The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-11-04
VOTE FOR PRATT!
RETURN A GOOD MAN TO OFFICE
HIS RECORD AND SERVICES
DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT.

Two years ago the people of the
state of Pennsylvania recognized in
the person of Chas. c. Pratt, man
who was peculiarly fitted to serve
them with work and influence at
Washington. They saw in him a
strong, Independent, Intelligent per-
sonality who was destined to make |
an enviable place for himself and his
constituency in the National Legisla-
tive body. He would reflect all that
was honorable and commendable in
the people he represented. He would
carry to Congress those sturdy quail
titles that once made Wilmot and
Grow renowned. In short he would
be a credit to his district and the
nation in whatever capacity he might
be required to serve them.
One year of active work in the
service of the people has elapsed and
Colonel Pratt has met every eXpecta-
tion, kept every pledge, and been
true to the ideals of a lifetime, the
ideals which have endeared him to
the people of Northeastern Pennsyl-
vania.
And yet on the eve of his second
election, an election which is due
him out of gratitude and recognition
of his services. his enemies are at
tempting to confuse the mind of the
voter, and poison the heart of the
people by slander and misrepresenta-
ton. Every aTtifice of political pub
licity, every product of the hirelings
are being brought to bear to make
him appear in the light of a politi-
cal undesirable, a man controlled by
interests opposed to the public well
fare.
The source of much of this poison
is sufficiently undependable to dis
credit it in the public estimation, and
fair-minded voters will not be liable
to judge their Congressman from the
partisan babble of subsidized press.
Never has this district sent a man
to Washington who has been freer
from the domination of any interests
whatever except those of the people,
than Charles c. Pratt. Not in all
of his political career has he made
promise to or a deal with a politi
cal boss or monied interest" If
fault were to be found at all it would
be because he has steadfastly refused
to make promises of any kind. But
If you have selected representative
in whom you can trust is it neces-
sary to exact specific promises from
him on every conceivable subject,
thus handicapping him in the use of
his own judgment and desire to help
you? Is it not reasonable to as
sumo that he will act as your agent
in Congress and strive to enact that
legislation which you desire? If he
refuses to give specific answers it is
because he feels that he can serve
you best by going unpledged. 1t is
easy enough for the irresponsible Of
flee seeker to say yes" to every
question you ask him. To make
promises only where they are sure
of being kept is the more courage
Gus and dependable course.
1t is charged that Congressman
Pratt has aligned himself with the
interests at Washington. If alb
solute loyalty to the party pledges
on which he was first elected is an
alignment with the Interests" if a
steadfast support of President Taft
in his admirable effort to secure
beneficial legislation can be regarded
as servile to the corporations; if a
refusal to vote with the interests"
on the only occasion when he was
asked to do so can be called obedi-
ence to the bosses, then he is truly
at fault and untrue to his trust
But the country today stands the
recipient, at the hands of President
Taft and those who worked with
him, of the greatest amount of bene-
fetal legislation ever passed in a
single session of Congress, and with
out the courage and determination
of such men as Colonel Pratt this
would have been impossible. Grad
ually steadily as his administration
progressed, President Taft has been
getting closer to the people, or rath-
er the people have been getting closer
to him, for they have come to know
and appreciate him better.
And now they are coming to realize
that a master hand is at the helm.
But he needs help. His prediction
promises are no more binding on him
than is our pledge to assist him dur
ing the four years of his term, bind
ing upon us. Without a Republican
Congress he would be helpless.
And now let us briefly consider
the issues" of the present cam
paign. In the first place we might
as well admit that all others have
sunk into insigniticance beside that
of the Man" 1t is more important
to-day, by far, to place in office a
man in whom we have absolute con-
fidence, than to elect him because he
carries a longer string of promises
about the tail of his political kite
The business of this great nation
has become so complex that we are
no longer able to judge for ourselves
the merits of each individual act OF
measure. The responsibility i'm
posed on the men who are elected
to do this for us has thus greatly
increased the trust we place in then
which has become infinitely larger
Think this over. Compare the can
didates in your own mind, and de
eide for yourself which one you
would sooner trust with important
business of your own.
But aside from this great issue Of
integrity and individuality there are
others in which the voter is himself
taking a hand. The tariff, for lacl
of a more vulnerable point in the
Republican armour, has been the
butt of most of the Democratic at
fng nf FhNr ~ agIy