Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-02

| ISan issue anu as Sucn Une VOVers Wuo'
| view it.
Pennsylvania is Republican State.
Its people believe in Republican princi-
pies, which are best suited to protecting
and fostering the huge industries that
have made our people. among the most
prosperous and contented in the country.
Even if every one of the thirty-six seats
were filled by Republican, which is not
likely, the result could not be viewed as
having any direct bearing upon the for
eign relations of the nation, but only as
an expression of determination to have
an authoritative voice in the solution of
those great problems of domestic con-
cern which will arise Immediately peace
is declared. The people of Pennsylvania
are patriotic to the core. In no other
State in the Union have they made
greater sacrifices of their blood or done
more industrially to back up the Fed
| eral Government in the prosecution OF
| the war to victory.
But the people of Pennsylvania do not
intend to have their prosperity i'm
periled by the fanatical and provincial
dictaton of Grass sectionalism such as
now rules in Congress. We mean the
South with its Kitchins, Dents and
others like them. So we believe that the
more Republicans elected from Pennsyl-
vania, provided they are patrioticaly
loyal to the winning Of the war, the bet
ter it will be for Pennsylvania and the
h,11 In1
phian will have the opportunity to vote
for four Congressmen-at-large and one
from each of the six Philadelphia dis
tricts.
The nominees for the judgeships will
appear on separate nonpartisan ballot.
There are nine names presented for the
Supreme Court. Each voter may vote
for one, although two are to be elected
The present incumbents by guberna-
torial appointment to fill vacancies are
Alexander Simpson, Jr., of this city, and
Edward ]. Fox, of Easton. 1t is to be
hoped that both will be elected.
Justice Simpson who is a Republican,
is fully qualified by long practice and
distinguished ability at the bar for his
place. His thorough knowledge of the
law in all its branches, and especially
his familiarity with Philadelphia mu-
nicipal law and the accompanying prob
lens, make him most desirable He has
the Endorsement of leading members of
the bar and partisan or factional con-
siderations should not be involved.
Justice Fox, who is a Democrat, is in
somewhat similar position. He is a
lawyer of unquestionable technical fit
ness, well and favorably known in the
northeastern part Of the State and wor-
thy of nonpartisan support which shall
insure his election. The Constitution by
its provision restricting the right of the
voter to one choice where two vacancies
are to be filled undoubtedly contemplates
that the Supreme Court shall not be
made up of justices holding the same
political convictions, even though the
Legislature saw fit to take their nomi-
nation out of the line of party action as
such. Justice Fox's election will serve
to preserve this minority representation,
as he succeeded Justice Mestrezat,
Democrat
For the Superior Court the choice is
easy. Judge William D. Porter should
be elected in accordance with the tradi-
tion that competent jurists are to be
retained. He has had useful and wor-
thy career of many years in this court.
Of the two proposed amendments to
the State Constitution, the first should
be approved and the second defeated.
The first will allow the State to float
bonds to the amount Of fifty million dol
lars for the improvement of the State
roads. The rural districts are being
urged by the oranges to defeat this
amendment as they did several years
ago, but the arguments used are too mar
row and prejudiced to prevail with pro-
gressive people. The States highways
are deplorably behind those of many
other States. But to bring them at once
up to a standard where they may be
maintained in irst-class condition per-
manently will require the expenditure of
many millions. This should be done by
bond issue, since future generations will
benefit by the work as we'll as the pres.
ent 1t is impossible to allot enough
money out of the States current reve-
nues to undertake the work on the scale
needed without increasing taxes at
time when the Federal Government has
drained the resources of the people
heavily. Once the foundational work
were done on the highways, it would be
easy to maintain them out of current
, revenues,