Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-12
thursday EVENING, MARCH IL
WHOSE FIGHTING WHAT

TN recent editorial review of the
approaching campaign in Pennsyl-
i vania, the Philadelphia Evening
Bulletin draws attention to the fact
that the Republican party seems to be
conflning its attacks to the Democrats,
whereas the Washington party leaders
appear to be opposing only the Re-
publicans
This analysis OF the situation is only
too true. 1t is a lamentable fact that
the men who have succeeded in re-
tanning control Of the powerful army
that once was Roosevelt's do not seem
to be able to rise to the real situation
confronting the voters of Pennsylva-
mia and of the nation.
Through division the great major
lily, which believes in protective
tariff, has lost control of the Federal
government. Economic policies have
been put into effect which have caused
very grave apprehensions in business
circles. The political fox, which ran
off with the bone when the lion and
bear fell to fighting over it, has PLAYED
havoc with confidence by making clear
its intention to upset all established
methods and safeguards of industry
and commerce.
We read with considerable misgiv-
ing that Germany, by appropriating
Identical methods which we are seek
ing to destroy here, has increased her
exports from sSSS.000, 900 in 1896 to
s2,1SO, 100000 in 1912. Germany aids
and applauds her captains of indus
try" In America it is worth mans
reputation TO have the title applied to
him.
And in other particulars, the admin
istration of Woodrow Wilson has beer
anything but satisfactory. The princi-
pies of civil service, to which he and
his party professed such profound de-
votion, have been ruthlessly overrid-
den. Capable and experienced men
have been thrown out of office for no
other reason than to make room for
Democrats. Planks in the party's
platform have been disregarded. ig-
nored or openly nullified in spite of
Mr.. Bryan's announcement to the last
Legislature in Harrisburg that the
violation of platform pledges was the
worst type of dishonesty. Our for
eiGr relations have been badly tangled.
and, while affairs have been going
from bad to worse in Washington, our
Secretary of State, our Vice-President
and others who should be devotine
their entire time to the service of the
people, have been trotting around the
chautauqua circuit at so much per
lecture.
AS though this We're not enough, a
system of most outrageous bossism
has been introduced at the national
capital. State parties and State affairs
have been ordered about from the
White House until it would seem that
the fatal period feared by John Fiske
had arrived. Says Mr.. Fiske in his
Critical Period of American History"
II the day should ever arrive
(Which God forbidD when the peo-
country shall allow their local af-
fairs to be administered by projects
sent from Washington, and when
the self f-government of the States
snail have been SO far lost as that
or the Departments of France or
even so far as that OF the counties
or England. on that day the pro-
gressive political career of the
American people will have come 20
an end, and the hopes that have
been built upon ii for the future
happiness and prosperity of man
kind will be wrecked forever
No amount of dust-throwing and
tssue-dodging should blind the pro.
tectionists of this State to the fact
that the battle is between Democrats
and anti-Democrats. The interests
of Pennsylvania are unquestionably
bound up in policies with which the
Democratic party has always been al
war. Therefore, our first concern
should be to do our part in the re.
storation of these policies.
Any Republican or Progressive who
repeats the stereotyped cry of the op.
position that "Penrose is the only
issue" gives evidence of a cloudee
vision and of failure to perceive
facts and conditions which should b,
apparent to the least observant