Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-01-11
PARTY HARMONY ESSENTIAL

TIME Scranton Republican devotes
a half column of editorial space
to the subject of Republican
harmony in Pennsylvania in the selec-
ton of delegates to the coming ma
tional convention. The subject is one
that should have the earnest thought
of every Republican in the State. AS
repeatedly pointed out by the Tele-
graph, the next presidential fight al
ready is won in Pennsylvania If Re-
publicans continue to stand together
and present a united front to the
Democracy. The one possibility of
defeat in this State lies in divided
party lines, such as tore Pennsylvania
from her Republican moorings IN
1912 and helped to defeat the party s
nominee for the Presidency. Condi-
tions have changed wonderfully in
that time. The wanderers in large
numbers have returned to the party
and they have been met half way
with outstretched hands. Old wounds
that we were told could not be healed
in a generation have been cured and
scarcely a mark is left to tell the
tale. The very existence of the Wash
ington party in Pennsylvania is even
now at stake. 1t has neither leader
ship nor rank and file. William Finn
has begun the melancholy task of
posing as "the last Progressive"
There is nothing in the air TO cause
discord save possibly only selfish am
bition and discordant personal an
tagonisms. These should and must
paign for the good of the party and
the welfare of the nation at large.
AS the Times so well puts it:
This is a year for party harmony
1t is FAR more to be desired that
fhe Leaders f5e get together Snd tpat
they indulge in bitter conflict
whose blighting consequences might
have n far-reaching and detrimental
effect in the coming Presidential
campaign. Recent differences in
the Republican party have lost the
Presidency. and inflicted a serious
injury upon the country. As a great
Republican stronghold, Pennsylva-
mia should set an example in party
solidarity whose stimulating influ-
wholesome rivalry among candi-
dates who are ambitious for prefer
ment is, of course, proper and even
laudable, II waged within reason
able bounds; but when such rivalry
goes to the extremes OF rancor and
enmity and seems more anxious to
destroy an opponent than to win
recognition for itself, ii becomes a
menace to party harmony and i'm
perils success. Philadelphia. with
it's overwhelming Republican ma
iority, can afford to indulge in the
luSury of a scrap" and even in
that city there are times when fac
tional conflict can be carried too
far: but all the other counties of
the Commonwealth are not so
strongly entrenched in maiorities,
and the extension of bitter factional
warfare to them would be fatal to
their interests i'm many instances.
One of the baneful features of such
petty strife. especially in localities
where the Republican majority is
small and depends on loyal party
cooperation, is that it banishes the
hope of success in local campaigns
for many years. Faction feuds on
the part of Republicans in Pennsyl-
common enemy" and they should,
therefore. be avoided. At this time,
particularly on the eve of a Presi-
dental campaign which Is so bright
with the promise of Republican sue
cess, all who have the good of the .
party and the welfare of the coun-
try at heart should discourage fac
ton. and work for harmony and
victory.
That is the situation, and Republi-
cans who have the success of their
party at heart will not look with favor
upon any individual or group of indi-
viduals who may permit their own
whims or desires to in any way en-
danger the splendid Republican VIC
tory that now seems so certain next