The Washington times., 1905-10-12
Beginning of Battle.

The Philadelphia fight. of course
dates back to. the attempt OF the Dur
ham-McNichol machine to sell the citv,s
gas works TO the United Gas Improve
rlent Company. This proposal was that
the plant be turned over to the L. G.
al the bagatelle of SIS, 10000, and that
In connection with this, the city be tied
UP to 81 gas for fifty years. 1t was
worth tens OF millions to the U. c.. L.,
ana public opinion revolted. The result
was that Mayor Weaver was swept into
tne camp of the opposition: he vetoed
the measure, and appealed to the people
me people rose and made their views
80 pam that the council did not care
PASS the measure over the veto. The
issue was made then and there. Mayor
Weaver, finding a respectable and de-
WI ssninIneG Inc, o9oy OF opinion back of him,
ahu most OF the newspapers of the citv
started 10 clean out things He removed
a number OF the machines executive
neads rom city offices, took control OF
me city business through independent
appointees OF his OWL, and proceeded
70 organize for the great fight.
The fight is now on The machine
must win in this falls election or il
viii be hopelessly out OF n at the
next city election. That is WIN The
contest IS SO bitter and determined.
s.1,inle neWspapers have been making
difting- One OF these. which covered
1890 voters. showed about 20 ner
cent cent OF voters supporting the city party.
Inis looks good, and the fact that the
machines poll shows only about 6 200
majority for the machine ticket in the
city seems 10 confirm II.
Machine Has Money.
The weak spot Is the Democracv Tb.
machine is without question making
gains with them II has almost unIim.
ited mony with which 10 fight--monav
Of the United Gas Improvement Com
pany and. 1t is said. of the ratlwavs
For there is an immense railway in
terest in the fight The city has heen
cetermlned on street crossing elevation
In order TO put an end to the terrific
slaughter OF people st grade crossings
Aecordingly tie councils. still Under
fnachine domination. passed an ordi-
nance TO appropriate 10000 to carry "a w
who did not believe any such amount
neeoed. was opposed TO the measure
Rt II passed Then, to the surprise OF
wnHie eity. he signed 1t: He issued
an explanation that II he did not sign
II IT could not be submitted to t5e
Hople again for year. and he beIievs6
u better to submit II now than 10 wait
SO long. ""4'
Thus he took away from the MACHINE
? powerful argument IL has expected ia
.tse-tISt .he reform mayor was block
ing puplc improvements. 1t was a good
mayors s pledge that IL more money was
voted than was needed be WouIG no1
permit any of e to be souanderaG hos
undoubtedly strengthened the civ
party.
Weakened the Gang.
:. The machine has been immen..,v
weakened by the Developments COW.
cerning it's padding of voting l,sta
No less than $50 names Of dead me-
or phantoms have been stricken from
the lists. These. by a cheerful process
Of repeating and using names which
represented fictitious people. have been
voted for the machine IN the past
Now II will have 70 win with the yotes
or actual voters. which IS quite a dif.
ferent matter
In Pennsylvania there is a straight
out fight between Republicans and
democrats Both parties indorsed
stewart for supreme judge, bur the
democrats indorsed Barry fer State
treasurer, as against the notorious i
nominee Plummer is the representa-
tive Of the old Quay organization: he
stands for machine control of the
treasurers Office, where the most cor
ruptfon has been found in State AFFAIRS
Barry was the Prohibition Candidate
and the Democrats indorsed him
There is little doubt, however. that
Plummer will win. Pennsylvania as
. State Is not ripe for reform. PhiIa-
aAlnhia seems to be ready for 1t.