Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-20
PENROSE TO LEAD
FIGHT in PERSON
u. S. Senator Engages Head
quarters at Harrisburg for
Speakership Contest
BOTH SIDES LACK VOTES
Baldwin Claims Much, but Writ
ten Pledges of Support Are
insufficient

Omitted States Senator Boies Penrose will
take personal charge of the fight against tho
8rumbaugh State administration when Il Is
launched In earnest just before tho session
of the Legislature opens January next,
and will personally direct the campaign of
Richard j. Baldwin. OF Delaware County.
tae Penrosc candidate for Speaker.
Pcnroso has engaged headquarters at the
Henate Hotel In Harrisburg, and IN expected
to so 10 the Capitol and assume direction Of
his forces in the factlonRl fight the middle
ef next week.
In spite OF claims by the Baldwin cam
paign managers that the Penrose candidate
Il certain OF at least 110 votes In the Ro-
publican caucus that Will be held on tho
night Of January 1, and tho assertions made
by Republican Organization leaders of both
factions that Cox In facing an uphill fight
fo- tho speakorshlp It has developed that
noither of the leading candidates for Speaker
has sixty votes pledged to him In writing.
Baldwin, according to Republican leaders.
has the personal ASSURANCE OF support from
majority OF the members of tho House, but
the number OF votes pledged him In writing
u far below the necessary eighty-nve to
make him the majority choice Of the Repub-
ucan caucus,
Rebellion has broken loose In Governor
Brumbnugh's camp in Harrisburg as tho
result of tho proposed plan 10 have In
gurance Commissioner ONel and state
m order TO give the Administration nddi-
uonal strength for tho Cox Bpenkership
campaign
II was reported that tho Governor con-
tefnplated the change because the powerful
political machinery of the Highway De-
partment could be used more effectively by
o'NelI than by Black. Tho latter. however.
made II plain, II Is said, that he would
resign rather than permit himself to be
made party to such political trade.
MANY CONFERENCES
Nearly every department OF the Admlns-
eration appeared somewhat demoralized,
and yesterday was filled with conferences
Uncertainty was In the air. The Governor
after Lengthy conference decided that
Black should retain his present post, ac-
eorctng 10 word received from Harrisburg
There were Wild rumors current through
eut the day that other political heads were
shout TO fall In the Cox-Baldwin speaker
ship fight. One more head has fallen in
tho Governors effort TO wipe out ''dlsloyal"
smployes James McKIrdy, OF Pittsburgh,
assistant director OF the Legislative Refer
once Bureau, rendered his resignation yes
ferday. He was asked TO resign n week
ago
one OF the features OF the Cox campaign
sgainst Representative Baldwin, the PEN
rose candidate. is the detailed. Statewide
canvass being made for Cox by Congress-
man-at-large John r. X. Scott. In PEN
rose headquarters the statements were
biuntly made that Scott was utilizing the
present occasion 10 develop his guberna-
torlai boom. with the special object OF win
ming Progressives, returned to the party,
20 his side for the fight that will mark tho
Eext state-wlde primaries.
GOVERNOR DENIES RUMoRs
Rumors OF other decapitatlons were nu-
fnerous. but the Governor took no public
action along that line, He declared, on the
other hand. there was no truth In the story
printed at Pittsburgh to tho effect that he
contemplated making changes In the heads
of the State Health Department and the
Department OF the Secretary OF the Com
monwealth.
The Governor refused to discuss the pos
slbie removal OF Banking Commissioner
Smith and Chief OF Mines RoderlcS
Mr.. Cox after comforting with the Gov.
ernor Attorney General Brown and Public
darvice Commissioner Magee left last night
for Pittsburgh from which point he win
VISIT several counties with Congressman
John n X. Scott Mr. Magee believes
the majority OF the Allegheny delegation
Kill be for Cox.