Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-17


have chosen silence. The more that silence
continues the closer will he heard the thun-
der of the "slush fund" scandal and Its
threat TO all the victors in the election OF
1914.
DAILY the Governor is regaled and the
~ newspapers of Pennsylvania enlivened
by stimulating and loyal letters breezlly and
''punchily" urging Mr.. Brumbaugh ITO fight
fearlessly to finish," "clean up the bunch"
"go ahead" don't back down one inch" I'VE
will stay with you all the way"
Daily the Penrose.oliv senatorial set is
issuing to all good citizens who have ears
to hear resounding exhortatons. The trumpet
calls to battle. Mr.. Penrose is using the
words America" and Americans" often
in the same sentence that his hearers can
hardly cheer for the big Jumps of sobby
patriotism i'm their throats. mot since the
Civil War threatened with disntegration, etc."
and Now, in the midst of the worldwide
conflagration of war, etc." are put through
their PAGES to prove that Brumbaugh ought
to be defeated and delegates uninstructed
by any one but Penrose elected But both
sides. after playing mediumsized trumps,
have suddenly quit cold" The other cards
are hidden.
1t is the situation of the timid policemen in
Gllberts pirates of Penzance" Were
going, we're going, we're going" they sang;
going" to fight to a finish with the pirates,
going" to carry their duty to fulf1lment, yet
each one trying to hide behind his fellow and
never budging. But you don't go!" cried the
disgusted Major General. And that's the way
with the Governor and the Senators. They're
going, going to fight to finish, tell the whole
horrible truth. But they don't CO.
Penrose and Brumbaugh are both big men
physically. Big men have always excited
the admiration of this virile America. They
look we'll platforms. The swift down.
beat of their fists and muscular arms, their
deep chests, broad shoulders-these things
thril; they seem to be the earnest of power
and hard.hitting honesty. The man we won't
stand for is the who hits soft" That
was the most American thing the Colonel
ever said.
Penrose and Brumbaugh hitting soft.
And it is no time to hit soft The Repub-
licans are coming back into the Republican
fold The whole truth coming out about in.
dividual members of a party never hurt an
American party. Telling the whole truth is
the thing that makes an American party. We
thrive on hard blows. What nominated and
elected Wilson was the smashing blows at
the Democratic bosses in Jersey, at Baltimore.
When party has been split and is not heal
ing in a healthy manner, 1t is best to split 1t
wide open to the truth.hungry public to let
the independent voters rush into the gap
as the best kind of glue to keep 1t together.
The voice OF Pennsylvania at the National
Convention need not come from either Pen
rose or Brumbaugh delegates. 1t can come
from the people. 1t is the people who NOM
mate Presidents by the force of public opin-
ion, anyhow, and not puppet delegates.
Penrose and Brumbaugh were one ticket.
They were both elected. Brumbaugh ran less
than $1,000 ahead of Penrose. The votes
were about $4,000 and $4,000. That means
that the same organized party that elected
Penrose elected Brumbaugh. There was a
proud "None" at the bottom of the Governors
affidavit to his campaign receipts. But the
Brumbaugh campaign certainly indirectly,
at least-came in on the good things that the
Penrose machine had back of it. There was
the liquor "sush fund" The Governor was
clean and clear of that personally. all citizens
have believed There is only one way for the
Governor to continue to keep clear of it
that way is to attack it, tell what he knows
about it. otherwise no local option tour will
help local option.
That $1,000 from Oliver was really smaller
sum than the s27S days pay which the pro.
fessor.clerk gave back to the State Treasury
a while ago because he had distributed
Brumbaugh petitions all one day instead of
working for the State. One thousand dollars
is a drop in the bucket in the PenroseOliver
scheme of things political. But the Governor
of Pennsylvania is still officially before the
country as a presidential candidate. Every
arrow of venom and honest inquiry searches
out the weak joints in the armor of presi'
Dental candidates. Brumbaugh and Penrose
and oliver will tell all they know about each
other now, about all gifts and funds and un-
derstandings. or else bear the full brunt of
the disgrace of graver charges and suspicious
that will have not only Pennsylvania as the
witness against itself, but the whole coun-
try. This is game that cannot be played
card by card.