, 1922-05-26
Political Resolution

THE OUTSTANDING member of the metropolitan
i press whose policy most nearly conforms to what
a Republican journal ought to be and whose preach
meuts most nearly meet the ideals for which Repub-
Leans generally stand is the Boston Transcript Its
view of reeen, political happenings = therefore worthy
of perusal. Speaking particularly of the revolution
in Pennsylvania it says:
Clifford Pinchot's nomination for governor Of
Pennsylvania by the Republicans of that state is a
political revolution, the like of which has not been
seen since Hiram W. Johnson liberated his own state
of California from the grip of the Southern Pacific
ohgarchy. Mr.. Alter was the Organization" candi-
date-tha IS to say, he had the support of the mighty
machine inherited by Boise Penrose from Matt Quay.
MIR. Pinchot had only his own record of public service
reinforced by personal character and great conviction.
Instead of resorting to empty generalities Mr.. P1nchct
c~ontented himself with specifications concerning the
extravaganza and the political crookedness with which
tie Republicans have operated the G. o. P. machine
in Pennsylvania at the public expense. Abused on
every side by his opponents, he kept on talking about
state affairs. And he will be the next governor of
Pennsylvania because throughout the campaign for
the nomination he employed ''plain speech with plain
folk, plain words for false things"
Constructive insurgency has carried the day in
Pennsylvania as it carried the day in Indiana. 1t
will not only send Mr.. Beverage to the senate in
place of Senator New. and Mr.. Pinchot to Harrisburg
as the successor of Governor Sproul, it win also send
to the senate as the logical successor of the late Phil
ander Chase Knox, George Wharton Pepper whom
Governor Sproul had the prescience to appoint and
whom the Republicans of Pennsylvania have had the
good sense to nominate.
'There is nothing disheartening to the wise among
the well-wishers of the Republican party in the
returns from Indiana or from Pennsylvania. Mr..
Beverage and Mr.. Pinchot have found by experience
that the Republican party is a better instrument of
progressive government than a third PARTY could ever
be. They have succeeded as Republicans in 1929
because they have profited by the lesson taught them
by their experience in 1912. Mr.. Pepper is more con-
sentative perhaps than Mr.. Pinchot and he had the
support of the organization because he was the gov
ernor's appointee. But the rank and file of Penn
sylvania Republicans responded to the leadership of
fearless honesty offered them in the candidates. of
both Mr.. Pinchot and Mr.. Pepper, as did the rank
and file of Indiana Republicans when they preferred
the candidacy of a constructive insurgent to that of
a devoted regular.
Incidentally the Pennsylvania revolution indicates
that "scrapping' political machines is a better vote
getting issue in 1922 than "scrapping'' modern men
of war. Aiso that, however successful the conference
OF Washington may have been, it Will not serve in
tie coming elections as n smoke screen for the short
comings of the party IN power. Leadership of the
Rooseveltian sort is the great need of the nation
today. Where the organization refuses to offer that
kind of leadership the rank and file of the electorate
can and frequently do find it for themselves