Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-05
DO REPUBLICANS OF THE STATE
WANT A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR?
Nomination Of Alter Would Bear Anal.
osy to Beaver Campaign Of 1882
When Pattison Won
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
no THE Republicans Of Pennsylvani,
IL ranA naunoa.oAl Ca.a..a.a

favorable than at any time since the men,
| orable campaign of 1882, when Robert
| Emory Pattison, Democrat. was chosen to
| that high Office. Mr.. Pattson's opponent
was crippled veteran of the Civil War, a
distinguished soldier and an upright citizen,
General James Adams Beaver.
General Beaver, like Attorney General
Alter today, was a hand. picked candidate.
Matthew Stanley Quay. with the almost
uncanny prcscience which characterized his
political foresight, had sensed the approach.
ing storm of popular Indignation of that
time which was largely confined to the
better element Of the Republican Party. and
so he selected General Beaver as the organi-
zation's candidate. 1t was with the vain
hope that the appearance of this manned
hero upon the hustings would so appeal to
the public that detestation Of boss methods
would be swallowed up in sympathy for the
candidate.
At that time - 1852 - the Republican
Party had enjoyed an uninterrupted reign
of power for fifteen years. There had been
outbursts of popular discomfort with boss
management in previous campaigns. but they
were sporadic and indefinite, as in the cry
Of the Hartranft campaign, Addition, Divi.
sion and Silence
When the contest of 1882 approached
far seeing Democratic leaders, notably Lewis
e. Cassidy. James Gay Gordon, Eckley b.
Coke. William A. Wallace, George Ross
and Simon T.. Wolverton, decided that their
candidate must measure up to the oppor-
tunity presented.
Pattison had made a brilliant success as
City Controller of Philadelphia. He had
abolished graft and purified the atmosphere
of that Office. His name was upon the lips
of every Democrat.
Young virile. ambitious and clean. Pat.
tison was the ideal candidate, and he was
nominated. Beaver was defeated by this
Democratic stripping. Not because Beaver
was personally untitled or popularity dsliked.
BY all the logic of politics he should have
defeated Pattison. He had the prestige of
the long established power of the great Re-
publican Party behind him. He was
popular hero. a manned soldier, distin-
guished lawyer and a gentleman. Besides
which he bore the hallmark of approval of
Quay and the Republican bosses.
This latter fact was the shining target at
which all the shafts of Democracy and in
dignant Republcanism were aimed. And
they struck the bulls-eye.
There is a startling analogy between the
. conditions that prevailed in the governor
shin campaign of 1882 and that of 1922 that
Is we'll worthy of consideration.
In the preliminary skirmish for the Re-
publican nomination for Governor, one cam
didate Clifford Pinchot, with a distinguished
record for public service, asks the franchises
Of the people on the basis Of his absolute
freedom from boss dictation or selection.
There is no doubt ,l,out his sincerity. Tho
other candidate. Attorney General Alter,
an affabe gentleman a lawyer of high ability
whose private character is above reproach,
is the selection of the bosses. He carrie-
the insignia Of their approval alOft so that
nil men and women may see and understand.
II Is n statement Of absolute fact that Mr..
Alters candidacy has been forced upon the
people.
The Democrats. with perspicacity un-
dreamed of, have named as their candidate
a man from the ranks. John a. McSparran
n farm bred. college trained leader OF the
great army of agriculturists. A man with
clenr. cut ideas who, with forceful oratory,
knows how to present them Notwithstanding
that some are of decidedly archaic, If not
r,dical tendencies Thus far in his cam
nai,n lie has been unstinted in his pledges
for reform in government if elevated to the
governOrship.
At least he will have ample material upon
which to exercise his talents if elected
with existing conditions and the candi.
dotes of both parties, the present Is par
Ions vear whose political horoscope threatens
dangerous possibilities for the Republican
Party.
There is universal unrest over questions
, of taxation, and in the Commonwealth there
is the dread of further burdens impending.
The increased taxes imposed by the last
LEGISLATURE, rendered necessary by the in.
ascd cost Of government and the demands
Of n growing population. have met with re-
sentiment. The graft and scandal asso-
| ciated with the enforcement OF the Nolstead
| law the unemployed ten thousands, con.
,inucd high prices that still mark the reign
of the profteer, and the latest discomfort
| witb conditions at Washington, are so many
lions in the pathway of the majority party
Above everything, however, rises para.
| mount the repugnance and discomfort over
reve,ations of the graft, self seeking and
scandal that have marked the fiscal affairs
Of the State at Harrisburg. The boasting
and vulgar fippancy, the brazen defiance
Of public sentiment in violation Of the law
nv unworthy officials elected by the people,
have produced a revusion of feeling within
the party IN the last year that is bound to
have n reflex action upon the decision in
November.
The defeat of Clifford Pinchot at the pri =.
morics on May 10 would create situation
that would be a counterpart of the one In
which Pattison defeated Beaver in 1882.
1t is a situation entirely within the Re
pub,ican Party. 1t was the Republican