Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-15
Why the Evening Ledger Fights Penrosc

sufficiently grave to make his defeat public
necessity. II the record Of Mr. Penrose
absolutely forbids support Of him by
respectable newspaper quite obviously a
decent regard for the welfare of the state
and nation requires that newspaper to bring
all of It's influence TO bear to cause his defeat.
He is either so Objectionable that the Even
ing Ledger must fight him. he is not
Objectionable enough to Justify a refusal to
indorse him
Middle ground for a newspaper in such an
exigency is cowardly. In fact the Evening
Ledger is not only confronted with para
mount duty, but with q splendid opportunity
for service The independence Of It's view
point causes 1t TO be observed by the forces
of good government, without respect TO
party, in all parts Of the Union. Men be-
lieve, and have right to believe that at
last there is in the East a great metropolitan
daily which will speak boldly, without fear
of interests, corporate or popular, and stand
irrevocably for good government, no matter
under what party banner.
Whatever the standing Of Penrosetsn in
Pennsylvania. it is hated and detested in
every other state Of the Union. Nowhere
else is there any attempt to defend It, The
failure Of the Evening Ledger TO wage an
energetic campaign against it could be inter-
preted in but one way. The papers sin
cerity would be questioned.
Manufacturers believe that Mr.. Penrose
will be able to write the next tariff bill If
Republicanism is rehabilitatei That is an
erroneous view. No party would dare enact
a bill written by Mr. Penrose. A Republican
majority in Washington would find some
other chairman FOR the Finance committee
of the Senate. The seniority Of Mr. Penrose
would not count
Pennsylvania manufacturers mtsirrerprat
the signs Of the times quite as sadly as did
the Southern slave holders. The election Of
Mr. Penrose would hamstri0g the RePub
losn campaign in 1916. With Fenroseism
- -asannd- -, neck Of the party, what chance
would It have in Illinois. Indiana Iowa,
Michigan. Ohio, IN any Of the pivotal States
which showed SO plainly in 1912 that they are
through and done with the methods Of Pen
rose. Foraker and that class of mon? II is
well understood that the Democracy would
view a Penrose triumph with light heart,
being convinced that it marked a sure free
trade victory in 1915.
The Evening Ledger owes a duty 10 the
nation. 1t must conscientiousLy work for the
rehabilitation Of Republicanism. That can
only be brought about by the defeat Of Pen
rose. His elimination ia necessary 10 purify
the party to persuade the nation that It IS
purified. 1t is a medicine which the true
friends of the Republican party viii insist on
its taking.
There Is but one position for the Evening
Ledger to take. II must declare, as the con-
dittons prove, that this IS a moral issue The
economic principles of Mr.. Palmer u cannot
Indorse, but his political morality it can ap-
piaud. AS between a man OF high principle
and another man whose political record indi-
Gates no principle AZ all, it must stand for
the former. tar,r is but one OF many
things on which Senator votes on other
things Mr.. Palmer is sound. A political revo-
luton 30 great as tc give a chance for a new
tariff would be great enough surely % assure
a majority in the Senate without the aid
of one Pennsylvania vote. Oliver is still
there: and the loss of one vote which the
defeat Of Mr.. Perross would entail, might
readily mean the gain Of five or ten votes
from other States, which otherwise would
not send Republican Senators 70 Washington,
So far as local interest IS concerned, in all
his years in Washington, for Philadelphia
Mr.. Penrose has done practically nothing. The
Delaware has been neglected, the custom house
IS a disgrace and the posroffce IS ut-lo bet
ter. The freight of the nation has aowed by
Philadelphia and or 10 New York. II should
have stopped here Il will when the Gov
eminent State and national, does as much
for the port as has been done for New York.
But while Mr.. Penrose controls affairs there
will he no difference. Fls interests are all
in one direction.
The Evening Ledger 'ovaIly proves rs Re-
publicanism by IT'S support os Mr.. Frum-
baugh. II demonstrates irs allegiance 10
national Republicansm and good government
by calling on the voters 20 prove that Pen
roseism is not Republcaulsr by showing
that his defeat Is n prerequisite 10 the sue
cess Of the party IN the nation by support
ing Mr. Palmer, not because but ln spite. of
his tariff views
Advocates Of good government can Justly
saw. IF the Evening Ledger IS not FIR MS u
is against u.s.; hut not 10 be against Nr
Penrose is 10 be for him The paHttaa
machinery that he directs fourishez I'm dark.
ness Silence is the support il Graves A
rev-spaper that acquiesces now in Tho cleo
tion of the Organizations head cannot win
any power fight against the Organization
itself in the approaching municipal elections
There can he no neutrality when ite method
are before the electorate Mr. Ponroee mus
he defeated, and II is legitimate and right r,
use the only instrument that is available fo
that purpose
The Evening Ledger is an Independent Re
publican newspaper What does "I1ie
pendent I'm this connection mean other rha
a purpose 10 save the party from itself whe
occasion demands 1t Conn0toE an intentlo
to support only those party candidates wh
are worthy. In implies a determination Z
reject 1osn who have prostituted the party I