The Washington herald., 1914-05-24

and all the other third party leaders have told Roose
welt the plain unyarnshed truth during the Oyster
Bay conferences Roosevelt has been absent seven
months. During that time many things have hap
|pened politically but not one of them has brought
Joy or comfort to the Progressive cause On the
Contrary each election which has been held has shown
marked decrease in the Progressive vote, and in
California and Oregon the registration has demon
strated that the Republicans are returning to their
old allegiance. Take also. the primary election last
week in Pennsylvania. The vote cast by the Wash
ington party which5is the Roosevelt faction, was
rdiculously small In Philadelphia it dwindled from
Sz963 for Roosevelt in 1912 to r64o6 for Pnchot in
1914. The Wilson vote of 663os in 1912 fell to a<4I6
while the Republican vote for Penrose and Dmmick,
the rival candidates for Senator showed no decrease
whatever. All through the State there was tre-
mendous shrinkage in the Progressive vote
Whatever the Progressive leaders may say they
are not going to fool your uncle Theodore. He is
mot going to fight losing cause. He is even now
shrewdly appealing, in authorized interview. to
the rank and file Of the Republican party in Pennsy-
vania to support his friend Clifford Pinchot for
United States Senator. Having severed all Gomez
ton with the Republican party two years ago. after
denouncing it in bitter terms, why should he appeal
to it for anything at all? Because he sees the
handwriting on the wall The cold, unanswerablei
figures demonstrate that the Republican party has
not been destroyed As things look now, it win be
the Republican and not the Progressive party which
will make great gains next November If this should
prove to be the case Col Roosevelt may turn another
handspring and land himself in the Republican camp,
calling aloud to the rank and file to follow him and
claiming support because he chastened and purified
the party. With sublime sef-con6dence he may claim
that he alone can carry the Republican organization
to victory.
Stranger things than this have happened.
Penrose and Pealsylvania.
The primary election in Pennsylvania resulted in
an aiterative combination. Penrose, Palmer, and
Pinchot are the Republican Democratic and Progress
sve candidates for Senator And the greatest of these
is Penrose.
It was easy enough for Pinchot to be renominated,
because he had opposition Mr. Palmer encountered
rival but with the President Secretary Bryan, and
the entire strength of the administration behind him.
his victory was foregone conclusion The fight
made by Senator Penrose however, is one of the
most interesting episodes in political history Two
years ago he was the most discredited man in his
State. The organization was wrested from him and
the developments of the Archbold investigation
seemed presage his political extinction. An ordi
nary would have accepted the fate which was
apparently inevitable, and passed out of public life
Not so with Penrose 1t is true that he had never
been what might be called man of the people. He
relied entirely upon organization to keep him n the
Senate, and rarely made speech. The requirement
of the Constitution in the matter of popular election
of Senators changed the whole of his political
life. He went before the people, travelling from one
end of his State to the other impressing his person.
atty upon the voters and developing steadily all the
time No doubted that he had ability, but no |
one, two years ago. would have predicted that he |
could make good against tremendous odds
There is now probability that he will be elected. |
He will not, of course. have walk-over. MIR. Roose
vet will do all he to defeat him, on the ground
hat he is the type of man whose presence in the |
Republican party does more harm than good. Mr.. |
Pnchot, however, is weak rival. He has no per-
ona following in the State, has not been identified
With its affairs and lacks all record of accomplish
nent. Pennsylvania is overwhelmingly Republican
,nder normal conditions that if Pinehot polls only
small vote Penrose will win. Mr..
Palmer, of course, hopes that the division in the
Republican ranks will be serious and that he will
therefore,, be elected by plurality This result would
We certain if conditions were the same as in 1912
Then the people would not believe that prosperity
ould be checked by legislation and, besides they
wanted change. They have had it but its outcome
S reflected in the result of recent elections.
Conditions in Other States.
Other conventions and primaries are approaching
md will afford further opportunity to observe the
hange in political sentiment.
In Missouri last week county conventions were
leld to elect delegates to the Republican State con-
ention, which is to be held next Wednesday in ST.
-ouis These conventions were all largely attended
nd enthusiastic, even though Missouri is normally
Democratic. The presence of many Republicans who
oted for Roosevelt in 1912 was significant. Con-
iderable interest also attaches to the Statewide pri
nary which is to be held in Iowa a week from to-
morrow. Senator Cummins stands fair chance of
omination as the Republican Senatorial candidate,
While the Democratic nomination lies between Repre-
entative Maurice Connolly and Mr.. Meredith, the
ditor and publisher of Successful Farming. The
interest in Iowa. however as largely personal
S it is political The returns from the primaries
El be anatzed with great by the leaders of all
arties II in Iowa, in other States. the third party
ots shows marked decrease it will mean that the