Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-05
GOVERNOR SpRoUL HAS
RISEN TO THE OCCASION
His Refusal to Appoint Himself as Sena.
tor and the Reasons for II viii
Command Universal Respect

GOVERNOR SPROUL has proved to be
~ morally strong enough to resist the
temptation to appoint himself to the United
States Senate and to await election by
orderly process to membership in that body.
As result Of this decision, the Governor
is n bigger man this morning than he was
yesterday morning. He has retained his
self respect, but hr has done more than
that. He has remained true to the pledges
which he made when he was elected Gov
crnor, and which he repeated when Senator
Knox died.
The governorship is. as he says. a trus-
tecShip from the people He accepted that
trustceshp with all that 1t involved. One
Of its duties. as he reminds the public,
is the appointment Of United States Sena-
tors and other officers when vacancies oc
cur. Then he makes n splendid declaration,
the significance Of which goes beyond the
present emergency and bears directly upon
the alignment of political leaders engaged
in plotting for profit Here 1t is:
( fundamental principle Of thc Iaws
0ad understandings governing trustee.
Sims is that the holders thereof ShdU not
use them for personal ddrdntdgc. To
pv mind il rouM certainly BE- an erGSion
Of that principle TO resign such trustee
ship as 7 hold IN order that my IGICtW
successor might appoint me TO another
great public office.
If the Governor had been playing for
fame he could not have done a more skillful
thing. When he goes to Washington as q
Senator as il is morally certain he will go
hc will carry with him the prcstig" Of a
refusal to take advantage Of an opportunitr
TO cortpr thc honor on himself and of waiting
until he was commissioned By the Suffrag"S
Of the people. Il will b" proved through
him once more that the right hing is the
cypcdicnt thing.
The effect of In" Gvvcrn"r'> decision ON
the political situation within the Stat" will
be far reaching. Il is intimatod today that
Senator Grow will resign. In that event the
Governor will have an opportunity to COR
rect the mistake he made when he appointed
Mr.. Grow. and to name Il man physically
able to act as Senator and also Il man whose
qualifications for tho high office will be uni
versally admitted OF course he will name
as n successor TO Senator PcnrOsC n man
fitted TO serve the State in Washington. II
he demands Of these two appointees the
same high standard that he has >"t for hlm-
self his selections will give general salts.
faction.
During the present year he will remain
Ciovornor with the obligation 10 protect the
interest, of the State from the little 'oot"rs
who have been putting their hands into the
public treasury. II would have been 4
cricvous mistake to have permitted Lieu
tenant Governor Bcidleuan to b""o!A"
Governor Such n course would have meant
that the misuse of funds disclosed by the
records in the office Of Auditor General
Lewis would have been ignored and that
Beidcman and Snyder and the rest would
have prepared to cntrench themselves in
power for tho purpose Of continuing to enjoy
the profits of their truStce>hip.
Pcnnsylvan.nns can hold UP their heads
with pride today. for their Governo" has
formulated n high primripl" Of conduct III
nubIic Office and has acted in accordance
v.ith that principle.