Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-27
MACH|NE'S S RULES
TURNED INSIDE OUT
Judge McCarrelPs Decision Shows
Up the Democratic State Or
ganization's Schemes

The machine built up by McCor-
mick dollars and Federal patronage
! jingled and tangled in every joint last
night as the result of the decision
given yesterday afternoon by Judge
S. j. NJ. McCarrell holding that the
executive committee of the Democratic
State committee had arrogated to it
self powers not conferred by the pri-
mary act of 1913. Not since McCor-
mick and Palmer undertook the role
of bosses and used the name of the
people to cloak their moves, de-
nouncing better men and imputing
shady motives to every man not ac-
cepting their dictation in party affairs,
has there been such a terrific showing
up as was given in the restrained Ian
guage of the judicial opinion striking
down the legislative nominations of
Walnut and Robinson, made for the
people of the Seventeenth Philadel-
phia district by the Democratic State
executive committee without consult
ing the local committee at all.
Judge McCarrell points out in his
opinion that local self-government,
home rule, was the foundation stone
of the primary act of 1918, and that
1t gave to the people more power than
they have had for many years. Yet,
in spite of this the Democratic State
committee acted as though it was the
supreme authority of the Democratic
stretched to cover district nominations
instead of confining them to nomina-
tionS at large. In the careful ver
biage of an opinion the judge says
that the inside ring of the Democratic
State machine acted as though all
power began with it instead of the
people. The whole action was an in
vasion of the rights of the people of a
district and every nomination of the
kind made could be thrown off the
ticket if time permitted suits to be
brought.
There was a pretty sad bunch about
the Democratic State windmill last
night when the news of the McCar-
rell opinion came in on
top of the avalanche of
Windmill predictions of Republi-
Folks Are can success made by the
Depressed big newspapers of the
country, and gloom be-
gan to settle down upon
the young men who were so confident
twenty-four hours before. State
Chairman Morris declined to comment
upon the decision, which knocks the
props from under his own pet scheme
of fusion on Legislature or to talk
about predictions. No one seemed to
know when any estimates would be
made at State headquarters, any more
than was known when Morris would
put out another fool statement about
the Democratic slush fund. 1t looked
like the beginning of the route at the
windmill.
Democrats from every point for fifty
miles around will be impressed to
come to Harrisburg, and the Dauphin
county Democrats will
be lined up to make
showing for the Demo- Democrats
cratic candidates at the Get Orders
wind-up rally on Satur- to Line up
day night. To-night's
Democratic meeting at
Kelker street hall will be a sort of
curtain raiser for the Roosevelt meet
ing which Mccormick is said to plan
to attend so that he may bask in the
reflection of the man who is raking
the President for whom Mccormick
says he stands. For weeks the Panic
League has been holding meetings to
get things lined up and there will be
great outpouring when the Little
Boss comes home Saturday night
Every nerve will be strained to beat
out the Republican meeting on We'd
nesday night.
The Ware brothers gave the Market
Square crowd an awful disappoint-
ment last night when in attending the
meeting of the Repub-
lican city committee in
Wares Urge Philadelphia these lead
Support for ers urged strong support
the Ticket of the Republican ticket
and declared that it
would win. Notwith-
standing declarations by machine
newspapers that they would break
loose at Penrose. neither one said a
word against him, but urged that
the Republican ticket be supported
'In my thirty-two years of political
experience" said Senator Ware, no
such man as Dr. Brumbaugh has ever
been a candidate for Governor on the
Republican ticket, and if every man
does his best l forecast a Republican
victory-a victory for the whole Re-
publican ticket-which will be one of
the largest we ever have had in Penn
sylvania."