Semi-weekly herald., 1912-04-22

We recall that Mark Twain, in one
of the stories told in 'Roughing it,
brings on a brawl about ark
touching a Pennsylvania election. One
of the party insisted that an eleccior
in Pennsylvania, whatever its results,
bore but small relation to the larger
and weightier affairs of this world.
Whereupon there ensued discussion
which ended in leaving the question
open as to just how much of figure
a Pennsylvania election can cut in de-
termining final results of great move
merts.
This is SUI an open question, and,
accordingly, still open to debate. The
Roosevelt sweep in Pennsylvania en-
Saturday makes the question mucr
more int: esting. Mr.. Taft's mana
gers are said to be astounded at re.
suits. THIS is not strange. If there
is state where what calls itself "coa.
scivatism in our politics has been
dominant in both parties for genera
tions, it is Pennsylvania. The Dea,o-
Gratis have long had their troubles
with the party organization there. The
Republicans, as conservative party,
never, until the rise of Rooseveltisms,
afflicted with the divisions which have
ragged III the Democracy for yea i,
have had little occasion to conside.'
lines of cleavage between bodies OF
Pennsylvania Republicans. AS expo
nents and representatives of consefvs-
tism as opposed to radicalism, The
presidents managers must have felt
that Pennsylvania could not be chang
I'd overnight.
When we get the total figures of
this strange election, we may posi-.
bly, find that Republicans who nave
been Charged with secretly favoring
the Roosevelt candidacy have failed
to feel the weight of obligation rest
ing upon them to free themselves Of
such a suspicion. We must await the
detailed official returns in order to
find whether or not they rallied to the
support of conservatism as men in
their delicate position should have al
lied. What is now revealed, in the
partial returns, is that the industrial
centers have given echo to the spec !,
at Columbus, and the more direct ap-
peal to the industrial workers made
in the more radical speech at Car.
negie hall. But this is not yet the
spirit of Pennsylvania. Great as has
been the increase in her industrial
population, the dominant spirit of
Pennsylvania, and particularly the
spirit of Pennsylvania Republicaiism,
when fully expressed, is one of con-
servatism. The laird of Skibo, though
he and all of his encourage were de-
clared for Taft, may not, perhaps. he
fairly held responsible for the wave
of radicalism which has swept their
Pennsylvania preserves. Mr.. Baer
may not be to blame that that wave
has washed away the Reading railway
bioNhS ~ many PoihiS. Dut oSiatoI
Penrose, who is presumed to stand for
all of the conservative Republicanism
of all the state, may at least feel
himself called to explain if final re-
turns show the conservative vote to
have been left unorganized and apa-
thetic. Mr.. Morgan is across seas,
but how could he after the Tennessee
Iron company deal, be expected to op-
pose the colonel in Pennsylvania It
may be that all of these gentlemen
were overconfident of the presidents
success. Overconfdence is always
dangerous in politics. Anyhow, VIC
stand with those of Mark Twain's he
roes in Montana who swore that 4
Pennsylvania election is not the last
word in things by any means.-St.
Louis Globe e-Democrat.