Evening journal., 1914-03-21
PINCHOT-A pEMOCRATIC HELPMEET.

PINCHOT--A DEMOCRATIC HELPMEET.
- IFFoRD PINcHoT, who aspires to go to the
N1 United States Senate from Pennsylvania and who
is doing everything in his power to keep alive the
disoord between the Republicans and the Progress
sives that State and also the nation large is
looked upon by Democrats friend in need and
who IS deserving Of all possible Democratic
couragement They rely upon him and others similarly
afflicted with Republican party disoyalty to assist
them in keeping in the Democratic column several
States which normally Republican and which, in
due time, win swing back to their natural and proper
places in political system.
1t is Of course impossible to tell what the effect
Of such work Pinchot is doing will be. There is
widespread doubt however, that such political agta-
tors he viii be able to win much Of following in
view OF the experience Of the people in 1912 since
The Philadelphia Public Ledger which accuses Pinchot
Of pulling Democratic chestnuts out Of the fire, pays
its respects to him in this wise
Clifford Pinchot made a rancorous and bitter per-
sonal assault at Port Huron, Mich Tuesday the
distinguished Republicans who supported Roosevelt at
Chicago but who would not follow him into third
party. II these remarks the spirit OF Progressive
ISM he confirms the impression long current of the
genesis and sustaining force Of that movemet There
is little difference in the principles for which sim
cere Republicans and progressives striving, and
the dangers and disadvantages of third party
slender a point of difference as personal allegiance to
a leader so patent that patriotic Americans should
recognize their plain duty to labor for the union Of
the several forces Of Republicansm. The only effect
that third party Is maintained solely by hatred and
disappointment sooner or later it must become in
The pity is many good men are led astray
by It and prevented from aiding in removing the evils
of partisan political management and promoting the
work Of publication.
Governor Hadley Senator Borah and the others upon
whom Mr. Pincho pours out the yials Of wrath,
mitted the heinous crime of refusing to follow dis
appointed loser into revolt against the party which
he could not control They did not believe the way
TO remedy party msmanagement by betrayal of
the party they were ar-sighted enough to know that
a split would benefit only the Democrats Just Pen
rose, Barnes and other Republican leaders had the
full confidence of Roosevelt when they served his
purposes Governor Hadey and Senators Borah
and Cummins were the lights Of Progressivsm so long
they supney promoted the ambitions Of Roosevelt
Pnchot's attitude also shows the same curious po-
tcal strabismus exhibited by certain POLITICIANS who
espoused the Roosevelt in Pennsylvania. The
fact that they converted to the Roosevelt
cult washed away their political sin cleansed their
records of slime filthy as ever found on the
political mantle of Penrose or Barnes and endowed
them. shrven and purified with the virtues of the
beautihed
Mr. Pinchots bitterness defeats his own ends 1t
reveals the teness of the present Progressive lead
ershp, its narrowness its unpatriotic inspiration its
inability to see beyond the petty limits of hate and
disappointment If the Progressive following in Penn
syvania shall be awakened by this exhibition Of
reasoning bitterness to the iuulity of a third party
without other ideals than resentment to aid
in the effort to wrest control Of the Republican party
from the bosses is BY sulkng IN third
party they simply aid in continuing unworthy leader
ship and play like baby politicians into the hands Of
the Democrats.
It is useless TO hope that Pinchot and others whose
only hope to be kept in the public eye lies in such
work they doing viii such attacks
That Is their stock-in-trade Without IT, they would
sink back into the political obscurity whence they
sprang to engage in their dsruptve destructive
work There sreason to hope however. that the Pro-
gressve Republican voters will arise to their respon-
sbnity in the matter and devote themselves to bring
ing about reunion Of all Republicans instead of Civ
ing countenance and support Democratic helpmeets
OF the Pinchot type.