Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-01-10
CONFERENCE LOOKS
LIKE 0LDEN TIMES
Finn and His Associates Use New
Names, But Methods Are
Of Old Style

Pittsburgh, Jan. 10. - Announce
ment of a conference to be held at
Harrisburg next week by representa-
tives of the Washington party in Penn
sylvania has caused no end of politi-
cal gossip among men of all parties.
1t is stated in one OF the organs of the
third party that the conference would
sound the keynote in the next cam
paign and at the same time there Will
be discussion as to standard bearers
for the fight"
1t is pointed out by old line political
observers that in other days not so far
distant such a conference would have
been denounced as the worst exhibit
ton of boss rule; that the will of the
people was being suppressed; that a
few men were selecting the candidates
of the party, and that the masses were
being ignored.
1t is also suggested that in view of
the enactment of Statewide primary
laws and a general revolution in cleo
ton methods in favor of direct nomi-
nations the calling of conference to
select candidates in advance of the
primary is nothing short of reaction
ary and a return to the methods which
are alleged to have been the excuse
for organising the third-party move
ment.
For more than q week certain
names have been mentioned as the
only likely nominees of the Washing
ton party for United States Senator
and the several State offices. II the
Republican and Democratic parties
had followed this course, it is prob
able that there would have been the
most vitriolic denounciation of boss
methods and the overturn of the rule
of the people! 1t has not been for
gotten that the Republican convention
of 1912 was absolutely under the
domination of William Finn, the local
boss and his lieutenants: that the
delegates taking part in that conven-
ton were elected without any instruc-
tions as to the makeup of the State
ticket, and that the nominees were
never thought of at the time OF the
election of the delegates. These NOM
inees of the Republican convention
were subsequently endorsed by the
Washington party, elected, and have
since recognized the Washington party
machine as the only one deserving
their consideration and this in face
of the repeated pledges to the people
by the Washington party leaders that
there would be no machine, that the
common people would be in control
and would name all of the candidates.
Notwithstanding all of this a con-
ference has been called to meet in
Harrisburg next week contrary to the
spirit of the primary law to set up and
slate candidates for United States
senator, governor and other State Off
ces to be filled this year. Is il any
wonder that voters who supposed that
the old things had passed away and
all things had become new in political
management are expressing great sur
prise over the bossism displayed by
the leaders of the third party?
There is no secret made of the fact
that the conference is expected to re-
suit in the elimination of all prospec-
tive candidates except those having
the approval of the leaders, who will
expect the people to endorse their Sc
lections 1t is quietly intimated that
| il IS necessary to have a ticket made
Of rich men who will be able to
| Il nee the campaign and the COM
mon people who still imagine they
have a hand in the nominations of the
third party Will be expected to furnish
the cheers next May.
After the conference at Harrisburg,
which will be made up of men and
women, there will be a Progressive
Irally in Philadelphia to sort of give
ar and substance to the alleged
cment of the people.
sre is strong suspicion among
cu4 eful political observers throughout
the State that the conference which
has been called by the bosses of the
third party so early in the year is a
tactical move intended to strengthen
the hold of the leaders upon the rank
and file. This hold has been per-
ceptibly slipping for some time and
unless some plan can be adopted to
check the return to the old party the
third party movement will have al
most disappeared before election day.
1t is also dawning upon thousands of
men who supported Colonel Roose-
Welt that any further division of the
Republican party will simply mean
more offices for the Democrats.