New-York tribune., 1920-05-25
Party Leaders at Chicago


1t is reported, and also denied,
that Senator Penrose is too sick a
man to go to the Republican Ma
tional Convention. Mr.. Penrose is
n figure of Importance in Congress
and in Republican councils. He is
the last of group of powerful state
leaders in the upper house-a group
in which, as Quay's lieutenant, he
was long a junior associate. In
Pennsylvania he has outlived Bit
ter opposition within the party. He
was renominated for Senator two
weeks ago without contest.
Yet it is easy to eXaggerate Mr..
Penrose's political influence at home
and at Chicago. A news item in
The san and Neto YorA; Herald yes
terday contained this statement:
Under his [Penrose' control are
the entire seventy-six delegates from
that state Pennsylvania whom he
succeeded in having pledged to Knox,
rather than to Governor Sproul, as
the states favorte son." The dele
gates chosen in the primary on May
8 were not pledged to any Presi-
dental candidate. The only aspirant
who entered the Presidential prefer
ence contest was Edward R. Wood.
of Philadelphia. But under the pro-
visions of the state law the candi-
dates for delegates were allowed to
attach to the ballot the statement:
Does not promise to support popu-
lar choice of party in the state for
President" All the successful can
didates apparently made that decla-
ration.
The Pennsylvania delegation is
divided in its original preferences
between Senator Knox and Governor
Sproul. State pride will probably
lead it to vote on the early ballots
for Knox or for Sproul. But after
the favorite sons have been duly
complimented their supporters will
have to face the main issue before
the convention, which is to nominate
candidate who will be strongest
with the country because of the
appeal he makes to all sections and
to all classes of possible Republican
voters.
The services Of professional lead
ers are not essential to guide the
convention to such a choice. If the
delegates will rely on their own
Judgment and knowledge and on
party sentiment as expressed in the
various state primaries, they can
not go wrong There was very lit
tie passion or factionalism in the
primary campaign. But it has
shown clearly which candidates have
nationwide strength and which are
the first choice or second choice of
that large section of the party
whose opinion has been recorded.
The party as a whole doesn't want
to see nomination made at Chicago
by the leaders or for the leaders.
Machinery for popular self-expres
sion has been provided and has been
used. The data on which to base q
choice have been furnished. The
desires and prejudices of Individual
leaders should not be allowed TO
override the popular judgment. The
party chiefs will show themselves
real leaders only if they accurately
interpret public feeling.
General Wood has more DELEGATES
pledged to him than any other can
didate has. He has been the second
choice OF more state primaries than
any other candidate has been. PARTY
sentiment has crystallized about him
more uniformly than about any
other candidate.
What is needed at Chicago is not
leadership of the burrowing and
manipulating sort, but leadership
which will honestly respond to the
hopes and wishes of a majority of
the Republican voters.