New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-05-19
The Pfnchot Verdict

! Clifford Pinchot's victory in Penn
sylvania was not a miracle. To
many people, perhaps, it came as q
bolt out Of the blue Yet the
ground had been prepared for 1t,
and Mr.. Pinchot. Uanding for the
Governorship, was able TO attract
support in his fight to upset the
| Pennsylvania machine which had
| failed him in his earlier effort to de-
feat Boies Penrose for the Senator
ship. The psychological moment for
a Pinchot triumph had not come in
1914. 1t came last Tuesday.
1t is mistake to assume that the
Republican party in Pennsylvania
turned progressive over night and
| Indignantly deserted The tents of
machinism. The Republicans Of
Pennsylvania cut away from the old
reactonary regime even before
Quay died. Quay was reactionary
that is to say, old fashioned-in
his methods. But he was more or
less progressive in his ideas. Of all
the old-line Republican bosses he
supported President Roosevelt with
the fewest reservations. Pennsyl-
vania became an aggressive Roose-
welt state, and the leaven of Roose-
veltism started the revolt against
hide-bound machinism which has
eliminated in MIR. Alters defeat.
Pennsylvania was the only East
ern state which gave it's electoral
vote to Colonel Roosevelt in 1912.
Her people have never regretted
that action. They have an affection
and sympathy for Republicans who
| figured that memorable year in the
Progressive movement. After 1912
Mr.. Penrose's leadership in state
politics was tolerated rather than
approved A new spirit came into
public life. This was illustrated in
the two elections of Philander
c. Knox to the Senate and by
the recent selection of George
Wharton Pepper to succeed him.
Men of this type could not go to the
Senate in the iron days of Cameron
Quay rule. They can go now. And
this is as significant of Pennsvl-
vania's change of front as is the'
elevation to the Governorship of q
man of Mr., Pinchot's independent
record and character.
The Penrose machine decayed at
the eXtremities. 1t shriveled up in
many of the important counties Of
the state and remained dominant
only in Philadelphia The Philadel-
phia organization has practically no
opposition, the rival Democratic or
ganization being only a pitiful
shadow, living on the favor of the
Republican ring. Under these cir
cumstances true expression Of
public opinion is difficult to obtain
in Philadelphia But outside of that
city and outside of Pittsburgh the
opinion of the voters had crystal
lized to an extra ordinary extent. Mr..
Pinchot carried every county except
Allegheny, Philadelphia, Dauphin,
Fayette and Greene. This is COM
pelling evidence of the vigor with
which Pennsylvania Republicans
have turned toward new conditions
and demanded new deal.
This result is essentially state
judgment. 1t concerns home affairs
and home ideals. 1t is extravagant
to attribute it to any dissatisfaction
with Congress or the national Ad-
ministration. Senator Pepper was
renominated by a very large major
ity and there was practically no con-
test for seats OF the House of Repre-
sentatlves. Pennsylvania mind
last Tuesday was not fixed on
Washington. 1t was fixed on
Harrisburg, where after next JAN
uary new state administrator,
broad in vision, liberal in policy and
devoted to the states welfare, will
/ be installed through one of the most
striking verdicts ever given since
Pennsylvania has been using the
statewide primary system.