The Delta independent., 1919-02-21
LET PERSONALITIES CEASE

Washington, Feb 1S.-The republi-
can publicity association, through its |
president, Hon Jonathan Bourne. Jr., |
today gave out the following state |
ment from the Washington headquar-
ters:
Mr. Pinchots public demand that
Senator Penrose decline the chairman
ship of the committee on finance when
the republicans resume control of the
Senate after the 4th of March, infer
entially comedies that under all SEN
ate precedents Mr. Penrose is entitled
to the position, and, unwittingly, it is
a reflection not SO much on Mr.. Pen
rose as upon the integrity and ability
of the Senate itself, particularly the
republican senators and still greater
reflection upon the patriotism and in
telligence of the electorate of the great
state of Pennsylvania the second state
in the union in population and wealth.
There is no question as to Senator
Penrose's ability. In 1881 he gradual
ed from Harvard near the head of his
class. He studied law with Wayne
McVeagh and after admission to the
bar practiced in his home city. His
neighboS elected him to the Pennsyl-
vania House of Representatives and to
the State Senate for a period of thir-
teen years, after which the legislature
elected him to the United States Sen
ate for three terms of six years each
1 every time he was choice of the
majority of the legislature before any
party caucus was taken. In 1914 he
was reelected by the people by vote
OF 519,sO1 as against 269,265 for Mr..
Einchot and 266,415 for Mr.. Palmer.
Mr.. Penrose defeated both of his op-
ponents by vote of practically two
to one.
SIN view of the record. to assume
that Mr.. Penrose is lacking in ability
is a reflection upon Harvard college,
upon the supreme court of Pennsyl.
vania, upon his neighbors who elected
him to the United States Senate, and
the half million people who voted for
him in 1914. His continuous 35 years
in public life surpasses that of any
other man now in the Senate. or in
tNe United States. For fourteen out
of his twenty-five years in the Senate
he has been member of the commit
tee on finance. and for two congresses
he was chairman. Such legislative ex
perience as this. certainly qualities
his SO far as ability is concerned.
His ability being unquestionable
the only possible justifiable basis fol
attack is his integrity and patriotism
and here, again Mr. Pinchot runs
counter to the intelligence and honesty
of the people of Pennsylvania. There
may have been times when under leg
islative election of Senators a majority
might have been secured by ques
tionable methods. but there never was
and never will be time in Pennsyl
vania or any other state when 519.
900 votes can be corrupted in secret
ballot.
"Mr. PinchOt's assumption is there
fore absurd, especially in view of the
fact that the Penrose plurality exceed
ed that accorded in Pennsylvania tt
Roosevelt for president in 1912, tt
Brumbaugh for governor in 1914. tt
Hughes for president in 1916. to Kno,
for senator in 1916. No other republi
can member of the finance committee
is supported by SO large a plurality
No other republican member OF the
committee defeated hi nearest oppon
ent by so large a proportion of votes
but that is not all. His ability
and good character having been attest