Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-21
WAR TO THE KNIFE.
That's What the Entry of Wallace
in a Legislative Fight Means.
CLEVELAND AND HILL FACTIONS
In Fierce Struggle for Supremacy in
the Keystone State.
HARRITY'S FORCES WE'LL IN HAND
rsrrc1AI TELEGRAM TO THE prspArcH. I

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE pIsPArcH.l
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 20.-A prominent
Democratic politician from Clearfeld
county, who was In the city day or to ago,
is authority for the statement that ex Sena-
tor Wallace's intention to re-enter public
life is prompted by desire to lead the anti
Cleveland forces in Pennsylvania This, of
course, also implies that he would like to
lead the various elements not in accord with
the present State administration.
If the truth be known, the Senator is still
smarting from his failure to-get the Guber-
material nomination in the Scranton Con-
vention. He felt that his reputation as a
leader was very much at stake in that cam
paign, and while he bowed to temporary de-
feat, he is not willing to concede that Will
lam F. Harrity is entirely his superior as a
political general.
1t Means War to the Knife.
This information simply means tn at the
lines are to be drawn sharply in this State,
and that it will be war to the knife between
the two factions of the Democratic party.
The contending forces will be led respec-
lively by Mr. Wallace and by Secretary of
State William F. Harrity. The admins
tration forces have been called the Pattison-
Harrity- Hensel combination, but that does
not place the situation in strictly correct
light. 1t is really Harrity alone. He is
furnishing the politics for this administra-
tion.
Pattison's cold personality does not take
with the leaders in the various counties.
Consequently, he is contenting himself with
furnishing the dignity and pretty good ad-
;str of hic off1re HanSe1'S offen-
sive pomposity discounts whatever political
ability he may possess, SO he is grinding
away at the law.
When the tug of war does come, there
will be great deal of promiscuous Demo-
cratic fur lying about the State. Wallace
is classed as Hill man, or anything to beat
Cleveland.
The Ex-Senator's Picturesque Following.
The following Of the ex-senator, if not
large, is picturesque. In Philadelphi he
is credited with having ex-Secretary of
State William S. Stenger, Congressman
William McAleer and Squire McMullen.
These three "sojourners on the terrestrial
globe" are supposed to represent the three
elements of the Democratic party in the
Quaker City. Outside of Philadelphia the
Hill brigade is made up of Congressman
Mutchler, of Easton; James NJ. Guffey, of
Pit.sburg; Edward A. Bigler, of Clearheld:
Thomas H. Greevy, of Altoona, and w.
Rush Gillon, of Chambersburg. While
Gufey is generally credited with being
against Cleveland he will not say so.
Blgler must feel a sensation going up and
down his spinal column when he glances
over the names of his colleagues in the
movement At least two of them are re-
sponsible for the shocking manner in which
he was cut In Randall's district in Phila-
delphia, when he ran for State Treasurer
against MI. Boyer.
Hsrrity's Forces in Good shape.
Harritv's forces are in pretty good shape.
The supporters Of the Secretary of State say
that while he has very friendly feeling
for Cleveland, he is not entirely welded to
him, and is likely to abide bv the decision
of the convention. of course, in making
an inventory of the Cleveland men the Gov
ernor and Hensel are placed near the top
of the column. Then they claim the active
support and sympathy of D. T. Watson, of
Pittsburg; Eckley B. Coke, of Drifton;
George Ross, of Bucks; Mortimer F. Eli
OFT, of Tioga; Chauncey +. Black, of York.
Senator P. Gray Meek, of Center; Repre-
sentative W. z. Ritter, of Lycoming: Sem
ator A. d. Markley, of Montgomery; Will
lam NJ. Singerly and John c. Bullitt, of
Philadelphia, and Ex-Governor Andrew G.
Curtin.
1t is asserted that these influential names
are only marker of the kind of support
the Cleveland men will get in Penn.yl-
vania. AT the present time the tide seems
to be in their favor, and they are likely to
get a large majority of the delegates to the |
National Democratic Convention. Harrity
has Philadelphia just as he wants it, and
there is little question but that he will GET
a solid delegation from that city. OF course
there will be little outbursts in various Sec
tions, but it will not amount to much.
Some Losses for Wallace Likely.
1t wouldn't be bit surprising if the |
Wallace men were to lose the services of |
Postmaster B. F. Myers, of Harrisburg.
During the heated Pattison-Wallace fight, |
Myers was The first lieutenant and the most |
valuable aid possessed by the Clearfeld |
man. If Wallace leads the anti ti-Cleveland |
movement he can scarcely hope for the sup |
port of Myers. The latter was appointed |
postmaster of Harrisburg by the e1-Presi- |
dent, and It is hardly within the range of |
possibility that he would consent to 60 into |
movement against him.
The Democratic State Committee meets in |
Harrisburg on January 20. This meeting, |
as matter of fact, will prove to be the |
preliminary skirmish for position. The |
Cleveland men and the Hill men will do |
everything in their power to make good |
showing for their side.
The First Tests of Strength.
The main fight will hinge on the election
of a successor to the late William L. Scott
on the Democratic National Committee As
is well-known, the two candidates are Will
lam F. Harrity and James NJ Guffev. II
Harritv wins-as seems more than probable
at this distance-it will be regarded and
heralded as the first knockout for the Hill
men.
A Chairman is also to be elected to take
the place of Mr. Kerr and the side having
the majority of votes will thus capture the