Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-17
THE PRIMARY RESULTS
TINE results of yesterdays Repu
lican primaries indicate a who

y
ican primaries indicate a whole
some independence of thought
within the party Without rancor or
any apparent degree of feeling one
way or the other the rank and file
of the party went to the polls and cast
their ballots largely according to their
individual preferences. The wide
divergence in totals for candidates on
the various States" is a plain indica-
ton that the individual voter was
guided generally by his own wishes
and convictions rather than by the
dictates of factional leaders The
comparatively light vote is another
sign that people generally were not
greatly wrought up over the issues
at stake and that thousands of Re-
publicans who did not vote were will
ing to accept the results whatsoever
they might be- evidently believing that
the whole primary campaign was
more or less a tempest in a teapot and
without much significance in the final
lineup of the party behind whomso-
ever shall be nominated by the Chi
cago convention.
For time it did look as though the
factional quarrel might have serious
results in the coming elections. Now
we know that 1t will cut little
figure. Pennsylvania shows every
indication of swinging into line behind
the nominees of the Chicago conven-
tion with an old-time Keystone State
majority. This is the handwriting on
the wall; the verdict written by the
Republican voters at yesterdays cleo
tions, and it would go i'll with any
body who might endeavor to set it
aside.
Notwithstanding the m W h a
mixed results in some districts, early
returns indicate that the Penrose
leadership is endorsed by majorities
that cannot be questioned. There is
doubtless reflected in this the effect of
organized effort as we'll as party
sentiment. The lack of organization
on the other hand, is plainly shown
in the Brumbaugh returns. All cir
cumstances considered. and especially
in view of the fact that thousands of
voters believed the delegate contest
was largely inspired by factional in
terests in Philadelphia, the Governor
appears to have polled vote of which
he need not be ashamed. He has not
been overwhelmingly" repudiated as
his opponents predicted; neither has
he swept the State" as his friends
asserted he would do. 1t has been
known that the Governor had little
taste for the contest in which he en-
gagged, and doubtless now that the
political air has been cleared by the
primary storm he will turn his un-
divided attention TO those humanitar-
ian and constructive policies for which
his administration has been noted. He
has been always at his best when
leading the forces of the State govern
ment to new accomplishments in the
advancement of education, the better
ment of living conditions in tho State
and the welfare of humanity.
If the Republican vote was light, the
Democratic and Washington party
polls were pitifully so. The sharp
fight between the Palmer forces and
those of the Old Guard resulted. as
was expected, in the defeat of the
Old Guard, the whole force of the fed
eral patronage being lined up against
It. But whatever the result, it means
little. Democrats realize that they
cannot hope to carry Pennsylvania
this Fall. They could not do It In
1912. with a split Republican party
opposing them, and they have no such
hope now with every sign pointing to
a union of Republican and Progress
sive forces following the Chicago con-
ventions. The Democratic contest OF
yesterday was interesting, but in no.
wise important. from the standpoint
of the coming general elections.
The whole trend is toward a great
Republican victory in Pennsylvania
next Fall and the outlook, is exceed
l1ngly bright. Whatever differences
may have existed previous to the
primaries will be smoothed out long
before November rolls around and the
lparty will stand united and invincible
in its opposition to the dwindlins
forces of the Democracy
The other day the Sharon Herald. a
livewire evening newspaper of the She