Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-20
PENROSE FACES
CAUCUS BATTLE
FOR CHAIRMAN
Bitter Fight Next Week
Against His Leadership
Of Delegation
BRUMBAUGH MEN BUSY
Start Movement to Get Candi-
date to Oppose Senator-Smith
Wins as Delegate {

Senator Penrose. although apparently a
majority of his candidates for 1eiesates to
the Republican National Convention have
been elected, faces bitter fight against his
leadership when the delegation meets to
select chairman and makes its plans for
the Chicago convention
The actual caucus probably will not be
held until the delegates reach Chicago for
the convention.
A call will be sent out early next week
for the meeting. It is planned to hold It in
this city the latter part of the week Of
May 2s, II the election of the delegates can
be certified to by that time. The spacious
new headquarters of the Republican state
committee, In the old John G. johnson
home sos South Broad street. have been
chosen as the place for holding the meeting
The Penrose delegates will line-up almost
solidly for the senior Senator for chairman
of the delegation. That his election will be
bitterly opposed, however, Is apparent, as
a movement has been started among the
Brumbaugh delegates to place a Brun-
paugh candidate In the field to oppose PEN
rose, and efforts are being made to cut
into the Senator's strength by obtaining
the pledges Of delegates who ran as un-
instructed.
TEST OF STRENGTH.
Inc test or Governor Brumbaugh's
strength In the delegation, which is dis
puted, will come at the meeting, when a pol
of the delegation will be made to determine
whether or not the delegation will cast at |
least complimentary vote for the Cover
nor on the first ballot at Chicago.
Many Penrose delegates, remembering |
that Brumbaugh, with his appointive power |
and his veto power. still has two and a |
half years to serve as Governor and that |
another session of the Legislature will be
held next year, will vote for the Governor,
at least on the first ballot. There is talk
In the Penrose camp, however, of keeping
the Governors vote down to less than a
of the delegation, IL possible
None of the details for the meeting. ex-
cept the place where it will be held, has
been worked out. They probably will be
announced early In the week.
The call also will be sent out the first
OF the week for the meeting of the newly
elected State Committee. 1t may be two |
weeks before the State Committee meeting
Is held, however, as the election of the State
Committeeman will not be certified to until
after the official count has been made on the
delegates.
CONTROLS STATE COMMITTEE.
Apparently both factions agree that Sena-
or Penrose controls the new State Commit
zee. and as yet there is no movement on
loot to block the senior Senator's plans to
committeeman from Pennsylvania in place
IT Henry G.. Wasson, of Pittsburgh who
vas elected when the Progressves captured
he State Committee in 1912.
The State Committee meeting also will |
1e held at the new headquarters on South
Broad street, as the building is well fitted
or subcommittee meetings. .n ......
At the State Committee headquarters to- p,
lay, the tabulation of the returns from |
tuesdays election continued. Returns so
ar available show that Mayor Smith
las been elected "a delegate at large
o the national convention. and that the
ontest between Isador SobeI, of Erie and :
oseph Mclaughlin, of Philadelphia for
ourth place on the Congress -at Large ticket I
robably will not be decided until the official
cunt Is made. {
WALLING TO GO ON BALLOT. t
The question of whether the name of
'mery A. Wallng shall be printed on the !
bipartisan ballot at the election next No !
ember, whether the vote cast for him in i
he primaries is smaller greater than v
nat cast for his one opponent, Charles '
almer, of Chester 1t can be said with au- a
lority, has been definitely decided. JUS =
ce Walllng's name will be printed on the +
allot.
The question involved in this case was
early decided in decision by the Dau-
hin County courts last fall, in case which h
lme there for adjudication from Erie '
ouhty u r. hosSlter ana Joseph M C
orce were candidates on the nonpartisan h
cket for nomination for the Erie County n
dgeship last year. Rossiter, in the prm- a
'ies, received 500 more votes than his op- Il
,nent and he brought suit In the Dauphin +
ounty courts to keep Mr. Forces name
7 the ballot at the fall election. The Dau-
lin County courts decided against Rossl-
r and both names were placed on the
lllot A
As the law now stands, 1t would have to n
shown that more than 80 per cent. OF D
e entire number of voters who went to
e polls in Pennsylvania last Tuesday and :
st their ballots for any candidate on any +
,ket voted for Palmer, in order to keep
lstice Walling from place on the ballot
the fall election Under existing condi-
IN this would not be possible.