The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-13
rErrsYLyArrA,a coNprr1oN.

PENNSYLvANLA,s CONDyTION.
 When the great reform wave led by her new reform Mayor swept over Phil adeiphia, 1t was hoped and predicted that 1t would extend over the State. and that Penrose. Durham. McNichoi and all other members of the gang would be put down and out for all time. It was thought that the decent Repub- iicans of the State might form common cause with the Democrats. for the time being at least. and redeem the state as well as the city from political condf- tions rarely edualled in any section of the Union, and which were . shame and disgrace to the State and the Re- publican party.
 How little those hopes have been realized is plain when we consider the result of the recent Harrfspurg eonven- ton, for the same old corrupt gang. led and dominated by Penrose. controlled convention, ticket and platform. It was . Penrose convention. straight out. and if the ticket is elected, there is no use looking for improvement in methods or conditions in that State. The business of footing and corruption will gc on as before.
 What is still less creditable is that the business was practically engineered from the White House in Washington. We all remember how few weeks ago Mir. Roosevelt issued his ultimatum to the regular Republicans, as they called themselves. and told them what he ex- pected of them and what they must do. Senator Psnrose had given out that he would not interfere with the State cam paign in Pennsylvania, but would let the Republicans manage 1t without ad- vice from him. That was either blind or else he spoke without con- sulting his boss. Be that as 1t may. it is known that he was invited to the White House and held a secret consul tation with Roosevelt just before the meeting of the Harrisburg convention. The next night he was in Philadelphia consulting with the machine leaders. and on the day following he was in Harrisburg ready to take charge of the convention, which he did. and its work was according to orders.
 That was the program and It's con- summation. The Party convention was controlled by Penrose, and he received his orders from the President. What hope of reform or improvement is there in such an organization thus dominated? The Republican Party of Pennsylvania is simply a machine, held together by .'tbe cohesive power of public plunder" as some old statesman expressed 1t. It is further strengthened by the power O. patronage as dealt out from Wash ington. It is party of graft and cor Tuption and bossism.
 From such an organization no good can be expected. The honest and well meaning Republicans of the State have an organization whose object was---or is--to redeem the State. but they re- ceived black eye from the President at the start He informed their lead CTS that not only would they receive no help from him, but that he should up- hold the machine. and he has done it. With neither recognition nor hope of patronage from the administration, this reform party can accomplish nothing for themselves, unless they fuse with the Democrats. The only effect they can have is that they may draw enough votes from the regular organization to give the State to the Democrats, and that Is a bare possibility If the two organizations could unite and make common cause against the machine, they might down 1t and bring the State out of the foul condition 1t Is in. but the prospect is not bright one The regulars have behind them the great power of the machine, and what is not less important. they are backed by the administration and its immense patron age. We see little hope of heEterment in the old State for the presents