Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-07
THE ELECTION OF BAKER
WOULD BE A GRAVE FOLLY
Reputation Of Mr.. Plnehot's Desires by
the state Committee a Toothsome
Issue for the Democrats Now
Without Ono

NOT SatlSned with the WCll deserved peat
ing administered to them by the party
voters through Clifford pinchot on Mny 1G.
they are desperately preparing for another
escapade which will again arouse the dis
gust and Indignation of the majority of
Republicans.
Blindly disregardins the plain signs of
danger from the awakened electorate. they
are planning. with the aid of the candidates
for United States Senator, Messrs. Pepper
and Reed to force the election of W. Harry
Bnker as State chairman at the meeting
of the State Committee on Saturday.
As n count of heads will reveal, the bosses
who unsuccessfully tried to put over Alter
as their candidate for Governor undoubtedly
control enough votes In the State Committee
to elect Baker But the members of the
committee will do SO at their own peril.
Baker stands for all that is bad in the
old organization. He is representative of
the discreditcd machine. of Crowsm, Of
Beidlemanism, of the Capitol Hill ring Of
assessments on State officeholders. Of the
elections and Of all the sins of omission
and commission chargeable against the
worst elements in the party.
These are the sins which the majority of
Republican voters in the State decided at
the primary election that they wanted e1-
tirrated. There was no mistakins the man
date. The message was clear.
These sins of which Baker is n typical
representative are also the sins which
Pinchot pledged himself to eliminate and
purge away and put the party organization
back on the plane where he and every other
self respecting Republican man and woman
wants TO see It.
But not so Messrs. Pepper and Reed.
not so the Capitol Hill gang not SO the
repudiated Contractors Combine. They are
satisfied with things as s-cy were; they
want the old order to remain.
How fatuous they must have thought
Pinchot when they believed they could per.
suade him to sanction the continuation Of
the old stuff which he instnctively and in
honor bound must oppose.
Messrs. Pepper and Reed arc new in this
game of politics and perhaps they did not
realize what they were asking when they
tried to get Pinchot to stand for Baker at
the Monday conference in Washington
Maybe they will cut their political eye.tceth
later and learn more about the convolutions
Of the machines coils. But ut any rate,
Pinchot came out of the conference as best
man because he did not betray the faith that
made him the new real leader of the Re.
publican Party in Pennsylvania. even
though the Old Gang does not yet acknowl-
edge that latter fact.
So If the gang bosses insist upon retain
ing their hold upon the party organization
by putting over Bakers election next Sat
urday there is only one wise course open
to Mr.. Pinchot. and that is to have nothing
to do with them and their works. lie can.
not consistently do otherwise. lie will be
fully justified under all the circumstances
in conducting his own campaign for Gov.
ernor quite separately and apart from the
State Committee Baker management He
cannot afford to accept any favors at such
hands, because they have n habit of de.
manding payment with heavy interest
As we see this fight. the principle is not
different from that before the primary.
The situation has merely changed so as to
give Mr.. Pinchot the power and prestige
which comes with ,he party nomination for
the highest Office In the State. lie should
not hesitate to use that power and prestige
to the limit In order to protect the party
from the repudated bosses, even though the
candidates for United States Senator,
Messrs. Pepper and Reed. prefer the old
these gentlemen; in fact, Mr.. Reed was
openly favorable to Alter.
But the State Committee election Is not
over. 1t is barely possible that some of the
wiser members will have something to say
about the issues supposed to have been
settled at the primary, but which the bosses
seem to have ignored.
Are the members ready as body TO 60
on record against the next Governor, the
candidate Of the party and its standard.
bearer, at the first showing of hands on a
vital point?
DO they think 1t good strategy to give the
Democrats-now quite without real issue
the opportunity Of pointing out that
Pinchot as Governor will be utterly unable
to bring about the reforms he promises be. &.
cause he cannot even get the State Com.
mittee of the party to 60 along with him
In his entirely proper and progressive de.
| sires?
The Old Gang has done many foolish
things lately. But it will top them all of
with a sublime piece of folly If the election
Of Baker is forced on Saturday.