Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-16


carry nearly IL not quite all the counties
save Allegheny and Philadelphia.
The Ware organization is counting on
polling big enough Alter vote here to Offset
the Pinchot vote in the rest of the State.
1t will do this II the opposition stays at
home.
1t cannot do it IL all the voters who want
general house cleaning in Harrisburg go to
the polls before they close at o'clock to-
night.
No one denies that there should be
house cleaning in the State capital.
Alter himself has been forced to appoint
an attorney to examine the charges made
against the way the Office Of the State
Treasurer has been conducted.
But Alter is tied up by bonds Of political
and personal gratitude to the men respon-
sble for the Treasury scandals.
He would find himself as Governor blocked
at every step by men who wished to cover up
the truth.
part of the system.
No such house cleaning as is needed can
be made by any man tied up with the men
who have been playing ducks and brakes
with the States money.
Pnchot is free from all this. He was not
asked to become a candidate by group Of
men seeking to keep their hold on the in.
vestigating authorities Of the State while
they kept their hold on the Offices which need
investigating.
There can be no radical Improvement in
conditions in Harrisburg without new deal.
The moral of all this is that the voters
who want house cleaning must vote for the
nomination of Pinchot.
There is another issue which should appeal
directly to the Philadelphia voters. That is
the issue of contractor government.
Alter was selected as the candidate by
Senator Ware, of this city. and Senator
Leslie, of Pittsburgh, both of them contrac.
tors.
If they own the next Governor they will
have part ownership in every contract
awarding official whom the Governor ap-
points. It is morally certain that favoritism
in contract awards would prevail in Harris.
burg as 1t prevailed in this city before the
last mayoralty election.
On street cleaning alone the taxpayers Of
the city are going to save about 81 900 900
this year because the city itself is doing the
work.
But Ware and his friends are hoping to be
able to amend the charter next winter in
such a way as to compel the city to restore
the contract system and give to the con.
tractors this enormous profit.
II Pinchot is nominated they cant get the
charter amended In this way.
If Alter were nominated It would be
sure thing.
Alter himself has said that he will favor
no charter changes which are not desired by
the city, but who will tell him what the city
wants?
Will he take the word Of the Ware ma
jority in City Council which will do what
Vare tells them to do?
II he gets an overwhelming majority Of the
primary vote here under the Ware leadership
he can very we'll assume that what Ware
wants the city wants.
The only way to protect the taxpayers of
the city is for those taxpayers to vote against
the Ware candidate.
II the Ware candidate is defeated the tax
1t is not safe for any Pinchot voter to re.
frain from voting today. Every organization
voter Wilt be on hand. The men whose
private business profit Is at stake will see to
that.
There is nothing but sense Of public duty
that will take the opposition voters to tie
polls.
The contest may be so close that 500 or
even 100 votes will decide it,
Mayor Moore was nominated by ma jority
of only 1913 votes three years ago.
Pinchot will come to Philadelphia County
with a majority in his favor.
1t is up to the Philadelphia voters to see
to it that that majority is not Offset by
hostile vote here.
No business or social engagement is OF
enough Importance to keep the voters away
from the polls.
The Pinchot workers will make a mistake
If they assume that every citizen whose SYM
pathles are with them will 60 of his or her
own accord to the voting places. They will
have lists Of the qualified electors. Every
effort humanity possible should be made to
get every qualified voter to register his or
her choice.
Those who have not voted as the after
noon wanes will In nine cases out OF ten be
Pinchot sympathizers. They should be sent
for. They will be at home at the dinner
hour and there is time enough after that
for them to vote, as the polls do not close
until 8 o'clock.
II concerted and determined effort Is
made the Plnchot vote can be got out.
And then the nomination Of Pinchot will
be assured.