Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-06
Former Congressman's Foes Declare
His Blunders Have Cost Him Presi-
dents Confidence, and Appointment
to Claims Court Eliminates Him as
Political Factor.

Tempt to bring about harmony and pla-
cate the old Guard OF Pennsylvania De-
, mooraey probably will be known in a very
short time 1t is believed here that tho
< selection of a national committeeman to
succeed A. Mitchell Palmer who sought
ana got place on the bench of the Fed
eral Court of Claims. will determine the
harmony question.
Up TO date the reorganlzer element has
SHOWN no desire to seek harmony; on the
/ contrary there are many instances In
which Mr.. Palmer, State Chairman Nor
ris and Vance Mccormick who has con-
tributed most OF the lubricant TO keep
the reorganizer wheels we'll oiled, have
gone out OF their way to oppose the Old
Guard leaders, This has been especially
true In the matter OF Federal patronage.
and there are numerous instances OF rec
lord here whore open fights we're made
iagainst this wing OF the party, and the
recommendations OF the leaders were
coolly and promptly turned down. In
fact, there is letter I'm existence written
by Mr.. Palmer to an Old Guard leader In
which the reorganizer chief admits that
he is a poor hand as harmonizer, and
.that harmony is not the greatest thing
after an
OLD GUARD SEEKS NO PEACE.
According to inside information here the
told Guard leaders are not as anxious for
Harmony now as they were year or so
lago. They were holding out the olive
Ibranch, but now II is different. Up to
.dats they have been studlously ignored by
,the Palmer Morris Mccormick triumvi-
;rate. and now that virtually all of the
Juicy plums have been knocked down. and
There n very little left In the way OF
Federal of1ces. they say there Is no rea-
:son why they should make any advanced
(which would lead to n harmonious under
standing. As a matter OF fact, some OF
!the more aBtute Old Guard leaders say
privately that for the present II would be
best for them not to take any part In
choosing a successor to Palmer, but to
sallow this to be done by the reorganiEers
They argue that inasmuch as the present
ipafty management In Pennsylvania mas
ibeen a failure, so far as the rank ana ME
lof the Democratic voters are concerned,
N would be unwise for the Old Guard to
make any attempt at this time to seek
schAnKe of control They assert, and offer
,evidence to prove their case that In
nearly every case unpopular and po-
ditically weak appointments we're made
iby the reorganizers, and that absolutely
no blame can be attached to the Old
Guard for this Therefore, they believe
In allowing the reorganizers to carry
the burden of responsibility until the time
comes 10 elect new state committee'
ent story to tell. r72 F
OLD GUARD EXPECTS, CONTROL
7 Old guard leaders who have been In
Washington in the last two or three
weeks talk very confidently of being able
TO control the next Democratic State
Committee. They assert that the Demo-
cratic voters are dissatisfied with the |
Palmer orris- M cCormick leadership and |
there will be little If any difficulty ex- |
perienced In electing a good working ma
Jority OF State committeeman. 1t is
known that sentiment has been sounded |
throughout the State. and that the re-
ports made to the Old Guard are very |
Encouraging.
So far as the National Committee va
cancy is concerned there is considerable
doubt here as to what will be done.
President Wilson has seen ht to feel
under debt to Mr.. Palmer for the part
he played IN the Baltimore Convention,
and Mr.. Palmer mas been careful TO see
that this obligation on the part OF the
white House got before the country.
Up 70 date Mr.. Wilson has favored Mr..
Palmer over every other Pennsylvania
Democrat. and he has been guided by
him. much TO the detriment of the party
In the State, says the opposition, In
recent days instances hava come to light
at the White House which indicate that
the President has lost faith. to large
extent. In the political sRgacity of Mr..
I
Court OF Claims wrote finis to the Ad-
obligations. From high Ad-
circles II 10 learned that Mr..
Palmer Is slowly but surely ceasinE to
be a factor IN White House discussions
pf Pennsylvania afrairs, and that the Ad-
ministration is now beginning to insist
that something be done to bring about
harmony.
PALMER ELIMINATED.
IN elsvating Mr. Palmer to the bench
he President has eliminated him as an
letive and potent factor IN Pennsylvania
md the story OF his appointment as
gouched for by competent authority, is
rot without its humorous phase. Ten
minutes before the position was offered
o Mr.. Palmer It was not IN the Presl-
ient's mind 10 give It 10 him. Mr.. Tu-
nulty. the Presidents secretary had a
onE distance call In for a well-known |
'yew Jersey lawyer, whom the President
BAD decided to appoint 70 the Court OF
Claims While Mr.. Tumulty was waiting
u answer 20 his call Mr., Palmer walked
III, and after a few moments chat told
Ihe Presidents secretary that he would
ike the appointment 70 the Court OF
Claims.
"Tou can have it," replied Mr.. rumulty.
Tho Immediately cancelled his call 10
Sew Jersey, and left the room 10 inform
ne President Of Mr.. Palmsr's desire. Mr..
Wilson asked. ''Wfl he take it?'' ana
spon being assured that he would saw
pat the appointment was hxed up then
nd there
The acceptance Of this appointment
eliminates Mr.. Palmer from active par
aelr4tion in politics, and Il also Is caus-
nE worry over his temporary suecsssor.
zmea T. Biakalee. Fourth Assistant Post.
aahter General. is IN the held as 4 can
'idate. bat the rsorganizsrs who vrish
'Qr harmony are throwing cold water On
p amnlllona. They say that the irst
.fep toward harmony IS 10 name a
ban who has been active neither as 4
eqrsauizer nor Is an Old Guard John
Case. of Wllksa-Harre. noa 4 NAM
~ e tie Ways and Means Coumittsa.
af tht chcice of this crowd. but ~ pos-
~ declined As the situation now
fsnas it ~ question who win bs |
aossn. g g considered certain. how
zer that tae old Guard leaders. even
t1ey ere asked. viii offsr no adyics.
Hay sill bids their time and saif for az
isri.er 9 nea STATE Committee