Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-28
PoeHica I"
Pe~~oqeoa%ia
By the Ex-Committeeman

Backers of Representative Edwin
r. Cox for the Republican nomination
for the speakership of the next House
dent in the strength of Representative
Richard J. Baldwin, tie rival candi-
date for the gavel. in the Philadelphia
delegation yesterday but they did sue
ceed in preventing a caucus being
held by the Allegheny county delega-
ton and they have managed to keep
their opponents guessing as to what
they are doing in Luzerne and Lacka-
wanna. 1t seems to be the policy of
the Cox boomers, under the adroit
leadership of Congressman John r.
X. Scott to keep something stirring
all the time and the complacency of
the Baldwin men has been more than
once disturbed, although friends of
Cox are frankly disappointed that
more active measures have not been
taken by Governor Brumbaugh to get
votes for him.
Opinions appear to differ in the
morning newspapers about what hap
pened at Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
The Philadelphia Press says Cox won
in the caucus and the North Ameri-
can, which also supports Cox, says
the Penrose-M McNichol men bolted,
while the Ledger says that Ware was
foiled in an attempt to bind the Bald
win men under the unit rule and the
Philadelphia Record, Democratic, says
that Cox made no gains. The Inquirer
says that the result was that Cox had
twenty-four votes and Baldwin seven
teen after all the maneuvering and
that the effort to sew up" the dele
cation failed.
The Record carefully analyzes the
meeting, which it says was very bit
ter. and remarks that there was no
party rule to bind the members. The
Penrose- -McNichol men refused to vote
because the chairman, Representative
T. +. McNichol, a Ware man. held that
If they participated they would have
to be bound. Senator Penrose hailed
the result as a victory.
While the Cox forces are claim
ing victory in the Allegheny situa-
ton the facts show an inter sting
situation. In spite of all the talk by
administration men the job given to
Public Service Commissioner Magee
was to prevent a caucus being held
and it happened that it fitted in very
we'll with the plans of the other side
The. dispatches about the Baldwin men
weakening" are declared without
foundation. Mr.. Magee claims Ia of
is counting men who are for Williams
for Cox. The Baldwin managers in
the western part of the State say that
the Allegheny delegation will show a
majority for Baldwin, which is, of
course. hotly disputed by Commis-
sioners Magee and O'Neil.
Representative Cox returned late
last night from Philadelphia and i'm
mediately went into conference with
his hackers, refusing to make any
statement, while the Baldwin men
made much of the fact that their
original claim of seventeen for the
Delaware man held good
The firing of shrapnel last night
was entirely by the Cox forces. In
surance Commissioner O'Neil gave out
statement full of 'star shells' to
show up Baldwin's record and S. r.
Tarner, Pittsburgh railroad man.
induIged in some hot shot, his state
ment being the warmest yet given ont
MIR. Baldwin merely smiled dur
ing the evening refusing to return the
fire.
Another contributor to the litera- :
ture of the contest was Representa-
tive G. E. Cook, of York, who is
claimed by the Baldwin men to have
given pledge to be for the Delaware
man but who last night declared he
would stand by Cox. Mr.. Cook has
five or six State office holders i'm his
district and has been very solicitous
about them.
To-day was the birthday of ex-
Governor Edwin S. Stuart and a num-
ber of his friends here sent him con-
gratulations.
Boyd Brumm of Monessen. has
been selected as Westmoreland coun-
ty mercantile appraiser.
Jesse L. Jones of West Chester,