The Washington herald., 1914-07-11
'PERNICIOUS germ
AFFECTS POLITICS
"Phytonomous" Pest, Known
as "Progressive" Sort, Is
Working Mischief.
DID ITS WORSE In 1912
But Ohio c. o. P. at Coming Pr-
maries May Serve. Like Pennsyl-
vanians, to Check Ravages.
DID ITS WORSE In 1912
BY FRANCIS b. GEssNER.

wise men were discussing phytonamous
a new word in politics coming quickly
after psychological, which was given |
run, thanks to the first citizen Of thi
republic. Phytonomous Is a word lonI
familiar to the savants OF the Agrt
cultural Department as II describes 4
pestiferous weevil which makes a spe
ciaIty OF dissecting the alfalfa plants o.
the Western farmer. There are veeyil!
and weevils. but the one described a.
"phytonomous' is especially detected II
regions where alfalfa is staple croI
/ and the insidious methods of the insecl
have given the agricultural scientist;
much study and more worry.
The adjective describing the pest haI
1 been aptly applied to political distress
makers OF the progressive sort and the
/ 'phytonomous progressive" is a tern
describing a pestiferous citizen not eX'
actly big or powerful, but like the weeyil
capable of doing much damage. The
FULL name OF the bug Is ''phytonomous
| porticus cyll," but the adjective Is
enough In describing the politician whu
can achieve nothing for himself or his
! organization, but can give a big organi-
zation continued agitation. distress and
defeat, just as the alfalfa weeviI gives
the farmer a short crop.
Did His worI0s In 1912.
Thsphytonomous politician did his worst
| 10 1912, and there are signs of a check 10
| his depredations in Republican fields this
! year, and with this first check given in
/ Pennsylvania by that eminent political
| farmer, the Hon. Boies Penrose. An
other month will witness the Ohio prim-
| aries, and there is promise of even a
greater victory for the regular Repub-
Iicans, who are confident OF giving the
effective setting back than was given
Pinchot and company in the keystone
State.
1t was remarked during the conferences
of Jimmie Garfield and Arthur Garfield.
the two chief moguls of the Ohio Pro-
gressive organization, that neither made
any mention of having their beloved
leader take any part in the Ohio cam
paign prior to the primaries Indeed, the
silence of Garfield and Garfield were Sig
nificant and possibly they lament the
very evident mention Of their chief TO
remain out of a State sure TO give his
devoted foe Foraker an Endorsement and
on August IL while Son-in-law Nick Long
worth Is sure of the regular Republican
nomination for Congress in a district OF
which Foraker is a legal resident
Each visitor from Ohio continues con-
fident that Foraker will win the Repub-
lCan nomination. lOT senator, nut no
visitor either Republican or Democrat.
has ventured a prediction as to the out
come Of the Democratic Senatorial con-
test
The chief Democratic lament is that
the party has little choice with Hogan,
Lentz and Zimmerman. the three can
didates. now that Clarke is out, pre-
ferring to be judge for life. Hogan iE
attorney general, a bright Irishman and
xrrh ba1
cOrding to locality.
Zimmerman Is a Lutheran, q lawyer,
and unusually prominent in church work
for one of the legal profession. Leutz Is
making no reference TO his religious affil-
ia tiOns and, thanks to short session u
Congress. has had more experience fit
ting him for Senatorial duties than his |
cOntesting friends.
Ohio has never yet elected a Catholic !
to the Senate and but few to the House, !
but the Hogan managers are keeping the !
religious proposition in the shadow. |
counting most on their candidates grip
in local party organizations, and his |
record as a very industrious attorney |
general who had been careful not to do /
things that have given other attorney !
generals of the Republican kind a con-
siderable period OF retirement from ac-
tive political life. The Hon. Wade Hamp-
from the attorney generals Of !
flee in the midst of a second term to
take a high place under the Taft admin
istration in Washington. He was also /
big enough to resign from that Office and 4
go back to the law with the intention of II
making a real business Of It. Even so.
the Hon. Wade had gotten a tremendous 4
start in Ohio and there has been regret
that he did not remain and aid in putting
h. ,0rfv- in In TTv-lI
taking a few higher hOnors for himself
Judge CIark's Appointments.
The appointment of John H. Clarke to
the judgeship this week interests the
contingent from Youngstown,
his old home No city OF its size sent
as many visitors of wealth and impOr-
lance to Gotham town as Youngstown.
md while they are much more concerned
about stee! and industrial operations
than about politics they are just now
interest in what che admins
tration and Congress may do or leave
lndOne in the few months preceding the
November election.
Judge Clarke, even II a Democrat can
'oint with pride to his district as having
lad much to do with the affairs of the
latiOn. He recalls William Mckinley,
who was proud of MahOning County as
part of his old Congressional district
md a county that never fiickered in de-
-otion to the G. o. P. After Mckinley
n Congress, came r. W. Tayler, of Column
iana, who was also given the life place
n the bench now going to Clark. The |
Id district gave the nation William r.
Jay, of the United States Supreme Court,
nd who served with distinction as
ecretary of State prior to his appoint
1ent on the bench.
At present writing the old Mckinley
istrict is not lacking in notables as ii II
proud of Senator Pomerene, who II
cunts Canton home, and the bounding
yhitacre now in Congress, but who is
1orking over time as a candidate for the
nomination against Cox No
ne expects Whitacre to defeat Cox, but
|, Whitacre enjoys the diversion, expense
nd subsequent brain flag, who shall H