Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-25
State Senator William c. Sprouts Platform
Upon Which He Is Seeking the Gopernorship

women and children, and these
benefits will be more marked in an
other generation.
PENNSYLVANIA can and must take
an advanced position among the
states of the world, in social legis-
lation, not only because she can at
ford to but because she wants TO,
In my service in the Legislature /
have seen the development of our
policy in social and humanitarian
lines as far as it has been developed,
and my record will show that l
have uniformly supported these poll
cies. l reiterate my full sympathy
with these laws and / pledge myself
to aid in further progress along
these lines.
The protection, education, and
care of the children of Pennsylvania
is n matter of vital moment to the
state. As State Senator. and as
father, every measure that would
improve conditions for children has
had my interest and support. The
need for broad study of conditions
and correlation of laws Affecting
children is necessary in order that
n complete system of protection and
care may be established. To that
end I shall work with view to fur
of every child in the state. to aid
in placing Pennsylvania in the front
rank in her systematic correlated
measures for the welfare of all the
children.
City Problems
Our city population has increased
by leaps and bounds in the past few
years and our urban problems have
multiplied correspondingly. Phila.
delphia and the district about it
have grown in way which will
amaze those who haven't thought
particularly upon this subject, when
the next census comes to be taken.
Our greatest city needs more self
government and n better co-ordina-
tion of municipal powers. 1t has
outgrown the charter under which
it is governed. Philadelphia needs
powers to take care of her people,
TO handle the congestion of her GEN.
ter and spread her great population
in better home surroundings: she
needs u simpler more efficient form
of government. She needs the help
of the Legislature in correcting ad-
ministrative conditions. She needs
a greater element of home rule, that
she may develop and be ready, when
out Il comprehensive system of pub
lie improvements - improvements
which will benefit the people i'll
their homes and make living con-
ditions better for her workers. The
demands upon the port of PhiladHl-
phia through the concentration upon
the Delaware river, between Bristol
and Chester. of the vast shipbuild-
ing and manufacturing enterprises
and federal activities, will require
broad -gauged policies and great con-
structive energy. Some extension
of the powers of the greater munich
pality would seem to be necessary
to handle the shipping, transit and
housing plans in n thorough going,
forward-looking manner. .Philadel-
phia must develop a metropolitan
vision, she has grown beyond her old
viewpoint. The state must help her
deal with her problems. they are al
ready upon her. Pittsburgh, 100,
though with a simpler form OF gov
ernment has many questions facing
her. In almost any other state in
the Union. our second city would be
the center of all activities and re-
ceive greater attention than she does
here. Her transportation and nous
ing problems are probably her great
est issues to-day. She needs bet
ter ways for her people to get be-
yond her busy center and better
ways to bring to her door the pro-
ducts she requires in her industry.
Great as are Pittsburgh's railways
she has been hampered by lack OF
transportation. In any other pro-
gressive state on earth there would
be great public works to help this
20 n
tinued supremacy of such a remark
able industrial center. Pittsburgh
Eas ambitious rivals in other states
PENNSYLVANIA must see to it that
Pittsburgh does not suffer from lack
of competitive facilities. Our public
constructive program in Pennsyl-
vania in waterways, in roads and in
institutions has never been in any
way commensurate with the great
ness of the state. The collection of
smaller municipalities about Pitts
burgh makes a great metropolitan
district and the question of city plan
ming, of water supply, of sewerage
and smoke disposal and transit in
this section are worthy of states
manlike study and constructive leg
islative treatment.
Our other cities, too, have prob
lens in which the state can help
them nightly. Scranton, off by her
self in the Northeast, with the peat
en- paths of travel all leading toward
New York and rough roads and IN
different railway schedules only
giving her avenues into the interior
of Pennsylvania, would be a metro
polls in most of the other states.
Our third city should be brought
into closer relations with the rest of
Pennsylvania and given better trans
portation facilities and better main
highways to promote that end. And
the state must aid her to guard her
self against the perils due to the
very nature of her principal indus
try and assist her in promoting the
industrial development which is
necessary for her continued pros
perity.
Our "third-class cities under
classification, need much legislation
to make their present charter-law