The sun., 1913-10-26
Big HIGHWAY LOAN Is
PENNSYLVANIA ISSUE
$50, 10000 Bond Issue Made a
Party Measure by the Re-
publican Organization.

PHrLApELPHiA. Oct. 25--Interest in the
Pennsylvania State election centres about
the $50, ,0O0. 900 bond issue for the building
of highways.
When this proposition first passed the
Legislature there seemed to he no doubt
that II would ne approved by the people.
as nearly all influences IN state politics
were for il. Even the leaders OF the OPP
position to the present stat. administra-
ton declared for the bond issue on prin-
ciple and in the general interest of good
roads.
Hut growing opposition To the big loan
has become menacinE. The state Grange.
led by Farmer Cresy militant reform
Democrat. has carried on campaign
against IL. The arguments have been
based on alleged extravaganza In the
Highway Department According To figures
put out by the opposition. the department
has expended an average Of $4,000 II
mile for all roads built under the direction
OF State Commissioner Bigelow II is
charged that to expend less than $4,000
900 In actual road work IL has cost the
state nearly $4,000. ooo in administrative
expenses.
The state fight now centres about the
loan. as the Republican organization has
made it party measure, and the High
way Department Is an organization
stronghold.
There is virtually no fight over the SUI
perior Court Judges to he elected. as these
| were nominated under the new non-par-
tisan judiciary ballot law.
Washington Party Hopeful.
County Officers are being elected
! throughout the State and these are i'm
portant because the election involves the
| dominance of the party organizations
| kt. ,,.,h l,,,.. h -.
State fight next year. when Governor
and a General Assembly will he elected
and when Senator Penrose will come be
! fore the people in the first direct election
! for United States Senator to he held in
, Pennsylvania
The Washington party, which is the
name under which the Progr. ssivc organ
| ization goes In this State, Is militant and
hopeful. The Democrats have been greatly
strengthened by the Federal Admnistra-
tion. and the Republican party. now freed
! from the domination of the Progressive
element which captured 1t in 1872. is pre-
pairing to make II desperate fight to hold
its historic place in Pennsylvania
In twenty-five Of the smaller cities
| there will be elections FOR new commission
governments which supplant the old char.
I tcrs. In Pittsburg and Scranton the city
election is nominally on bipartisan
ballot
! In Scranton Edward b. Jcrmyn mil
| lionaire coal operator. and William c.
O'Malley, Republican Director of Public
I Safety. are on the ballot for Mayor Jer-
myn, on a platform OF Cleaning up" the
| city Hall, swept the primaries. OMalley
barely squeezing through with enough
votes to get on the ballot.
! Bitter Fight In PhiladelDhis.
! In Philadelphia the campaign within q
few days has taken on unexpected lfe.
/ The FusiOnists representing the reorgan-
| ization Democrats, the old line Democrat
and the PrOgressives have the backing OF
the Blankenburg city administration. The
most important fight Is for Councimen
who will support Mayor Bankenhurg. The
Republican organization IL making the
campaign to keep control OF councils and
thus block the Blankenburg reform pro-
gramme.
The campaign has resolved itself into "A
! series OF charges Of exploitation Of the
city by the contractors prominent in the
Republican organization and on the other
hand the Republicans charge incompe-
tency and dawdlng by the administration
Investigations and counter Investigations
are being launched. the refOrmers using
| the city administrations power and the
Republicans using legislative committees
to do their probing.
There are four county offices at stake.
but the only one OF Importance is that of
! District Attorney. for which Samuel =.
( n candidate and is opposed by George W.
Carr. who was Mayor Blankenburgs po-
iitical manager In the last city campaign.