Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-14
DEMOCRATS OF STATE
DISCUSS 'SLUSH FUND
AND THE TARIFF TODAY
Finances of Party and Cam
paign Plans to Be Thrashed
Out by Leaders at Harris
burg
ARNOLD MAY WITHDRAW

EAAhItAEnAANHt CepN AHf-T~Auo pNNtANW
of raising an adequate campaign ''slush"
fund and the advisabilty Of recognizing the
tarfn Issue a paramount issue In the
campaien will be threshed out by the Demo-
cratic leaders OF Pennsylvania at meetings
10 be held here today as the formal OPEN
Ing Of the Democratic presidential campaign
IN Pennsylvanla.
Former Congressman A. Mitchell Palmer.
Democratic national committeeman from
fcnnsylvania. and Acting State Chairman
Joseph p. Guffey. after having levied as
scssments upon the Democratic postmasters
OF the State. who conveniently held their
annual session here yesterday discussed the
nnances OF the Democratic campaign until
a late hour last night. ana Will continue
their efforts TO raise large campaign fund
at further conferences today.
The possible recognition Of the tariff
issue " scheduled for late today. when
the executive committee OF the state COM
mittee meets to determine whether or not
former Congressman NJ. Clyde Kelly, an
ardent Roosevelt Progressive and a staunch
friend OF the protective tariff. shall be sub
stituted on the State ticket in the place OF
g. II. Arnold. OF East Pittsburgh. as the
Democratic nominee for Congressman in
the Thirtieth District.
The decision as to whether Kelly will
be placed on the Democratic ticket or not
apparently Is up TO Guffey, and the acting
State chairman is at his wits end today
In making his decision.
WITHDRAWAL PAPERS READY
Arnold has his withdrawal papers all
ready to file, and has placed them In the
hands OF Postmaster Jacob d. Born. Of Will
merding. He is so confident that Kelly who
is an intimate friend OF his. will be placed
on the ticket In his place that he has order
ed Born 10 file his withdrawal today. Born
and Postmaster W. c. Harvey. of East
Pittsburgh. are handling Arnold's maneuvers
for Kelly. and this morning expressed con-
ndence that they will force the substitution
OF Kelly for Arnold when the executive COM
uittee meets late this afternoon.
Kelly. who defeated Congressman Dalzell
IN what was then regarded the foremos
tariff stronghold in the country four years
ago. was defeated two years ago by Will
liam H. Coleman. Kelly ran again this
year. but Coleman captured the Republi-
can nomination. Kelly however. won the
Washington party. Prohibition and Roose-
welt Progressive nominations. He has in
formed Arnold, Born and Harvey that he
will have the financial support of the Pro-
hibitionists. and the railroad employees or
ganizations in his district have informed
Guffey that IL the Democrats indorse him
and place him on their ticket in the place
OF his friend Arnold, they will work for the
reelection OF President Wilson and for the
whole Democratic ticket
Kelly himself however. has informed his
friends among the Democrats that he will
not declare for Wilson but will throw the
strength of his powerful organization in his
district TO the support of the Democratic
State ticket IL the Democrats place him on
their ticket. His reason for exempting Will
son. according to Kelly himself. is the finan-
ciai support he hopes TO receive from the
Prohibitlonsts.
The executive committee will meet at 6
o'clock this evening TO act upon this. The
committee is composed of the following:
Chairman Joseph r. Guffey, Pittsburgh I;
Charles p. Donnelly, Philadelphia; Charles
y. McAvoy. Norristown Harry b. Sher-
wood. Meshoppen: A. o. Hartman.
Lebanon; Parker r. skinner Chambers
burg; E. B. Zimmerman. shamokin; Asher
r.. Johnson Bradford Charles +. Uhl
Somerset; James b. McJunkin, Butler and
w. Wayne Hindman. Clarion.
The assessment of the postmasters of the
State and the fact that Vance c. McCor-
mick. Democratic national chairman. passed
through Harrisburg on the fastest train last
night were the two startling events preced-
ing the formal opening OF the Democratic
campaign.
AMOUNT LEVIED SECRET
The amount OF the assessment that was
levied is being closely guarded by the Demo-
cratic leaders. They did not hide the fact
however, that the Democratic postmasters
who held their annual gathering here yes
terday. were called together on the eve or
today's meeting OF the county chairmen and
members OF the State committee and the
notification meeting for the state candi-
dates for the sole purpose Of levying against
the yearly salaries they are drawing
through the grace Of the Wilson Admins
fration and the Palmer Mccormick machine
in Pennsylvania.
Palmer, Guney and Fourth Assistant
Postmaster James !. Blakeslee attended the
afternoon session of the postmasters, and
also spoke at the postmasters' banquet last
night.
As result OF their visits to their ap-
< pointees, they feel encouraged 10 make the
prediction early today that the opening of
the Democratic campaign will be enthusi-
astic.
II is being said today that perhaps their
Judgment OF the enthusiasm is based upon
the fact that Palmer Guffey and Blakesee
were loudly cheered by the postmasters
every time their names were mentioned
yesterday.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
After the banquet last night the post
masters walkedfin the Democratic state
headquarters on Market square and paid
their assessments behind closed doors.
The entire problem OF financing the Demo-
cratic campaign In Pennsylvania has the
Democratic leaders worried. Their cam
paign fund Is small according TO he
leaders. and It has been suggested. at least
at this gathering. that every Federal offlce-
holder In Pennsylvania will be assessed as
heavily as possible TO help defray expenses
II d expected that between 1000 ana 1900
prominent Democrats from all parts OF the
state will attend today's meeting Every
county chairman viii be present, for the
frst time In the history OF the Democratic
party In the State. and also every member
81 the State committee. In addition 70
these men. prominent Democrats from many
nearby counties are here, together with the
State candidates. Joseph T. Kinsley. OF
Philadelphia. candidate for Congresaman-
et-lsrEes Il the only State candidate who IL
absent He IL In Florida.
CANDIDATES TO ATTEND
The State candidates who win attend the
no(incafion meeting this afternoon are:
HIi<s l., orvis. Beliefonte. candidate for
: limited states senator: James b. Marrin.
rnrbcndsle. Auditor General: James NJ
4<amsf. 4ounsswood. stats Treasurer. aud
IQ&u J. Moore. Plymouth. Thomas Ross.
N1ylestown. and Jacob B. Waidslich, AL
/1n<own. ongressmen-at-LarRe.
Tho county chalrmen win hold an en-
111<i<o meeting starting At II o'clock this
1ofnInE. General plans for financing and
I. - -. a..