Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-14
PEPPER NEW ELEMENT
IN POLITICAL LIFE
osllsvss m Public Opinion and
Does Not Care a Rap for
Party Bosses.


. long political tunnel. A Welcome
change has come unexpectediy-a sud- |
den transition from political darkness
60 surlight--~nd the people Of the
commonwealth ara still wondering
whether II II n reality or merely a
pleasant Illusion.
This suddcn changing OF tho old
order camc through the appointment
of George Wharton Pepper. of Phila-
dclphia, rs tho successor OF tho late
Rolsa pcnrosc I'm tho United States
Sannte. In the comparatively short
time In which he has worn tho toga,
Senator Pepper has stripped more
gears cf tho PENNSYLVANIA Republican
machine than all Nthe reform move
ments In tho last quarter OF CEN
tury.
senator Pepper has startled folks-
particularly tho practical politicians
by his unusual conception OF the role
hc has been called upon TO fill Ne
has let II he known in unmistskahle
fashion that he intends 20 be n states
man and not n political boss; and fur
ther, that no political boss is going 10
manipulate him.
Ward Leaders Puzzled.
Tho politicians 80 far. don't know
what 20 mako OF him. He writes let
tcrs 60 constituents Of tho common or
rnrden variety. who presumptively
control only their own votes. In which
he af'lrns that he r. glad 10 receive
their views. that he VIII give his at
tent'on 10 subjects upon which they
write. that he Is hopeful OF winning
the approval OF the people by his at
titude on public questions arising in
the Senn,o--and otherwise let's Il ap-
pear that he feels that "a member OF
the greatest dclihorative body In the
world he In merely the spokesman Of
tho whole body OF Pennsylvania ciu-
Ycns And no dictates and signs the
letters himself instead Of deleEating
the task 90 n secretary,
Now that sort OF thing never really
has been done by Senators of the Key
stone state N citizen desired to
hrine n subject 20 tho attention OF
Senator, no saw his ward leader.
md his ward leader saw the city lead
cr, and unless these worthless placed
their q. X. on the proposition tho SEN
a,or's secretary would sidetrack any
communication. II WAS thus the po-
litical prestige ~ the underlings was
maintained,
just how long senator Pepper is go
inK 20 continue tho practice OF per-
sunally communicating with constit-
u.nts who have something on their
minds is "A matter Of speculation But
hos n vcritnNe bulldog for sticking
90 any line of action he maps out. and
a a. safo 90 cay he viii keep on until
the mail awamI~ him.
Another jolt For Gang.
SUI another jolt came 20 the pol
ricinns when senator Pepper was call
81 upon 20 recommend a candidate
for the place OF prohibition officer for
pennsyl,~ Certain P.ttshurg and
Philadelphia leaders, who believe tha,
4, II unwiss politically 90 leave the
thlre, ~ their constituents unauench-
ed went down 20 Washington and
whispered IN tho Senator's ear the
names of mon who would make excel
lent occupants of tho post But wher
the time came for Mr.. Pepper 20 make
q decision he recommended the Rev
John {. Davis. of Blair County, say.
ins that he thought the enforcement
- tho law ought % be in tho hands O
iis friends.
To n people accustomed 20 seein,
everything Of this sort carried out ol
basis of political consldera tions thL
display of Independence was extra
ordinary. unlocked for.
Suil another feature OF tho chang
which made Pennsylvania sit up an,
take notice was tho manner in whicl
Senator Pepper was received at Wash
instot. Ordinarily the induction OF
Pennsylvania senator has been at
tended by the presence Of a host @
ward leadere. wearing one-day-etan
elk hats and the suffllslon Of the Sen
ate Chamber with monster flora
pieees that made the elder statc~me,
order the opening Of windows an
mildly inquire what n was all about
Something New In Way Of Welcome,
nu, whom Senator Pepper went I
Washington 10 take his scat thing
ware different. President Harding hel
ur o cabinet meeting so he and hi
e"crc'arice could give Mr.. pepper
wel~nme 20 our city: Nlce-Pres
dent Coolidge remained In his seat a
President Of the Senate. instead {
solnk 20 the Cabinet meeting, 30 b
might preside at the Induction. an
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge asked an
received tho honor o.. eecorting M
Pepper into the chamber.
All az which was told with COMO,
detail In tho Pennsylvania papers-
for being without precedent n wa
real nsws The result is that Penr
sylvsnians-so ueed 20 feeling that
Senator had 90 be IN Washington u
=, least one term of elk years be,o,
hh presence would be noticed-a,
now almost ready TO believe that ~
United sta'ee Senate consist.
osorGe Wharton Pepper aud a n,,r,h,
~ other sstimable gentleman.
II would be a mistake. however.
Imagine that Senator Pepper ponne
out suddsniy on the people @, pan,
eysvanla whom Governor Wips,,,
~. N.~l.s n.