Evening star., 1922-09-17
KEYSTONE BATTLE
H|NGES0N P|NCH0T
Republican Nominee Is
Storm Center in Bitter
State Campaign.
BooTLEGGING AN ISSUE
Third Party Is Turned Down by
Former Forester, Despite
Threats.
BooTLEGGING AN ISSUE
Special Dispa tch to The Star.


paign is proving as unusual as was
its primary when Clifford Pinchot tri-
umphed over the republican organiza-
tion. The campaign is already where
1t has generally been about the mid
die of September in normal years, and
the interest Is going to be sustained.
The smashing Of precedents and the
taking Of Keystone state politics out
of the old lines, which it was pre-
dicted would follow the passing Of
Penrose have all come about, and
rather earlier than anticipated.
Both of the old parties have under
gone a change in leadership. and the
militant democrats are going after
Clifford Pinchot undeterred by the
prestige of his victory in the battle
for the nomination. They are not
warning on any one else. They are
making tremendous drive, and It is
on Pinchot. Notwithstanding the pre-
ponderance Of republican votes and
the majorities which have been given
In recent years. they are campaigning
in most vigorous fashion, capitalizing
things turned up in tho state govern
ment, national Conditions and every
thing else, as well as pledging the
same things as Pinchot.
Pinchot ON Stump.
Pinchot's refusal to accept the nom
ination Of the third party. engineered
under the heretofore challenging title
of the progressives and in the interest
of Representative William ]. Burke
for senator. has taken a good bit of
the wind out of the sails of that ven-
ture. He did this even when it was
represented to him that 1t might
moan 100, 900 votes. and in the face of
an apathy in regard to registration IN
the cities that surprised every one.
For the last ten days Pinchot has
been on the stump. and has reiterated
everything for which he stood in the
primary. with the new pledge to clear
the highways Of bootleggers. in addi-
tion to cleansing capitol hill of what
he terms the mess" In spite of In
from his Dry stand and that he
soft-pedal on the mess" proposition,
he has reiterated both He has
avoided getting entangled in the con-
troversy over the expansion of the
educational system, as was hoped by
pledged his aid to see that the state
keeps its contract with the school dis
tricts and pays them their allow
ances promptly. The state now owes
districts $12 100000 according to ex-
pert reckoning, which is objected to
by some school men. who say all GER
tificattons have not been made.
Pinchot's declination Of the third
party nomination took place at
meeting over which Representative
W. W. Griest presided in Lancaster
county, most stalwarc Of the republi-
can counties. and where Griest has a
fight Of proportions on his hands.
Pinchot said he had fought for the
republican nomination. had won 1t.
and would stand as the republican
candidate and nothing else.
Direct attacks upon Pinchot as a
part of the Sproul administration
characterize the democratic speech
making, which runs the whole gamut
Of criticism of state administration.
Despite the fact that Pinchot paid
more than his salary for experts when
he turned the Pennsylvania forestry
department inside out and reorganized
1t. he is being denounced for accept
ing an increase IN salary. Efforts are
being made to tie him In on charges
of bad business because he was on
treasury methods, although the ex-
posure Of the practices complained of
was made by Auditor General Samuel
8. Lewis, an ardent supporter of Pin
chot and former attache Of the Post
Office Department at Washington. AS
the fiscal officers in Pennsylvania are
elected and independent Of the execu-
tive, this adroit scheme to take ad-
vantage of public indignation will not
get very fer in the long run. The
Sproul administration has already
moved, through the attorney general,
to prosecute the former treasurer on
charge Of misdemeanor In off1ce.
Penrose Hand Seen.
1t is interesting in this connection
to see how the dead hand of Boies
Penrose operates today. Lewis was
picked by Penrose to clean house, and
he insisted on his nomination over
the protests Of state administration
leaders. Lewis fired thirty five men
the first week he was in Office be-
cause he said they were not needed,
ab1ed him to audit the treasury. It
had not been audited for years. and
he sent the results to the attorney
general. The ramifications Of the up
heaval have been startling, and Lewis
has persisted in the face Of virulent
attacks and even threats, because
Penrose told him to be thorough
about it."
The new progressive party has not
yet indicated its course. Burke's
cause is hopeless, and whether there
will be a new candidate for governor
named is uncertain at present.
In addition to these three parties
out for Pennsylvania votes. there are
prohibition. socialist. singie-tax and
industrialist state tickets. Republi-
cans say the disaffection and demo-
cratic attacks cannot defeat Pinchot
or the senators. The democrats are
calling Pinchot a regular republican.
Pinchot has refused to take a defen-
sive attitude, and in the case Of the
declaration to drive the .bootleggers
or the highways has injected a new
and very pertinent issue.