Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-11-26
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BY the Ex-Committeeman


Public Service Commissioner Will
liam A. Magee, one of the biggest po-
litical factors in Pennsylvania and one
, of the men who backed Roosevelt in
the historic primary campaign of 1912,
but who stayed regular after the nomi-
nations were made. last night raised
the banner of Brumbaugh leadership
for the Republican party in Pennsyl-
vania. About the same time Senator
Penrose declared in Philadelphia that
! he was not a candidate for the presi-
| dental nomination, but intimated
pretty broadly that he proposed to
take hand in political matters. 1t is
intimated in Philadelphia, that Mayor
elect Thomas b. Smith. who was here
to see the Governor at the Governors S
request on Wednesday. will recognize
| Senator Penrose as leader. although
he does not expect any contest. In
other cities of the State friends of the
senator are said to be quietly prepar-
ing lines for nomination of Legislators
and candidates for national delegate.
These were the developments of
Thanksgiving Day in politics. The
Governor, the most talked about man
in the state political situation. re-
mained here. ate turkey and read and
listened. He did not say anything.
Commissioners Magee's statement is
an arraignment of Pennsylvania
craftsmanship of a generation" to use
his own words. He attacks conditions
and reviews the movements for twenty
years. He says that the leaders of
the Roosevelt movement ran it Into
blind alley" and criticises some OF
the leaders indirectly. He also whacks
the legislatures. Mr.. Magee does not
pay much attention to the Democrats,
but this is what he says about the
washington party: The Roosevelt
leadership in the state in the mean
time, not adapting itself to practical
conditions as they arose. finally found
itself deserted. its following dissi-
pated." Regarding the Governor, Mr..
Magee says: THE session of 1915 dis
closed and developed new Republican
leadership in the person of the present
Governor. AS stout n champion of the
Republican policy of protection as
there is in the country, imbued with
the traditions that are the inspiration
of the party, at the same time not so
radical as Roosevelt. La Toilette and
Cummings and not an opportunist en-
deavoring to obtain power from every
popular wave of sentiment. he seems
to be the best hope now of the en-
lightened Republicans of PennSylva-
MIA through whom they can express
that political ideal which they hold,
which is hard to give a name to but
which is we'll understood as being an
intermediate ground between radical
ism and socialism on one side and con-
serVatism on the other. This is a
ground difficult to define because the
mention of it suggests trimming be-
tween two extremes. The conception
is something far different from that.
1t is positive position connecting bold
social and political advance, but at the
same time advance along those we'll
defined paths upon which this country
has been progressing throughout it's
entire history, namely, a constant en-
largement of the political rights of the
individual and q constant expansion
of the social conception of the State
toward its subjects.
Il do not pretend to know whether
Governor Brumbaugh intends to be-
come candidate for the Republican
nomination for President, and, answer
ing a question that has been fire.
quently asked me, / have no present
intention of becoming a candidate for
senator, particularly while j am a
member of the Public Service Commits
sion. because, while belonging to this
body | intend to give practically all of
my time to the performance of the
duties belonging to it, but l do not
hesitate to say that there should be
someone at Washington representing
the masses of the people of Pennsyl-
vania. l do not mean to deny the
right of vested interests to representa-
ton. Vested wealth has rights that
need protection and therefore that
should have representation. I am
rather opposing the continuance of the
policy in vogue now and which has
been in existence time out of mind of
deputizing all the interests of Penn
sylvania into hands which are by tenn
perament and training, as we'll as selec-
tion, taken out of the ultra-conserv-
ative class. who view all questions
from the one angle exclusively.
am raising my voice not for the eX-
clusion of the ruling class, but the
division of representation among all
classes