Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-29
50WER OF GOVERNOR
no COMPEL REFORMS
FACES IT'S REAL TEST
senators McNichol and
Crow Lay Down Law on
Local Option and Child
Labor Measures, But
Governor Is Undaunted.
,lpnn , srArr connrsroNpENr |


.,pRtsBURG, March 29.-The week
u, passed was the first one of real
liar IN the present session of the Legis-
-, A break that threatens to develop
- hitter fight In the ranks of the Re
nas,,can party followed plain talk" be-
P., Coyernor Brumbaugh and the Re
Ns,lcon Organization leaders on the
.as of local option, child labor and
r,rkman's compensation.
ffg..aators McNichol and Grow attempted
4 nav down the law" to the Governor
~ hluntly informed him that they will
ss,ss the passage of both his local
w, s.,,on and his child labor bills. Senator
ysrs gs was non-committal, and as yet has
"a announced his attitude toward local
4 spilon. ., ......,...-,
...sation slated to come out upon the
1 s.or of the House this week, and with
/ 4. nublc hearing on local option only
.st away, questions arise as to the exact
.,.imde OF Senators McNichol, Grow and
vsre toward the Governor and his three
.rlnclpal bills. the attitude of the Gov
.yaor toward the bosses" and the
,rsrrth Of the Governor and the various
.saers In the fight.
TODAY the Governors fight for the en-
.e,ment of a local option law appears to
h won a week ago, on the morning of
M now famous conference In the Execu-
,vs Mansion, the local option movement
Undoubtedly was ION the skids," and the
culy chance of passing the bill appeared
4 rest with the people of the state them
selves.
GOVERNOR TURNED TIDE.
Governor Brumbaugh, however, carried
,ts arht TO McNichof and Crow, and
L., 70 pf
4 week ago there were only so local op-
lion votes in the House. Today there are
more than e5 (some of the leaders In the
esht claim 9S), and the situation in the
laKer branch of the Assembly has be-
como SO serious from n liquor viewpoint
,hat McNlchol and Crow, for the first
fine since tho Governor announced he
would fight to the limit for local option,
are counting the wet votes in the
Eenate.
Much to their surprise, they are finding
out that local option has a better chance
In the Senate than in the House. a care
ful poll of the Upper House shows that
Under circumstances most favorable to
tka liquor interests, that body Is about
evenly divided on the question. The local
optionists claim % votes, with four in
Doubt. They have % votes pledged, they
assert How many more Senators would
vote In the Senate is a matter of con-
lecture. but several Senators who have
been silent so far, undoubtedly will sup
port the measure IL they have to declare
their attitude publicly.
The fight for passage of local option by
the House Is not over. One hundred and
four favorable votes are needed In that
branch. If the members now pledged TO
vote for 1t support the measure there is
good chance of the House passing it.
Governor Brumbaugh Is using all of the
power Of his office, including the club of
patronage to swing votes for local op-
ton He undoubtedly can influence six
or seven more members to vote for his
measure by giving their county leaders to
understand that their allotment of State
Jobs is at stake. He has used this method
the last week to line up a dozen men,
bers
Governor Brumbaugh is sincere in his
night for local option and child labor, and
is in the struggle to the finish. He has
made that plain to every one on the
HILL"
He is up against the vigorous opposi-
ton OF McNichol and Grow, and the
power OF their organization in the Legis-
lature Both these leaders have told the
Governor in so many words that they
nght his local option bill.
They also told him week ago that
they oppose his child labor bill, but SEN
alor Crow since then has announced that
ne will help to get the measure through
The House. Senator McNichol has with
drawn his opposition to the bill, but has
mol come out in favor of 1t. He is await
ing the result of the employers negotia-
Iions with the Governor for modification
ot the measure.
COMPENSATION BILL FAVORED.
on workmen's compensation all of the |
eaders are supporting the Governor. The
principal features of the first draft of the
'ofernors compensation measure have |
'een accepted by the employers. and only |
ne minor provisions and the plan of adj
nlnstration will be disputed
senator Ware is on the side of the |
ioVernor in the child labor fight. lie |
o aso Is supporting the Executive in his |
DSal option fight by leaving it to his |
mowers in the House to vote as they |
.lsn' IL he maintains this attitude, the |
lo'ernor will count on four Ware leglsla |
ols from Philadelphia voting for local |
puon' Should Ware cast his lot with |
ne Governor and break away from Nc
''ehol' there would be no doubt about |
le tate OF local option in the House, as |
are controls 2l members of that body.
IN other words, both the Governors |
nna labor and workmans compensation |
ms VIII be passed by the House, and |
,ey stand an even chance in the Senate.
helr passage there depends largely upon
le hnal attitude of the employers toward
lsse measures, and this is now being
'auually worked, out in conferences.
itocal option has a surprisingly good |
lance' a better chance in the Senate