The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-06-06
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Special Correspondence.

who PenrOSe has selected 10 carry Ine
standard to defeat. There was time
when concealment in such things was
unnecessary. The fiat of the boss was
legal tender and the man who whimp-
cred protest was whipped. But can
dor is no longer virtue in Republican
machine politics. Secresy is essential
to the success of the plans and Penrose
takes no chances. He sprung Stuart
on the convention last year without
warning and won. Any other candi-
date who could have been named
would have been defeated, and ifStuart
had been brought forward a month be-
fore the event he would never have
been nominated.
Several names have been canvassed
rs probable candidates for the nomina-
ton and though it may be only CO.
incidence, it is nevertheless fact that
all of them have been the most servile
tools ofthe machine. Governor Stuart
may be responsible for this also. 1t is
an open secret that he has greatly dis
appointed Penrose. OF course it wasn't
expected that Mr.. Stuart would Toe as
bad as either Stone or Pennypacker.
IF his reputation had justified such an
estimate he would have been over
whelmingly defeated. But as Mayor
of Philadelphia fifteen or twenty years
ago he was blind to the faults OF his
friends and that much was expected of
him in his present position.
The first rude shock he gave Penrose
was the inaugural declaration that his
campaign pledges would be fulfilled.
The machine had no more intention of
making a searching and thorough in
vestigation of the capitol graft than it
had of building a trolley railroad to the
moon. The intention was to appointa
partisan committee to make perfume
tory inquiry and whitewashing re-
port. But Stuart promptly gave notice
that nothing of that sort would serve.
He was assured during the campaign
that the charges were false but he
pledged himself to exposure and pun
ishment if they were true. Before the
Inauguration he learned the truth and
made up his mind as to hi course.
PENRosE's MOST POTENT ASSET.
That is why Penrose is 50 careful and
secretive IN the selection ofa candidate
for State Treasurer. He wants the
Treasury under his control more than
he wants anything else except his own
reelection. That office was his most
potential political asset. The partisan
Use of the funds of the State yields
more in votes and influence than any
pther agency. Quay worked it for him
self, mainly. When he shook the plum
tree he or some member of his family
gathered the fruit. He was as selfish
rs he was sordid, as coyetuous as he
was brutal. Penrose, on the other hand,
ID partisan rather than personal. Nor
ally it makes no difference where the
rake-off goes but the selfish man is the
more despicahle.
Penrose doesn't want to be disap-
pointed in his candidate for State
Treasurer, in the event of his election,
IS he was in his candidate for Cover
.lor. Except in the matter of dispens-
ng patronage Stuart is no more use to
Penrose than Emery would have been.
That sort of man in the Treasury
would be of as little service to him as
terry is. A man carrying the ma
;hine brand openly is equally useless.
he people would flee from him as they
would run from a pestilence. What
'enrose wants, therefore, is man of
,espectable antecedents and reputa-
ion for probity, who will slit wind
pipe or scuttle ship if the exigencies
.equire such sinister service.
1t is hard to find such candidate.
'enrose has difficult problem to
olive. Former Senator Cumins, of
Warren, wouldn't do at all. His legis-
alive record, replete with servility and
niquity, would make his election alb
,olutely impossible. There is one man
in the State who might have done. 1t
isCity Treasurer Steel, of Pittsburg. In
the whole broad commonwealth there
isn't more subservient political tool.
But his exclusion from political activi-
sties during his life of service to the late
Chris. Magee, has kept him out of the
lime light and if he had been nomi-
mated he might have completely fooled
he public. He was not only pupil
Of Magee. He was protege of the late
Bob Mackey,
MR.. sTEEL's AMBITIONS AND FEARS.
Mr.. Steel has declined the nomina
ton but it must not be assumed that hC
IS averse to fat jobs in the public ser
vice. 1t is easy to imagine that h,
would like the place But he doesn'
care to take up the burdens, response