Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-10


ate gave him o fine opportunity
10 discuss the popular primary and
the fiagrant violations of its letter and
spirit by the leaders of the Democratic
and Washington parties in this State.
Most observant persons will agree
with him that there has not been in
the political history Of PENNSYLVANIA
such arrant and arbitrary exhibitions
of bossism as those of the two parties
which have so vehemently denounced
that sort of thing in the Republican
organization. President Wilson Sc
1ected the candidates of the dominant
faction of the Democratic party and
immediately issued orders from the
White House that all other aspirants
should get out of the way of the steam
roller. But the Wilson hypnotism has
about lost its effectiveness and the
Democrats all over the State are COM
ing out of their trance. Similar causes
have produced similar results in the
Washington party and thousands of
well-meaning Republicans who sup
ported Colonel Roosevelt are tired of
the first-aid-to-the policy
of the leaders of the third party move
ment.
Fearful of the bacl-to-t the-party
trend among those who refused to
support Mr.. Taft, the Democratic Or
Saps of the Wilson faction are openly
advising Washington party voters to
register this year as Democrats. Hav-
ing failed TO accomplish fusion the
bosses of the Democracy are now des-
perately trying to achieve their object
i'll another way.
But the utter indifference of the
anti-Republican forces to the primary
law for which they clamored so loudly
two years ago, as demonstrated in the
stating of the tickets of the Demo-
cratic and Washington parties, has
awakened the honest voter to the real
situation and there is certain to be a
tremendous drift toward the Republi-
can lines. 1t was certain to come and
even the batting of Senator Penrose
could not much longer have prevented
the inevitable return Of Republicans
to their natural fighting ground. We
shall not be greatly surprised to see in
the next few weeks rapid breaking
mp of the opposition to the Republican
party. 1t does not follow, of course,
that there is to be return to old
party methods and the arbitrary rule
that is now causing the disruption of
the Democracy, but the Republican
party having taken a position on
higher ground with the colors we'll ad-
yanced there is now no reason or JUS
tihcat1on for the honest voters of the
party of protection and prosperity who
were for time constrained to fight
under another flag to remain outside
the breastworks
Senator Penrose has submitted his
candidacy squarely to the voters and
on the proposition that the popular
primary "has come to stay and should
be cheerfully acquiesced in by every
one as the final decision of a majority
of the people," He invites a full dis
cussfon of his record covering a period
of eighteen years in the United States
toSH1tS anu upoil lHell record is Willing
to leave his candidacy to the electors
for their decision. No man could do
more, and whatever the opposition to
the Senator it will be conceded by all
fair-minded persons that he has rec
ognized the spirit of the primary law
in thus submitting his public service
for the consideration of the voters.
Two other Republicans have entered
the arena and it will hardly be argued
that Senator Penrose is the onlv
choice; that he has in some occult
way possessed the whole field. He
has simply observed the spirit of the
primary law and in compliance with
its provisions asks the people to de-
termine whether he shall longer serve
the State in the most important leg
fslative body in the world.
1t will not do for the opponents of
Senator Penrose to throw dust In the
eyes of the people by declaring that
his platform of protection to Ameri-
can industry ana his insistence upon
a real American policy with respect
to international affairs, instead Of the
"watchfu waiting program of the
Wilson administration, is out of Joint
with present-day ideals and the atti-
tude of the country on these questions