Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-05-06

r. ture that has been put out by the
L Dimmick campaign committee is
a short letter over the signature
of Mr.. Dimmick. which is addressed
to the manufacturers of Pennsylvania
1t Is the best because 1t narrows the
discussion to the points which are
germane to it,
In this letter the Scranton candidate
for the Republican senatorial nomina-
tion says that "the tariff issue does
not exist as between Mr.. Penrose and
himself, because Mr.. Dimmick, having
been for many years the active eXecu-
tive head of textile manufacturing
company, has a natural and very prac-
tical interest In protective tariff.
He then goes on to say that the
manufacturers only hope of obtaining
protection is to vote for Mr.. Dimmick,
rather than for Mr.. Penrose, because,
'on account of the type of politics Mr..
Penrose represents. even If nominated,
he could not be elected
The Telegraph has no quarrel with
Mr.. Dimmick. 1t recognizes him as
an able and honest man. a successful
manufacturer, a respected banker and
thoroughly representative citizen of
the community in which he lives.
But in justice to the man who has
so long represented us in Washington
and who is now a candidate for a
fourth term. we are impelled to an
swer Mr.. Dimmick's arguments with
out in any way rejecting upon his
orthodoxy as a protectionist.
That the issue of protective tariff
does not exist between Senator PEN
rose and Mr. -Dimmick, insofar as their
personal convictions go, is doubtless
true. The voter, however, is not so
much concerned about their convic-
tions as he is about their respective
ability to write those convictions into
law. Therefore, the friends of Senator
Penrose are entirely justified in their
contention that if. protection is to be
the issue, it devolves upon the pro-
tectiontst voters to choose the candi-
date who will be in the best position
TO make their wishes felt at Washing
ton. Also, the fact that Mr.. Dimmick
is textile manufacturer might not
recommend him to manufacturers of
other lines of goods who do not want
to see textiles favored at their expense.
NO one can question the power of
Senator Penrose at the National Capi-
tai. Indeed, there has been complaint
in some quarters that it is too great.
and we confess our inability to follow
line Of reasoning which seeks to
show that his reelection for fourth
term by the people of the second State
in the Union would weaken the inf1u-
ence he already possesses.
One has only to turn to the names
of Senators who have been most con-
spicuous and most effective in Con-
gress to prove that seniority in, the
upper branch is quite as important an
asset as natural ability.
The Southern States, by adopting
the policy of choosing talented men for
the Senate and then keeping them
there, were able to dominate the Fed
eral Government prior to the Civil
War. New England, profiting by their
example, followed the same policy
after the war, thereby building for
herself such towers of strength as
Senator Frye, of Maine, who was
elected in 1881 and served until his
death few years ago; Senator Hale.
who represented Maine continuously
for thirty years; Senator Aldrich.
whom Mr.. Penrose succeeded as chair
man of that rudder of the ship of
state, the finance committee, and who
was elected by Rhode Island five times
and Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts.
who has risen to a position of leader
ship after twenty years continuous
service.
No newcomer in the Senate could
match these men in strength. While
Mr.. Dimmick may be as ardently In
favor of protection on general princi-
pies as is Senator Penrose, he should
not imagine that in the event of his
nomination and election, he would be
able to- impress the views and needs, of
Pennsylvania's agricultural and manu-
facturing industries SO forcibly upon
the National Legislature as could this
veteran of seventeen years experience
who Is now the ranking Republican
member Of the finance committee, and