The Washington herald., 1907-01-07
PENNSY IS STIRRED
AcheSOn Shows Straight and
NarrOwWay to PenrOse.
SENATORIAL FIGHT COMING ON
Rebellion Against the auay-Pen-
rose Machine Is Expected TO In
crease-AchesOn Is Regarded as
Possible Senatorial Candidate.
Local Option as an Issue.

Pennsylvania politicians were startled
yesterday 10 see in out-of-town papers a
most plain-spoken comment on Senator
Penrose by Representative Acheson. Mr
Acheson is known as a fearless and in
dependent man, who has for many years
waged a successful fight against the Quay
and Penrose machine in Pennsylvania. He
has not, however up to this time come
out in such menacing way to force the
fighting His interview was evidently
carefully studied and intended TO throw
down the gage of battle fairly and
squarely
Mr. Acheson represents the Twenty
fourth Pennsylvania district in the House.
He has been elected seven times. and
nearly every time he has had all the
force of the machine concentrated In his
district against him. His cleanness in
public life and his courage and high
character have on every recurring contest
made him stronger in the confidence Of
the people Of his district Last fall the
machine went into his district and elected
State senator who is regarded as
pledged TO Penrose.
Possible Candidate.
The declaration now made by Acheson,
it is believed, viii have the force Of
making him Senatorial candidate
against Penrose in 1907 He comes from
the western end of the State, which now.
since Senator Knox has removed to Valley
Forge, has no representation in the
Senate. The independent and clean
handed Republicans throughout the State
-sTrr d
such a man as Acheson To wrest the con
troll Of the party from the machine. There
is stil a ranking dissent among Re
publicans. it is said. against the manner
in which Senator Knox was selected 10
be Senator, and this Is likely to conjoin
with other Influences for Achesoa.
In the interview referred TO- Mr.. Acha-
son was asked if Senator Penrose could
be reelected. His reply was as follows:
THE question of Peurose's reelection
Is much discussed by politicians When
talking politics members of the Senate
have asked me what PENNSYLVANIA would
DO in 1909 I'm my opinion in the present
state of public sentiment, it would be diff
cult for Senator Penrose 10 win. If PhiIa-
delphia elects an organization man for
mayor next February and the legislature
and cuaCts other good legislation de
manded by the people, Peur7se's chances
viii be vastly improved. He could greatly
enhance his prospects by becoming the
champion Of moral issues which good
people viii present % the legislature.
VIII History Repeat Itself!
1t seems 70 me that Pennsylvania is
now I'm much the same situation as that
I'm which Senator Quay was in 1854, when
he was squeezed by rival political fac
tions i'm Philadelphia and resigned the
profitable job of recorder and moved back
10 Beaver County. He needed something
10 win the confidence of the moral ele-
ment in the State. The question Of pro
hibitiOn was being asitated Ministers
and church members of an denominations
petitioned for "a vote ON the subject Quay
saw his opportunity. seized IL, and the
Brooks high license law resulted.
Now Senator Pcnrose needs n poIiti-
cal rehabilitation and popular iudOrse-
ment He can win the good win of the
same solid and respectable class, the
mighty army of church workers and
Christian people of Pennsylvania. by be
coming the champion of the local option
law which is 20 be introduced in the leg
islature over 1e'eU persons pctitioned
for local option during the session two
years ago. but the bill was stransIed
in committee. 1t is said that 100000 peO-
pie viii petition for local option this win
ter Those who ask for the enactment
os this law are the flower of our citi-
zenship. Their prayer should be granted
Let the people in each local district de
eide what the policy Of dealing with
the liquor traffic shall be in that locality.
Il notice that State Chairman Andrews
is quoted as saying that the Republican
State organization viii not oppose the
local option bill This is significant and
very good as a starter. I anticipate a
declaration from Senator Penrose in good
time favorable to the local option bill
Peuroses path to the third term in the
Senate viii be smooth and easy if his
friends In the legislature are as wise as
Quay was two decades ago