The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-09-16
PRIMARIES
To Occur In Pennsylvania
On Tuesday
A Most Important Political
Campaign

paign ever waged in Pennsylvania
virtually ended today. Next Tuesday
Statewide primary will be held for
the nomination of candidates for two
superior court judges, for municipal
| officials of all the leading cities and
officials of the 81 counties of the
State.
Neither the governorship nor any
other Of the high offices of the State
are involved in the contest. Neverthe-
less, the primary of next Tuesday and
the regular election to follow in No
vember threaten revolutionary re-
suits and may lead to a complete re-
alignment of the political forces and
the changing of the political map of
Pennsylvania.
The primary will be operated under
radical new laws designed to make it
possible for the electorate to select
efficient, progressive and Embossed
candidates for public Office. The new
election laws, coupled with advanced
ideas in municipal government which
are to come into effect at the same
time, are believed to sound the death
knell OF machine government.
The last legislature provided for
radical changes in the system of gov
ernment in third-class cities, abolish
inp tho r,avo,. ond council, o.d -,
tablishment pure commission form
of government. In the primaries next
Tuesday mayor and four commits
sioners will be nominated to govern
the 20 third class cities of the State.
Non-partisan elections will be held in
all the cities of Pennsylvania, except
Philadelphia.
The fight in Philadelphia centers
about the election of councilmen,
county officials and nine municipal
court judges. The municipal court is
new tribunal to try minor civil and
criminal cases. The nine judges are
to be chosen without regard to party
affiliations.
The idea that machine government
must be destroyed and that the new
primary and election laws give op-
portunity to bring about such des-
truction is paramount in the cam
paign. In Philadelphia and in nearly
all the other important communities,
the Washington party forces and the
Democratic party are united to over
throw the so-called Republican ma
chine.
Added Importance is given to the
primaries and election this year, as
they are regarded as merely prepara-
tory to the election of United States
senator and governor next year. The
reform element believes that a vic
tory of the fusion forces this year, es-
pecially in the Republican strongholds
of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, would
make almost hopeless any successful
fight next year by Senator Penrose
for reelection, and would go far to-
ward breaking down the control by
the Republican Organization of the
State government
In Pittsburgh there is no fusion and
triangular contest is being waged
Mayor Magee and William Finn, the
Washington party State leader, have
Joined in the support of Congressman
Stephen G. Porter for mayor, while
the Republican faction that follows
the leadership of Senator Oliver is
behind the candidacy of Joseph Arm
strong, former director of public
works. The Democrats have a candi.
date in the field and the outcome of
the primary, the hottest that Pitts.
burgh has known in year, is filed
with uncertainty.
Among the cities which will nomin-
ate candidates for commission Off
GERS next Tuesday and elect them in
November are Trie, Reading, Wilkes
barre, Harrisburg, Johnstown, AL
toona, McKeesport, York, New Castle,
Williamsport, Easton, Hazelton, Oil
City, Bradford, Franklin, Lebanon.
Pittston, Monongahela and Titusville.
All of these cities are to adopt the
commission form of government in
December. This new system carries
with it the direct legislation princi
pies of the initiative and referendum.
The councilman system will be abol-
ished and in its place will be COM
mission composed of the mayor and
four commissioners,
The new law provides for non-par
tisan elections in all the cities of the
State, except Philadelphia, Such
elections, taking out of partisan poll
tics municipal officers in practically
all of the cities and judicial elections
in every community, are expected to
go far towards destroying the old par