Evening star., 1922-06-20
Pinchot's Victory in Pennsylvania
Indicates Renewal of
Progressiyism,
Pr0gTeSSlV1Sm.

The result of the recent primary
elections in Pennsylvania has been of
deep interest to the country at large.
The newspaper comment generally
is governed by the political views of
the writers. but there is a general
agreement that the result shows that
the so-called progressive spirit once
again is very much alive in the United
!, States. Republican papers insist for
the most part that there was no re-
buke to the national administration
in the downfall of the "old guard
| machine. but Independent and demo-
cratic editors argue otherwise
When all is said. however. the Bos-
ton Post independent democratic) de-
clares that 1t "is perfectly apparent
that the Pinchot victory is sQuarely
in line with the Beveridge victory in
Indiana only few weeks ago in that
| 1t is 81 gnificaht of popular discomfort
with the career of the present Con-
gresS and that new and more pro-
gressive spirit is surely taking pos
session of the republican party in
| many states. 1t will not need many
more overturns of this sort to con-
vince the country and Congress that
being organization and in is no
safeguard against defeat for nomina
ton" The fact that the strongest
organization candidates lost their own
districts was most significant the
Philadelphia Public Ledger Nndepen-
denD believes. indicating that the
Pinchot nomination sounds new and
brighter era in Pennsylvania and in
! national republicanism. 1t is due
| largely to the women that the con-
| troll of the party organization has
! hnan n1 frfr hn hnr hot
| have fouled it
Because the "stay-at-home vote in
Philadelphia was large" the Philadel-
phia Inquirer (republican) declares
that while the bosses have lost out
in their main fight, they were yet able
! majority of the republicans of the
city" This fact, it asserts "is dis
couraging to all earnest friends of
good government The Pinchot vic
tory also shows that the rank and
file of the republican party" is not
the New York Evening Post Gnde-
pendenD is convinced, suggesting
that from the triumph of Beveridge
and Pinchot the leaders may learn
the wisdom of looking forward, rather
| than backward" In addition. the
Sentinel Gndependent democratic)
points out, will shake the G.. o. P.
structure in the nation from turret
| to foundation stone. and set up such
; rafting Of the dry bones of the
party as never before was known in
York Evening World (democratic)
contends that 'if it is possible to
break the machine in Indiana and in
Pennsylvania. 1t is possible to do so
anywhere" Which indicates to the
Baltimore Sun independent demo-
! cratic) that "there must be something
strange and far reaching going on
when Pennsylvania grows puritanical
and turns her back on the orthodox
church.
| The fact that there was no opposi-
| tion to the Harding administration
indicated in any way by Pinchot and
his followers in the pre-primary cam
paign convinced the Springfield Re-
publican independently that what
focused this discomfort in Pennsyl-
vania was the rare opportunity to
| smash the old machine and begin a
new era in Pennsylvania politics. Mr..
Pinchot. as Governor Of Pennsylvania,
assuming that such will be his des-
tiny. will sharply challenge the atten-
tion of the country and easily be one
of the most salient public figures of
the day" The result also showed that
"the day of hand-picked candidates is
past" the Pittsburgh Leader (pro-
gressive republican, points out. add
ing that "the result is publication and
revivification of the republican party.
| The rebuke administered means that
there will be little or no contest at
the general election" The nominal
ton of Pinchot fs a matter of great
qualification to the friends of good
government everywhere" the Savan-
nah Press (democratic) believes.
"This is without regard to political
alignment. Clifford Pinchot repre-
sents the best element of his party
and of his people. This is the next
thing to democratic victory. The
whole nation has occasion to rejoice
| in his triumph"
While .'many lessons can be drawn"
from the result, the Cincinnati Times
Star (republican) characterizes as
"far fetched and absurd" suggestions
that 1t in any way Is a rebuke to the
administration and a crushing blow
to regular republicanism, but the
Syracuse Herald Independently is con-
yinced that the voters of Pennsyl-
yania supported Pinchot asi."another
warning to the men in control at
washington that they must apply the
brakes quickly and resolutefy II they
would avert party disaster next fall"
There also is Significance, the Adrian,
Mich. Daily Telegram (independent)
suggests, in the fact that Senator
Pepper has been outspoken In oppost-
tion to the soldlers' bonus. and his
opponent. taking advantage Of that