Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-01-15


portant that it ought not to be
difficult to compose these differences
and present to the common enemy
the Democracy--a solid front for the
strenuous and exciting campaign upon
which we are about to enter for the
election of a United States Senator and
State officials.
Since the Legislature has placed
upon the voter the entire RESPONSE
bility, 1t is clearly his duty to give
serious thought to the real issue and
not permit his judgment to be warped
or his attention diverted by loud calls
to perform patriotic duty" when
this appeal simply means a vote for
the Democratic ticket. No voter should
be deceived by the constant cry of
gang" this and "gangster" that. This
is the worst sort of dust-throwing and
is discounting, in practically every
case the intelligence of the voter
whom it is intended to bewilder and
deceive.
There is no gang" now. nor can
there be, unless the people themselves
choose to be regarded in that light.
The direct primary places the power
and the responsibility squarely up to
the voter.
In the last analysis the whole ques-
tion is one of principles and not of in
dividuals. 1t becomes a matter of
what you believe in. Are you in har-
mony with the Republican principles
as they are understood to-day, con-
forming as they do to the expressed
will and desire of every member of the
party? Do you believe that an honest
effort has been made to reform the
abuses and arbitrary methods which
crept in under the old convention
system?
Surely 1t will not be contended that
with the adoption of uniform primary
laws and nonpartisan ballot features
end much else in the way of legisla-
tion assuring the control OF nomina-
dons and elections by the people, the
Republican party is still in the hands
of bosses.
True, there are still those pro
gressives" who merely want a change
for the sole reason that it will mean
something different, and others so
conservative" that they believe any
change is a dangerous experiment,
But we feel quite certain that the great
body of real Republicans will find un-
der the banner of the party of achieve
ment common ground upon which to
stand in a determined effort to pro-
tect our institutions and our CONNER
cial and Industrial wellbeing from the
menace of theoretical and reckless
legislation.
We have neither sympathy nor pa
tience with those of either wing of the
Republican party who persist In a
hopeless attitude of indifference one
to the other. on the score that there
cannot be two opinions on any politi-
cal question or party procedure. Thou
sands of good Republicans who SUD-
ported Colonel Roosevelt believe when
they thus uttered their protest against
what they conceived to be arbitrary
party action at Chicago, they did that
which was demanded by the occasion;
but, having thus made their protest
and having seen all the important
electoral changes demanded enacted
into law by the last Legislature, these
men see no reason for a continuance
of factional struggle that will mean
simply Democratic supremacy and the
defeat of the very principles which
both wings of the Republican party
favor.
? Whether the leaders of the two fac
tions will recognize the necessity of a
burial Of petty ambitions and differ |
ences for the welfare of the party as a
whole remains to be seen; but 1t is as
certain as that night follows day that
the great body of the Republican host
is coming together. Men may come
and men may go, but the principles
upon which great parties are founded
are fundamental, and it is the opinion
of honest students of current political
history that the reunion of the Re-
publican factions In this State. as |
throughout the nation, is inevitable. |
the prophecies of a few ambitious
leaders to the contrary notwithstand |
ing.
Once more three loud, long chccrs for
the inventor of the wireless.