The Washington herald., 1913-09-21
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER II. 1913.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION

The political pendulum is swinging
back again Wherefore there IS much
Joy IN the Republican heart.
This pendulum should not flop un-
steadily from one point to another.
1t ought to rest half way between the
high protective schedules of the Re-
publican party, which created and fos-
tered monopolistic corporations, and
the radical low tariff proposed by the
Democrats. which threatens to put the
manufacturers ont OF business. There
ought also to he a happy medium be-
tween ultra-conservatism and too
much radicali,m. II the political pen
dulum could thu, hang plumb, govern
ment would be ideal. The trouble
with the American people. however, is
that they rush madly from one eX-
treme TO the other. They do not know
how TO settle down. Their minds are
apparently influenced by some sort Of
a psychological wave that sweeps across
the country when an election Is about
% be held.
The pendulum went far enough
over on the Democratic side last fall
90 appcase even the ghost OF Andrew
Jackson. 1t ha, reached the limit OF
its arc. The election in Maine. when
a Republican Congressman was re-
turned from district which gave
Woodrow Wilson a large plurality last
fall. marked the turning point. Now
comes the result OF the primaries in
PENNSYLVANIA last week. which. with
the registration figure, demonstrates
remarkable change in political opin-
on. Everybody remembers how Theo-
dore Roosevelt swept that State last
wear. securing its electoral vote with
an aggregate OF 1900 ballots. and
with the Republican candidate bad
third in the race William Flynn, OF
Pittsburgh. grand marshal OF the
Roosevelt forces. was given leadership,
and the Republican organization
seemed to have been completely ami
7latcd. But last Tuesday the Repub-
ican, came back.
In Philadelphia they pollcd over
05.ooo votes. more than all the oppo-
,ition combined The Progressive can
iidarc far the district attorneyship.
aided and abctrcd by the administra-
lion OF Ma.o- RlaukcnburC. polled
only 10000 1o..>. All over the State
the dis;nrc-ratl"n oi the Roosevelt fol-
lowing W., complete In the Scna-
torial districts Of the State. where
members Of the State Central Commit
tee were chosen. the regular Rcpub-
lican organization showed such strength
that the committee l. TO he reorgan-
lied along old party lines The pedes-
raj hat va, under Mr.. Flynn has
fallen away. The registration has
shown some tremendous changes. InI
Washington County. where Taft polied
only abou, 1000 votes. over 1000 Re
publiuan- hay, been enrolled. Ini
Pittsburgh. where $1,000 have been
-egi-;crcd. the enrolment shows only
$500 ior The Washington or Progress
IKE parry 800 for the Democrats. and
the Tcmainder. some $4,000 or 10000,
arc Republicans. In Philadelphia the
total regi,tration is about $4,000. with
tine Republicans in clear majority OF
over 5000, There is no question that
the Republicans will dominate Phila-
Gelphia. even with the fusion of the
opposition, and the drift OF sentiment
throughout the State indicates the re-
election Of Senator Penrose by popular
vote next year. Six months ago the
possibility OF such an outcome seemed
Beyond the realm OF sane prediction.