Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-23
ORGANIZED REVOLT
AGAINST SMITH AN
ANTI-PENROSE STEP
Washington Partymen and
, Mem bers of Republi-
can Ward c ON m lite e
Would End Former Post
masters Leadership.

A, organIzed revolt against the leader
.h,n of former Postmaster Thomas b.
sn,,,h with n closely allied anti-Penrose
r,ovement has begun in the 2sth Ward
NH, was admitted today by members
~ Tho Republican Ward Committee. The
act atoms in the move to oust Smith
S. ,nno been taken by Washington party
men, a ,,,-,, ,
oordina to those leading the revolt, for
= nuuber of years has not had the right
90 vote in the 2Sth. Ward or to maintain
bis leadership there. Despite his Glen
side residence, Washington party men as
sert he has continued to vote in the
ssth Ward and has been the actual Re-
nuhlican leader. Republican committee
men declare they do not object to his
,,otinp there, but oppose strenuously his
methods in enforcing his leadership. AS
roncrete Illustration OF his autocratic
control, one member OF the Ward Com
mIttce today pointed to the election OF
Joseph Smith, Thomas Il. Smiths brother,
as chairman of the Ward Committee.
"Thomas 3. Smith never had been a
n,nn,ber of the Ward Committee until he
was chosen chairman" the protesting COM
rnltteeman declared. I'VE were not asked
whether we would accept him, but the
word was passed out that he was 10 be
nlaced there and we had no choice but
to elect him. Please don't give my name,
for IL they knew 1 was fomenting a re-
volt would be ousted before many days"
A meeting of the Ward Committee has
been called for tomorrow night when the
entire question probably will be threshed
ont. The prime movers In the revolt
admit that as yet they are minority In
the Ward Committee and declare that
unless they can win others to their way
.t-t.. ttytn h. T,,tf
present there are 72 members of the Re-
publican Ward Committee. More than 20,
IL Is claimed, are in sympathy with the
anti-Smth movement.
While there have been no open ne
rotiations, cooperation between Wash
jngton Party men and the revolving
Republicans in the ward is admitted.
On the second registration day. Sep
tember Is, William f. Kiefer. a jeweler,
a Washington Party registrar and COM
mitteeman, challenged Smith on his at
tempt to register from the 10th division
of the 2Sth Ward. The challenge was
based on Smiths Glenside residence.
Smith Immediately made affidavit that
he was a properly qualified resident of
the 10Th division. He was then allowed
to register The matter was brought
before the Committee of Seventy and
they intend to make a thorough inves-
tigation. II the facts warrant they will
take tho case to the courts.
One point in common between the
Washington Party followers and the
Republicans in revolt is strong anti
Penrose sentiment. This is admitted by
both sides. THE leadership of Mr.
Smith in our ward,'' one of the Repub-
lican committeeman stated today, ''is
for nothing else than to create Pen
rose condition. and the feeling of the
majority of the Republicans here Is not
too warm for Mr.. Penrose."
If the revolt gains sufficient strength
T. act against Smith. 1t is believed one
Of the first steps will be to oust Milton
X Reedmoyer, tho Republican City |
Committeeman from the 2sth Ward. To |
Go this would require a two-thirds vote |
OF the ward committee.