The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-12
P|NCHOT SUCCEEDS
PENR0SE AS BOSS
IN PENNSYLVANIA
Pinchot Promises to Clean Up
Political Ring and Enforce
the Prohibition Law With
big Stick"
BY DAVE FERNsLER
,eciaI Dispatch to The Age-Herald
Ia22 by The Age Heraldl


{Copyright, 1929, by The Age Herald)
Harrisburg, Pa, November IL.
Boies Penrose, great chief of the
Pennsylvania G. o. p, saw slanting
across his declining years the shadow
of what has happened in the Key
stone state.
THAT man Pinchot," he muttered,
when Governor Sproul announced his
appointment as commissioner OF
forestry, has returned to haunt the
republican party"
The haunt" began last spring with
the primary campaign. Now 1t has
ended. For Pinchot is the repub
lican party in Pennsylvania. Gov
ernor-e elect In the grand old state of
the grand old party by the grace of a
majority. dangerously near 100000
he may issue what political order he
will. The governorship Is Pinchot's
and the old Penrose leadership is
Pinchot's.
Already there is talk here. of Pin
ehot for president In 1924. The de-
feat of Beveridge in Indiana may
have been but another step in the
unfolding of the Pinchot destiny.
since it keeps from national promi-
hence one man so often mentioned
III lilt sdile DIcdtt DIS IlntnOl WAcu
talk veered to what might happen
should President Harding decide not
to be a candidate for reelection
All this the governor-elect denies. He
declares he has no ambition beyond
the Pennsylvania executive mansion.
Use Big Stick
Pinchot says there is plenty of
work to do here in Pennsylvania. He
is going to fight for the program he
laid before the people of the state.
II he gets away with 1t he will have
! done something that no other man in
Pennsylvania politics has accom-
plished. Disciple of Roosevelt. Pin
chot says that II necessary he will
use the "big stick" the Roosevelt
big stick, as he called it during the
campaign. Here is what the new
governor proposes to do first:
To clean up the mess" (Which also
includes the "gang") at Harrisburg.
To close every near-beer saloon in
the state. Pinchot says he Is the
.dryest of the drys."
To drive the bootleggers and tho
rum runners from every highway OF
the state.
To end all extravagances and mako
the state live within it's income.
To effect reorganization of the
state government that will shake
Capitol Hill to its deepest founda-
tons
From all this it is easy to under
stand why the state politicians and
office holders are shaking In their
boots since the power OF Penrose
has passed to Pinchot. Hal the cleo
tion been close, had the Pinchot man.
date been weak-voiced, the gang
would have had courage and strength.
Legislators might have forgotten
their campaign pledges, trusting to
luck to fight 1t out with a luke
warm Pinchot constituency back
home. But Pinchot today has a power
that there is every reason to fear.
Has Enemies
Last spring with Penrose gone, the
little leaders rent their political gar
ments against him. Governors and
politicians. near-governers and seas
oned schemers who had woven a hum
dred political fabrics have passed;
careers and prestige long years in
building have waned and are no
more. all because of that primary
fight in which Pinchot. Roosevelt's
chief forester, adversary of Ballinger,
and late lieutenant of bull moose.
was nominated.
Pinchot was elected by force Of his
own personality, by the power Of the
Roosevelt tradition; by the silent
vote in Its conviction he was right,
and by the dry" who discovered tho
"wets" were backing the democratic
nominee. The people Of the state
have approved his criticism Of waste.
extravaganza and inefficiency. Pin
chot declares he has mandate to
carry out his campaign pledges. And
by the Lord Harry. that's exactly
what I'm going to do" 10 his own
declaration.