.
 And the Democrats have met in con vention and endorsed Emory. IL Is not the usual thing for Democrats to do, but in this case 1t was the proper one A ticket of their own would have no possible chance of success and would only make the triumph of the machine mora sure and overwhelming. They would stand no show of success for themselves and would only make the defeat of the moderate Republicans a certainty. It Is a case where patriot ism is above partisanship and the Dem ocrats have chosen the better part.
 The only real fly in the ointment, as we sec the situation, and the discour- aging feature. is the attitude of the prohibitionists. True, their number in a strict party vote is not large. but there are enough of them, possibly, to turn the scale one way or the other 4 portion of them are willing to assist in the redemption Of the State by sup porting the fusion ticket, but our in formation is that most of them-enough to control their organization-refuse to vote for Emory unless he will come out and proclaim himself in harmony with them. This is idlotic obstinacy and in- tolerance. Ordinarily we believe in men sticking to their principles but in this case the fight is plainly be- tween decency and rascalIty and they might ensure the triumph of honest government, yet they prefer to let Penn sylvania remain in the mlre of disrepu- table gang rule rather than to lay aside their own convictions for the time being and help the right side. It is not a creditable position for them. and if they adhere to it the result may be the defeat of Emory and the tri- umph of the gang. We hope they will think better of 1t. and will turn their strength and their infuense to the side of decency.
 It may be that the machine is so well drilled, so strongly intrenched and so heavily backed that 1t cannot be beaten but this is certainly time when hon. est men should throw aside all parti- san feelings or prejudices and unite in the grand work of redeeming great State from the hand of the spoiler.