Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-05-28
Poe;tic4 in
Ps""04esa"i@
BY the Ex-Committeeman

Oficials of the Democratic National
COMMITTEE who have been quietly in
VestiBating party conditions in Penn
sylvanla Tor several months, have
come right out into the open with a
series OF questions addressed to Demo-
cratic county chairmen, the inquiries
peing very evidently to get informa-
ton winch Is not obtainable through
the state organization or which is de-
sired to come from other sources.
rms action, which is quite unprece-
aented In the Democratic party, even
IN pennsylvania, where all sorts of
methods have been resorted to in re-
cent years. has attracted much atten-
tlon. Thomas J. Pence, who is the
ooss press agent of the national COM
mlttee, has taken charge of this can
vass and the questions have been sent
with requests that they be given early
attention.
The chief line of inquiry appears
TO be for the feeling of the people to-
ward the national administration and
details are asked. Another question
is to what extent the progressives
| have gone back to the Republican
party and the prospects for a complete
union or the factions. The latter Is
believed TO have been inspired by the
activity of Governor Brumbaugh to
solidify the party. Finally the county
chairman are being asked what would
happen If the election was to take
place this year.
Just why this information was not
asked through the State committee.
which maintained Il very elaborate
press and information bureau here in
1912 and 1914. is not understood. APP
parently, the national organization
mas taken note of the fact that the
present bosses of the party in Penn
sylvania, the men who have been
handling the patronage, are not in
good odor and that county chairmen
who are closer to the people would be
more apt to give trustworthy answers
than the chiefs of the discredited and |
defeated machine which promised so
much and gave so little.
The State Prohibition committee |
wound up its annual meeting at Pitts
burgh yesterday by hearing some re-
markable addresses, including one by
William Sulzer. late Governor of New |
York. The meeting was more for
speech making than anything else ana |
the general plan is TO have party tick
cts in all of the counties this Fall and /
TO prepare for a vigorous campaign |
next year. The time and place of the
Spring meetings were left TO the exec
uuve committee. The Rev. DIR. b. e.
p. Prugh, of Westmoreland county, |
lowing other officers: Secretary, Hen
ry S. Gill, Greensburg; treasurer, T. IL.
Hamilton, Harrisburg. The EXecu- |
tive Committee consists of: ii. G. |
Steel, Butler county; d. S. Won Nieder, |
Lancaster; James PEBBLES, Lawrence;
Albert Gaddis. Fayette; E. ]. Fithian
Mercer; William Umsted, Philadel !
phia; j. G. Hosick, Allegheny; E. B.
Lacey Warren; William Repp, Lack
awanna; f. E. Whittlesey, Erie; G. ]. |
tluck, Northampton; j. G. Rumel,
Isaac Mondereau, Craw-
ford; d. B. McCalmont, Venango; G.
l.. Pennock. Delaware.
Senator Penrose last night in dis
cussing the decision of the Customs
Court that five per cent. tariff rebate
must be granted on imports on ships
of favored nations" said This is
but one of several hundred inconsist- /
ent and impracticable provisions of
the present Democratic Tariff law.
The act in almost every section shows
lack of thoughtful consideration of the
welfare of the American people, of
American industries and of time hon
ored American institutions. Those re-
sponsible for this law exhibited a re-
ana reckless diregard for |
home conditions and home interests. |
Ti.ere can be no relief until there shall |
be a complete revision of the tariff |
along established Republican lines and |
that will come with the next national |
election
James A. Chambers, prominent !
Lawrence county luwyer, is out as a |
candidate for judge. Judge William |
+. Porter, who made the county dry, |
is also candidate for reelection.
The courts have held that the |
city of Wilkes-Barre must pay Lu-
zerne county $1,0S1.60 for the eX-
penses of the special election for in |
crease of debt held in 1912. The city |
tried to put it on the county, but there |
was objection.
City Solicitor NJ. j. Ryan has
started more trouble in Philadelphia |
by appealing from twenty-seven park |
way condemnation proceedings !
According to Scranton papers G. |
w. Leemaster, formerly chief deputy |
in the office of Fred w. Kirkendali. |
revenue tax collector, when the head |
quarters of the district were located |
in Lancaster, has joined the Scranton |
office force in the re-established |
Twelfth district, and may succeed Har- |
ry Houck as chief deputy to Mr.. Kirk !
endall. 1t was stated by Mr. Kirk
endall yesterday that permission had |
been asked of the Washington office |
to allow Leemaster to be taken on
permanently. Collector Kirkendall |
also declared that Mr.. Houck did not |
wish to retain the position of chief !
deputy, but that the latter would re-
main with the office. He further stat
ed that the permission to allow an
extra man to be taken on was asked |
at the time of the establishment. |
purpose of rewarding Democratic fac
tioniStS