The Washington times., 1905-10-27
Battle Royal Between Gang
and RefOrmers.
ALMOST EVEN BET NO w
Political Discussion on All Sides Has
Taken Place of Business
Considerations.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct accounting |
chickens before they are Matched is not |
quite the caper in the field of practi- |
cal politics One is apt to get the wrong |
hurch-plunge-and go broke. So your
real wise boy waits until the fireworks
are over
This bit of wisdom applies to the cleo
ton contest going on in this city De-
spite the confidence of the army of re-
form which is waging war on the Pen
rose. Durham. McNichol machine and
the oft reiterated shouts of its leaders !
The king is dead; long live the king" 1t |
may be said with much truth the king
refuses to be corpse
Regular Battle Royal.
This. is one time the election in the
Quaker City is not wake. It's a knock
DOWN and drag out affray, in which
every element that goes to make uo a
municipality Is taking q hand and with
much bitterness.
The Republican organization, or
Gang" as 1t Is more popularity known,
battling for it's position. is in desperate
hshtins mood. Hard pressed on all sides
IL Is keenly alive to the situation and
every bit as confident of success as it's
rival. the City party.
REFORM
On November are better than they
have been for some time is patent 10
The most casual observer-yet one must
take with a grain OF salt the claims be-
ing handled around that the Gang
is down and out
Such is not the case Betting is even
That's about how It looks
Two forces are in the fight this time
the Republican organization backed by
interests which naturally align them
selves with "A machine and the City
party. builded by reformers, strength
en-d by Democratic support, and aided
by. disgruntled organization men.
The battle is being waged around the
offccs of sheriff and coroner, there be-
ing no mayoralty election until next
fall.
Politics Only Theme.
Philadelphia seems to have laid aside
all business to take UP politics. One
hears 1t discussed on all sides. II the
club, theaters, on the street, at home
always the same query greets you:
Are you going to vote for the Gang
or City party?"
They speak Of the Gang in this city.
always the Gang and not the Republican
party.
The fight is badly mixed, and prom
ises to be close. The friends of reform
need to get IL out of their heads that
It's all pork and gravy. It's not. AL.
though there have been desertions from
the ranks of the organization, the pirat-
icai ship OF state is still very much in
tact
The City party in this fight is backed
UP not only by the time-worn reformer,
but almost the entire press OF the city
a f,f~
Weaver. whose break with the Gang
the sensation of the year in poll
tics.
With the Reformers-
Firemen and policemen have been
drawn into it. just In the days when
the Gang ruled. The majority Of
them with their bread and butter at
stake are openly aligned with the re-
formers. Some are only lending a half
hearted support, hourly in fear OF be-
ing detected. others pretending to be
friendly, while secretly pledging loyalty
to the machine.
Other city departments are playing an
equally important part
This machine feature of the reform
movement Is being looked after by men
who claim TO have suffered al the hands
OF the bosses. They have either out
lived their usefulness or been turned
eyes of the Gang this is the basest
Of crimes.
It's just this thing which is cutting
quite a figure in the campaign. 1t is
a mighty weapon IN the hands of Dur
ham and McNichol. for IL holds out
promises of reward. well as serving
as an appeal to their henchmen to re-
main loyal for past favors received
Scratch the ward-workers. the boys who
are hustling to get out the vote for
the City party, say machine leaders,
and you will find an migrate.
On the other hand. however. those who
seldom vote, those whose names have
been voted upon. these who have never
taken an interest IN how affairs have
been run, are dema nding a new deal.
Both Spending Money.
One of the features OF the campaign
fs the advertising being dope. Both sides
are spending money this way-the ma
chine with a lavish hand Attacks ap-
pear daily in the newspapers. and the
tUwn is placarded with paper.
Daily is pictured the mayors ingrati-
tude John wanamaker is pointed out
as ambitious to go 70 the United States
Senate. and Judge Gordon. the Demo
cratic adviser OF the reformers. touted
as the City party candidate for COVER