Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-24
CLkD-HANDERS IN AN ASSAULT
FOR THE CAPTURE OF PINcHOT
Old Guardsnen, Smiling Brightly and
With Dirks Carefully Concealed,
Move Forward From Ambush
II. nInREIr NnX GnCAIN
BY GEORGE NOX Mccain

LNOR the ensuing five months Clifford nm
L chot will be the recipient of more un-
solicited advice than he has ever had be-
fore in the course Of his life.
1t will not be dsintercsted advice. 1t
will be covert insidious, ingratiatins, di-
rect. indirect and frankly outspoken. 1t
will assume the hypocritical guise Of friendly
counsel disintercsted suggestion. courteous
recommendation and subtle warning
1t will come from the eminent and the
obscure alike.
Beneath It. IL Mr.. Pinchot goes deep
enough. he will discover that self interest
personal Acknowledgement or the attempted
political rehabilitation of some discredited
boss is the basis of much OF it.
Already individual members of the de-
moralized Capitol Hill coteric have begun.
through their newspaper organs, an appeal
to let byeones be bygones.
Thus early they are endeavoring to force
his hand by unfounded statements that he
contemnlates supporting this or that dis
credited boss that he is favorably disposed
toward this or that member of the Capitol
Hi crowd for 4 place as a State leader.
Mctaphoricaly Capitol 1IiN slaps Mr.
Pinchot on the shoulder and in seeming
joval Cadenccs exclHims:
congratulations. Gift, old boy. You put
it over on us this time in fine shape. but we
hold no cnmity. Let bygones be bysones.
We're with you to n finish and pledge our
selves to roll up an old time majority for
you in November. Shake, old man ~
1t is the same old dscredlted political
- tol
crowd. 1t is a moth eaten. frazzlcd de-
cayed and inildewed scheme to induce Gif-
ford Pinchot magnanimously to forget that
they were the members of the combine that
exerted every power to defeat him and per-
petuate their grip on Republican politics in
the State.
1t is the same crowd that whispered
innuendoes, like the poisonous breath of
viperS against the pinchots the same men
that fought bcak and talon in every county
of the State with Il viciousness that could
not have been exceeded had Clifford Pinchot
been dscredited Democrat instead of a
clean, decent Republican.
Every protestaton OF loyalty that poll
tcians of their grade now make to the vic
tor is both ,nsncerc and mendacious. Every
the best element OF the Republican Party
that placed Mr.. Pinchot in nomination that
any promise of the Philadelphia Pittsburgh
Contractors Combine and their Capitol Hill
allies to roll up rousng majority in No
vember is u gratutous assertion. If they
should default as discredited leaders in their
allegiance to the Republican ticket in No.
vember. other leaders would spring into the
fray and they would be swept into political
oblivion forever.
But one purpose alone animates these
leaders of yesterday, and that is TO retain
their grip upon the party machinery and by
SO doing perpetuate their power.
They do not admire Clifford Pnchot. They
have nothing in common with his high pur-
poses. Rather they hate him for what he
has achieved. Their brand Of political logic
teaches them that It is better to salaam in
mock reverence to the victor than to sulk in
their tents behind the battle line OF defeat.
1t sounds like good sport" for the
leaders of the old combine to pull the
''hurrah for -pinchot" stuff while the print
of the boot heel is still on their neck. The
forgive and forget" business tickles the
ears of their camp followers, who strut or
shuttle at their nod. while their fingers still
clutch the dollars they received to fight
him.
The Republican Party in Pennsylvania is
not in particular need of soliditcation. 1t
| is urgently in need Of purifcaton and re-
| generation.
Clifford Pinchot will need shrewd political
advisers, practical politicians; but lie will
| not seek them among those who endeavored
| 10 encompass his defeat in a Statewide
| campaign that for insidious attack and
malign methods has had no equal since the
| Hartranft campaign of more than half
century ago
One thing which Mr.. Pinchot will discover
in spite of his wide range of experience is
that the Individual members of the Capitol
Hill crowd will not approach him except By
irdirection Men of Statewide fame,
bankers and lawyers, philanthrop.sts. and
even high minded women ignorant Of the
wies of INSCRIPTIONS politicians, will
| doubtless approach him in their behalf
Eminent rcspectables will urge that he
thrust not these fawning foes from the audi
ence ROOM but that he take them unto HIM
self and seat them in the place OF honor
| at his right hand.
Experience, knowledge Of the State, fde.
ity to the party, good fellowship and every
| other possible excuse in their campaign of
sympathetic buncombe will be used in play
to soften the heart Of the successful candi-
date toward the Capitol Hill cotere and the
Philadelphia Pittsburgh Contractors Com.
| bine.
The mass Of the Republican Party in
Pennsylvania have made Clifford pinchot nor
only their candidate for Governor but their
leader. BY their votes they demand re.
organization of the party upon clean. fair
and honest lines.
There must he new deal The guilty
must be punished,
1t is inconCeivable that the members Of
an organization which countcnanccd these
dsreputable things, and by their vote en-
couraged and supported them, should be
commissioned to undertake the work OF re.
| generation and rehabilitation