Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-03-05
NONPART|SAN ACT
FOR JUDGES DOOMED
1t Will Be Repealed to Take Effect
on the First Day of the
Coming Year, They Say
NOT TO AFFECT THE CITIES
Fusion Schemes After Primaries
Will Be Made impossible
Prohibition Bill Ready

Abolition of the nonpartisan system
of electing judges on January 1, 1916,
and a return to the old convention
system may result from changes In
the election laws which are being con-
sidered by Republican legislative lead
ers. The bills will be finally passed
on soon and may be presented within
a fortnight.
Senator Penrose was credited with
opposing the repeal. 1t is now said
that he was misunderstood. He favors
the repeal, but does not want 1t to
become effective until after January J.,
1916.
There is to be a conference in Phila-
delphia on Saturday at which tho pro
posed changes in the election laws VIII
be taken up. 1t may be that Senators
MCNichol Ware and Crow will have
returned from Florida by that time.
If they are not back in Pennsylvania
by Saturday they will arrive Monday
Philadelphia lawyers have about COM
pleted the preparation of the election
laws and the conference Saturday is
for the purpose of looking over the
drafts.
The present system of primary
election laws was advocated by the IN
dependents in the hope they would re-
suit in the defeat of Senator Penrose.
The laws having failed in their purpose,
the promoters have lost interest in
them. There is now a good deal of
discussion of returning to the old sys-
tenn of state conventions. The idea is
to make the party responsible for the
nominati tions. If the law is changed to
make the nominations of state candi-
dates in state conventions it would not
l. I,nn ln
Auditor General and State Treasurer
are to be nominated. 1t is also prob
able that if state conventions are re-
vived. these bodies will be given au-
thority to elect all of the national dele
gates.
The Republican leaders are agreed
that fusion after the primaries is to be
prevented. 1t is not likely that any
attempt will be made to prevent a cam
didate from running in the primaries
of as many parties as he desires. The
position is taken that il a Republican
is strong enough TO win Democratic
nomination, or vice versa, he should
be allowed to bring home the bacon.
After the primaries death is the only
cause for a man to withdraw from
ticket. This provision is now the law
in so far as the nonpartisan nomi-
nations are concerned. The extension
of this plan TO all nominations will
practically prevent fusion. In addition
to this preventive the new laws will
provide that independents desiring to
have tickets in the November election
must organize prior to the primaries
and make their nominations in the
primaries. There is no intention of
changing the party enrolment law.
1t became known here to-day that
bo IN
of the sale of liquor. to be voted upon
at each municipal election, has been
by the State Prohibition
committee. of which DIR. r. e. p.
Prugh is chairman, and that it will be
introduced next week by Don GingerY,
Clearfield. The bill provides that each
ballot at municipal elections shall have
the line Against the beverage liquor
traffic" If the elector places his mark
opposite the line, he votes for pro-
hibition in the district If he does not
vote, it is taken he is against pro-
hibition. The units are cities, coun-
ties. townships or boroughs. 1t was
that the bill would make the
ward the unit for cities.
The sudden interest taken by the
Democratic state bosses in their ma
chine has been reflected on the Cen
trail Democratic Club and steps are
now being taken to have a Jefferson
day dinner according to the ideas of
members in the days when Harrisburg
cut some ice with the national ad-
A committee has been
named TO invite the President to be
the speaker.
Congressman Arthur G. Dewalt, of
was here a day or so ago.
He will be power in the Pennsylva-
mia delegation and it is a rather odd
that he goes in when A.
Mitchell Palmer goes out.
Armstrong county Democrats are
up in the air because w. \. McAdoo,
who served as county chairman, has
taken the Kittanning post office. Me-
Adoo is said to have a very lucrative
practice in license court in his county.
Senator i. II. Ware is expected to
meet a number of his lieutenants In
Philadelphia tomorrow. He will see
Governor Brumbaugh here on Tues
day.
Judge German. of Philadelphia. is
planning to have assistant judges and
means to have women ill the places
because they can better handle the
juvenile cases.
Speaker Amber is quoted in
Philadelphia as saying that he be-
lieves the Legislature will adjourn be-
fore the end of May.
Secretary Bryan may make some
speeches in Western Pennsylvania
towns.
The Dauphin County Progressive |
League got on it's feet again last night
and heard some speeches on the cause. |
No. policemen were required to hold |
back the crowd.
Friends of eX-Congressman r. e. |
Lee are pushing him for subtreasurer
at Philadelphia despite Palmer's oppo- |
sition.
-Tammany Hall, an Alburtis or |
has quit. The Union Re- |
publican Club has taken over men, |
bers and hall.