Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-19
GOVERNOR WON'T
TALK OF CHANGES
Silent on Reported Resigna-
tions; Baldwin and Cox
Both Confident

thisafternoon refused to discuss re-
ports that he contemplated making
changes in the State governmental
officials or the reports that the resig-
nations of certain officials much in the
rumors fthe day would be asked
II know nothing about them. l am
not responsible for all the stories that
are going about?"
What are you going to do about
dismissals ?" was then asked.
Il will use the power the people have
given me for the best interests of the
people. If l make changes it will be
on that principle. l will not remove
any man who is loyal or efficient. l
have been studying the problems here
for two years and have my own opin-
ions and will take up the cases one
| by one" was the Governors COM
| ment.
t There were rumors that Insurance
! Commissioner O'Neil and Highway
| Commissioner Black would change
| places. but nothing on which to base
| the report could be found to-day. 1t
was much discussed especially after
| Mr.. Black had talked with the Cover
| nor, but was generally regarded as un-
! likely. The Governor refused point
/ blank to discuss it as even Il possi-
! bility. He also refused to talk about
/ Banking Commissioner Smith or Chief
of Mines Roderick.
Removals are not a popular topic
| at the executive department as the
/ Government is not inclined to take
/ harsh measures, but is being urged to
! do so to help the Cox boom. No man
| VIII be sure he is going until he gets
a letter. Mr.. Smith is expected to-
day or tomorrow and will be asked to
retire.
After seeing various mem mbers-elect
to-day the Governor said: II am con-
! WINGED that MIR. Cox will be elected
and that the statements of the other
side are without foundation"
Rivals in the City
Mr.. Cox was in town and appeared
! to be very confident, too.
Very confident expressions were also
made by Representative Richard j.
Baldwin at his headquarters in the
commonwealth hotel Mr.. Baldwin
came to town last night and promptly
claimed ITO men with more in pros
pect. This afternoon he said that he
had been pledged some additional
votes and that he looked for more.
Congressman-e Z. w. Templeton.
of Luzerne, was with him and he said
he expected Auditor General-elect
Snyder and State Treasurer elect KEEP
! hart here later in the week to help.
Senator-eleCt T. Larry Eyre will also
be here in a day or so.
EX-lnsurance Commissioner Charles
johnson, serene and confident, visited
| the Baldwin headquarters and said
that the man from Delaware was
I sure winner, evoking the remark from
I a bystander, johnson don't go wrong
on speakers.
Mr.. Baldwin expects to he here all
week and to meet the members as
they come in. His friends say he
| has received word that number who
have been wired for ythe Governor
will also see him.
Governors Callers
The Governors callers were Repre-
senatives ID. W. Thomas, Luzerne, who
told the Governor he was for Baldwin;
ID. j. Snyder, Westmoreland; A. d.
Miller, Susquehanna, and Lex n.
Mitchell, Jefferson, the latter three be-
ing for Cox. Mr. Mitchell was very
strong about Cox and his statement is
significant as he is a pastgrand Bull
Mooser.
Mitchell Talks
Mr.. Mitchell said, The real issue
involved in the present contest for
speaker is not alone local option, nor
is il one of factional control, but rath-
er whether or not the progressive leg
islation which was placed on the
sttute books of Pennsylvania during
the last two sessions of the Central
Assembly for the relief of men, wom-
en- and children engaged in industry
and for the free expression of the
popular WILL shall remain and not be
mutilated or destroyed.
Speaking from the standpoint of
a former member of the Progressive
party familiar with the feelings and
aspirations of the Progressive element
~ nr-fx iY,n .
element, l am convinced that the cleo
ton of any man as speaker. who has
record of opposition to the human
itarian legislation placed on the statue
books of Pennsylvania during the past
four years, will be bitterly resented by
the rank and file of the Republican
party and the people in general. 1t
would spell defeat for the Republican
party in the Keystone state, and pos
sibly in the nation.
The recent election again demon
strated the independence of the voter
mad that he will no longer blindly
| follow. 1t is not a question of what
his party has done. but what it is
doing and going to do
Magee Meets Governor
After the legislators had gone Attor-
ney General Brown. Commissioner
O'Neil and Commissioner Magee, had
conference with the Governor at
WHICH IL lS lIlllIlldltu lIldl llic bONeT-
nor had decided not to do any chang
ing about the Highway department but
to request it's head to help where he
could.
Mr.. Magee is just here from Allie
Rheny county and said that it looked
like a majority of that county's dele
cation was for Cox.
A. Nevin DIETRICH, of Chambersburg,
was about the Capitol. but seemed to
be more interested in asking who
would be named to succeed County
Treasurer Frank Skinner, of Franklin
county, who died few days ago, than
in the reports that he might succeed
A. Nevin Pomeroy
McIkirdy Resigned?
1t is understood that James Nc
Kirby, assistant director of the legis-
lative reference bureau, rendered his
resignation to-day. There is much
guessing over his successor. c.. w.
Wacker, Philadelphia, and John II.
Fertig, Pottsville, are being doomed
for the place.
In the midst of it all ]. Banks KurtZ.
the Altoona lawyer who could have
been Public Service Commissioner if
he had wanted to, dropped in TO see
the Governor for just a plain friendly
call and enjoyed chats with the many
friends he found about the depart
ments.
DISSOLUTION OF PENSION