Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-22
Peeiic@ in
Pe't~oqeOo~io
By the Ex-Committeeman

AS a result OF the decisions OF the
Dauphin County Court in the judicial
nomination cases and of the Luzerne
County Court in the third class city
nomination controversy it is likely that
revision of the election laws from top
to bottom will be made a part of the
platform of candidates for the next
General Assembly. The whole non
partisan system appears to be filled
with uncertainties. and. like a good bit
of the other legislation which was
uppermoSt in The political discussion
in 1912, has been found to be hard to
enforce.
Attorney General Browns statement
yesterday in which he made an eX-
PLANTATION of how he tried to make the
law workable and not to void il has
opened the eyes of good many people
to the cumbersome methods under
which the States electorate is work.
ing.
In the Luzerne decision there are
some things of interest to this city.
Kosek. of Wilkes Barre, was the only
third class city mayor who had the
nerve to start a suit to see whether he
had right to run to succeed himself.
He won out, and as a candidate for
denomination received more than so
per cent. and his will be the only
name TO appear on the Wilkes Barre
official ballot November 2. President
Judge Fuller and Judge Strauss hold
that the majority of ballots cast means
a number greater than so per cent. of
the partisan ballots cast in the city
for county, offices, as we'll as a num-
ber greater than so per cent. of the
ronpartisan ballots cast. Judges
O'Boyle and Woodward hold that only
more than so per cent. of the non
partisan ballot is necessary. disregard
ins the partisan count, while Judge
Garman, in n dissenting opinion, holds
that the candidate must receive more
than 90 per cent. of the combined par
tiSan and nonpartisan ballots cost in
the city at the primary.
Predicting that Thomas &. Smith.
Republican mayoralty candidate. would
he elected by a majority of more than
100000, Senator Boies Penrose last
night addressed two of the largest po-
litical meetings during the canvass in
Philadelphia. II was the first appear
ance of Pennsylvania senior senator
in the present campaign and it was
the signal for an outburst of the wild
est and most enthusiastic demon
strations that have greeted Mr.. Smith
and the other members of the ticket.
David b. Johns. If the Supreme
Court, which took up his appeals yes
terday. decides against him and in
favor of William b. Kirker as the Re-
publican nominee for prothonotary in
Allegheny county, will not be an indie
pendent candidate at the election two
weeks hence. Mr.. Johns said to-day:
Il firmly believe l am the nominee by
about 1900 votes, but if the courts de-
eide against me | will ask my friends
to and will myself support and vote
for the whole regular Republican
ticket November .. l never intended
tC run independently. nor did my
friends, all good Republicans. The
nomination papers we. took out under
the Fair Play party were what might
be called a safety first move, to pro-
tect my candidacy if there was no de-
oision in the prothonotary contest in
time TO get the nominee on the bal
lots My opponent pursued a similar
course. | recognize that ii is too late
row, If the courts should decide
against me. to withdraw my name
from the ballots. on which I shall an
pear as the candidate of the Fair PLAY
party for prothonotary, but shall ask
my friends to do what l intend to do
no matter who is the nominee, to vote
the regular Republican ticket"