Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-15


nual meeting of the state committee
of the Republican party in Pennsyl-
vania yesterday, at which State
Chairman William e. Crow, was re-
elected chairman and w. Harry
Baker, secretary, is pronounced by
leaders everywhere as the largest
and most harmonious gathering since
the days OF the old state conventions.
I There are no yesterdays in Re-
publican politics." declared Will H.
| Hays, chairman of the Republican
national committee in addressing the
gathering and as far as the state sit
uation is concerned, Chairman Hays
| was right for there has not been in
recent years such an exhibition of
party unity.
William &. Sproul, the nominee
/ Tor Governor, was greeted by his un-
successful rival, j. Denny O'Neil, who
was wildly cheered as he mounted
the platform and proclaimed his
fealty to the Republican party and
unqualified support of the entire Re-
publican ticket
Senator E. E. Beidleman, of Har-
risburg, candidate for Lieutenant
Governor, was given an ovation when
called to the stage.
State Chairman William E. Crow,
who staged the proceedings and was
afterwards hailed as "the prince of
| thermometers" called Congressman
William S. Ware to the platform later
on and the South Philadelphia went
! upon record, too, for the entire ticket
Notwithstanding the fact that he and
his associates had backed two of the
defeated candidates.
Senator Penrose Defiant
The climax came when Senator
| Penrose who had previously grasped
| hands with Congressman Ware and
Congressman John r. K. Scott, whom
he helped to defeat for the Lieuten-
ant Governorship, was called upon
and he made a sensational speech in
which he challenged the right of the
/ President or any one else to curb
or prevent legitimate criticism or
| Independent action of members of
Congress during the period of the
| war.
The utterances of the senior Sem
ator were emphasized when con-
trasted with the remarks of the ma
tional chairman, who had advocated
support of the national administra-
ton in the present crisis without
qualification of any kind.
| Chairman Hays won the hearts of
the stalwart party men by his mag
netic and snappy personality, and he
was repeatedly cheered as he pointed
to the record of the leaders of the
| Republican party in supporting the
national administration in every
| emergency.
! II Must Make Good'-SprouI
Senator Sproul, following his in
rroductory remarks, said he proposed
TO read what he had TO say formally
/ in order that he might not be mis-
understood or misquoted."
'AS candidate | mllSt make good
| to my party" he said, and when
| elected / must make good to all of
| the people, not only of this great
commonwealth but of the nation and
of the world for what Pennsylvania
does or fails to do in the next four
years is matter of crucial moment
in the future of this republic and in
the fate of democracy, of liberty and
of civilization itself. Pennsylvania s
crisis is just so important as that. At
time like this the service of the
public is a consecrated duty"
Pennsylvania has always been the
heart of the American nations 10y
atty and the center of our national
/ patriotism In every crisis the coun-
| try has known Pennsylvania has
stood by and her righteous endeavor
has been great influence in all Of
our progress as a people. Pennsyl-
vania statesmen, Pennsylvania SOL
! diers and sailors, Pennsylvania
! thought and Pennsylvania philanth-
! ropy, Pennsylvania industrial genius
and Pennsylvania Drawn, inspired by
! Pennsylvania ideals, have been a de-
termining factor in the making of
| this wonderful Republic.
But to-day, in this awful time
when all that has been builded up
by the toll and travel and suffering
of centuries is threatened with de-
! struction in an orgy of blood and
barbarism. when the very fundamen-
tails of all that civilized man has at
tanned in a thousand years are in
danger, Pennsylvania's part in the
| defense of human liberty is stu
pendous.
THAT the resources of this won
derful, elf-contained God-favored
empire of state, in work, in muni-
tions, in money and in men and
women, should be made most effec-
tive in the quickest possible time, is
essential to the future of mankind
That is the duty that is before us
| the most tremendous responsibility
our people and their leaders have
ever known.
State Problems to Be Met
81 am glad to see so many of the
men here who will be in the next
Legislature. The next session and
the next state administration will
have problems before them the like
of which have never confronted
Pennsylvania at any time i'm her his
tory There will be countless prob
lens of local import brought about
by the great international disturb
ance and the eXigencies of the Fed
eral government.
There will be questions of reve-
nue. and of taxation, of retrenchment
of state activities in some directions
and expansion in others to meet new
and rapidly ch s1ging conditions.
There will be QUESTIONS of conserva-
ton and of public morality more
pressing than those of ordinary times
but the great overshadowing, all
important matter will be the Coop
Grafton to the very limit of our state
with the nation and our Allies in
the winning of the war. We must
get through with this business as
quickly as We can, but we must get
through with 1t thoroughly and tri-
umphantly or nothing else that we
may do or have done will matter
much. Unless we finish this war
and finish it right, there won't be
much that is worth while in what we
have done before-our history will
not be of much interest as the rec
ord of a defeated and decadent peo-
pie.
Patriotism Spells Republicanism
But Pennsylvania will do her duty
and we will win the war if we have
to win it ourselves The RenuhIicau