Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-10

4 = spider has caught the Progress
sive fly in Pennsylvania. An
alleged fusion of the two parties on
the State ticket has been accomplish
ed against the protests of thousands of
honest men in both camps. The
bosses of the Democratic reorganiza-
ers and the Washington party have
forced through a deal which not only
discredits all the professions of adher-
ence to principle and devotion to a
cause, but marks the whole transac-
ton as an arbitrary exhibition of boss
rule against which these same bosses
have pretended to be fighting for the
last two years.
Such men as Robert K. Young have
on the part of the Progressives and
many oil the most earnest of Demo
Gratis have likewise opposed a fusion
ticket, knowing that oil and water
cannot mix. But a coalition of the So
called reform forces has been inevi-
table for some time and there is no
surprise over the announcement.
Dean Lewis, who quits the game
as the Washington party candidate
for Governor. saw inevitable defeat
for himself and was glad to retire. Nc
Cormick, the Democratic candidate,
who Is clutching at straws in every
direction, is doubtless willing to swal-
low the Progressive criticism of his
sponsor, the President, and pay the
bills. And ex-senator William Finn,
the financial backer of the Progress
sive movement in this State, is more
than ready to permit Mccormick to
become the "angel" of the allies. He
was recently quoted as having declar-
ed he would not send good money
after bad in this campaign. Mr.. Finn
is not a tyro in politics and he can
hardly be censured for escaping the
impending avalanche.
AS to the Democrats, thousands of
them will refuse to support the mule
ticket. We shall not be surprised to
hear from every hamlet the sound of
the clashing axes and reports of flop
ping Democrats deserting the sinking
ship.
It must be evident to any thought
tul person that such fusion, arranged
through the connivance of the bosses,
cannot be effective in the approaching
election. The platform of the Wash
ington party is one assault after an
other upon the Wilson Democracy
represented by Mccormick on the
State ticket. and how it is going to be
possible for any considerable number
of Democrats to go along with such a
proposition is difficult to understand
Then. too, the fusion proposition is
based upon the alleged hope of the
bosses that such a combination will
result in the defeat of Senator Pen
rose. Yet Pinchot the Washington
party candidate for United States
Senator, is to be permitted to run his
own course and thus divide the forces
of righteousness" which Dean Lewis
thinks should be united for the success
of the cause"
The getting together of the Demo-
cracy and the followers of Lewis is
the last desperate move of a few am
bilious men to save themselves, If DOS
sible, from the most humiliating de-
feat that has even overtaken a group
of self-seekers such as Pennsylvania
has never seen in any campaign. But
the very announcement of such a fu-
sion deal in the face of the urgent de-
mands of these same forces for a
Statewide primary law that was to
overcome boss dictation in the selec-
tion of candidates, will result in the
alignment OF thousands of Democrats
and honest Progressives with the Re-
publican party this year.