New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-22
TIE PITTSBERG ELECTION

The purpose Of the voters of Pennsylvania to
assert their power and to compel return to
popular and honest government is emphasized
by the clean cut victory won on Tuesday by the
reform elements in Pittsburg. PENNSYLVANIA
wisely enfOrces a total separation of municipal
and state elections, the municipal contests al
ways taking place in February. General and
local issues thus divorced and party lines
are 10 a great extent ignored in municipal
fights. Last fall the spirit Of revolt abroad in
the state manifested itself conspicuously in the
defeat of the Republican machines candidate for
State Treasurer and in the overthrow of the
Durham ring in Philadelphia, where a Sheriff
and other county officers were to be voted for
Philadelphia city and county having the same
boundaries At that time there was apparently
no awakening of sentiment in Pittsburg and
Allegheny County was one Of the few counties
TO give pluralities to the Republican candidate
for State Treasurer On Tuesday, however
Pittsburg elected a Mayor, who. on the compile
ton of the union with Allegheny City, is to be-
come the Mayor of the consolidated municipality
Somewhat the same conditions existed that
aroused Philadelphia to warfare on the Durham
machine and the forces of good citizenship seem
TO have scored second decisive success.
IttSburg was ruled for many years by an
organization, nominally Republican, controlled
by Christopher L. Magee. That organization
was conducted on exactly the same lines as the
Philadelphia machine, except that Mr. Magee
consistently refused to recognize the Quay-Canl-
erOn leadership. The railroads and the public
service corporations were behind the local or
ganzation and used II TO extend their privileges
at the expense of the public. \ few years ago
a citizens reform movement organized and
the reform element in the Republican party
united with the Democrats to GUST the Repub-
Ican ring pittsburp has had the LAST four
years an anti-machine administration. But this
year the corporations rallied all their strength
to recapture the city They dominated the Re-
figurehead, who appealed for support to partisan
spirit and partisan prejudice. The opposing
forces nominated a Democrat of character
George w. Guthrie and made their canvass on
the issues of corporation rule and non-partisan
good government Pittsburg is a Republican
stronghold state national issues But It's
citizens were not TO be caught with the state
bait of partisanship used by the discredited
Republican machine, and have chosen q nro
gressive Democrat TO administer the affairs of
the greater city.
Tuesdays election was marked by great dis
order and by numerous arrests for fraudulent
voting. 1t was the last chance for the repeater
and the ballot box suffer for the new personal
registration law does not go into effect until
November. The police-as in Philadelphia last
fall-combated attempted fraud with q ruda
hand, thus justifytng the soundness of the act
recently passed for Philadelphia, rigidIv ra
suicrng police activities on Election Day. Dis
orders at the polls will not mar. however the
moral effect OF the triumph scored in PennsvI
vania's second city over the elements of on
preston. corruption and misrule new force
mas been liberated In the politics OF the Key