Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-30
PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1914.
Penrose A Futility and Fatality

DOfES PENROSE is a menace to the
ID theory of government upon which the
future of America depends In oden times
and In other lands ruler might be dissolute
tyrannical unjust and monstrously callous
toward the interests of the people, but he
was protected by the divine right of kings;
he was above the law. In a democracy SOW
ereignty resides in the people themselves,
and any one who exploits them. msgoverns
them thwarts the exercise Of their will or de-
prives them of any of their inalIenable rights
and privileges, is a traitor to all
Charges have been made against Penrose
so serious in nature and great in number
that they cannot possibly be the result of
mere gossip or the campaign f1ctions of
rival party These charges have not been
dsproved they have been almost ignored.
When It is so openly and repeatedly alleged
that Penrose is morally unfit for high official
position the voters of Pennsylvania will he
unfair and treacherous to the nation as a
whole if they send him back to the Senate.
This contention is not a pose Of superfne
morality Multitudes of men who are not at
all disposed 10 be eXacting in matters OF
ordinary ethics nevertheless feel that the
presence of Penrose in the supreme legisla-
tive chamber Of the nation is a menace to
American ideals and institutions. BY his ad-
liquor ring into party politics, by frustrating
humane legislation, by debauchng municipal
government, by trying to preciptate a need
less war, Penrose has utterly forfeited his
right to represent the people in national
affairs.
Beyond these points there are others that
the voters are considering most seriously.
We have recently had one grave scandal in
the Senate. Those who know something of
the nature and extent of the evidence that is
available against Penrose are quite certain
that the Lorimer catastrophe will be re-
peated and upon a more revolving scale
democratic form OF government such as ours
depends entirely for its stability and author
fly upon the confidence the people have in
the integrity and trustworthiness Of its off,
cials. We are making only a mockery of a
noble experiment when We degrade it by un-
worthy representation.
One other consideration IS Weighing heavily
with the voters. Granted that Penrose does
stand for protection and that Pennsylvania
needs protection, It Is as certain as certain
can be that Peurose can be OF no further
assistance in that cause for two reasons:
First, II is more than probable that II elected
Penrose will be in the minority party for the
next six years OF the Senate's life. Second,
were he elected, and should he by any
chance retain his seat, we shall never see
another Republican tariff framed upon the
old grab-bas lines The demand for tariff
commission is becoming So insistent and uni
Versal. and is withal so just, that It is almost
safe to prophesy that the next protective
measure will be drafted scientifically by a
board OF experts without political bias.
Therefore. on moral. patriotic and econorni-
cal grounds It is the height OF imprudencs
70 elect Penrose. Every instinct and princi-
pie by which men are guided in the affairs
OF daily life bids them repudiats him.