The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-01-17
HARRISBURG LETTER
Harrisburg, Jan. 16.


A new era in the political history
of Pennsylvania dawned in full
splendor with the opening of the
-20th General Assembly, Tuesday,
January 7, when, for the first time
in many years, the President Pro
TEN of the Senate and the Speaker
of the House of Representatives
were chosen without the aid of the
once powerful caucus system, and
these presiding officers were shorn of
their power to appoint the chairmen
and members of the many standing
committees in both branches. Men
prominent in the affairs of State,
who have been attending opening
sessions of the State Legislature BIZ
enially, observed the proceedings
attending the organization of Sen
ate and House in open amazement,
so startling was the change from the
old order of things. Instead of be-
coming dictators whose nod of ap-
proval or disapproval has been suf-
ficient to sway the votes of a major
ity of old-time regular organization
members, intent upon getting some
thing tangible for their various con-
stituencies, President Pro TEN D. P.
Gerberich and Speaker George E.
Alter are now the incumbents of
honorary posts only, and the most
valuable asset of the decadent twin
political machines of our Common
wealth-the appointment of mem
bers of standing committees by eau
cus-chosen presiding officers-passes
into the control of the membership
as whole, through a committee of
their own selection. Thus have the
people of the Commonwealth,
through their representatives re-
gained control of their law-making
bodies, and swept into oblivion for
all time the sinister political in
fluences whose every intent and pur-
pose were directed along selfish and
narrow lines.
The voting of about Legislators
who acted as Independents and not
as partisans held the key to the
Speakership situation, and it is sig
nificant that the three Democrats
Messrs. John T. Matt, of Bedford
H. w. Bergey, of Montgomery, and
Donald Glenn, of Venango, who
dropped their party caucus nominee
{ Charles A. Shaffer, of Columbia, and
voted for Alter, thus electing the
latter, were sent to the Legislature
through Washington Party endorse
ments. In addition to these three
it is known that at least one dozen
other Democrats had expressed theiI
intention of breaking their caucus
obligation and voting for Alter
should the election of John r. X
Scott, the McNichol-Vare candidate
become imminent. For a time the
votes of the Independents, who fell
confident of the inability of Scott
the Republican caucus nominee, tC
make any considerable gain above
his high water vote of So, were di,
vided between Samuel B. Scott, Eu
gene j. McAleer and George A
Baldwin, Independents, and Alter
Progressive Republican, but aftel
the fifth ballot the strength of the
! Washington Party, Keystoners, Pro
gressive Republicans and Progressive
Democrats was transferred to Alter
giving him 107 votes, or three more
than a majority of the membership
of the House. During the ballotinl
on Speaker Mr.. Alter PERSONAL!
pledged Messrs. S. B. Scott, McAleel
and Baldwin that If elected he woulC
be absolutely fearless, Independent
and progressive in his conduct o
the office to which he aspired, ant
! on the strength of the assurance