Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-16
Peeitca t~
Pe~~o4eOo"to
BY the Ex-Committeeman

A blast of criticism, accusations of
forgetting efficiency in the maze of
politics and threats to hold up confir-
mation of State officials and to in
vestigation of expenditures from con-
tingent funds of departments of the
State governmenthave been the answer
of the Penrose forces to the action of
Governor Brumbaugh in asking for
the resignation of A. Nevin Pomeroy,
superintendent of public printing and
binding, as an earnest of his interest
in Edwin r. CoX's contest for speaker.
The Governor has stood his ground
and indications are that there will be
bitter contest which will go into the
Legislature.
The Cox boom was carried across
the State by Mr.. Cox and Congress-
man John r. *. Scott, who issued
statements of the most glowing char
acter and declared that it was easy"
win would win in walk, while
it was also given out by Penrose men
that George w. Williams of Tioga
would have more upstate votes than
Cox. 1t will be recalled that when
John r. X. Scott tried to defeat
George e. Alter for speaker he did
not get much outside of Philadelphia.
Representative A. B. Hess, of Lanca5-
ter, might enter the race, while the ad-
ministration is keeping blankets on
Charles Walter, of Franklin. Joe
Phillips, of Clearfield, is canterinS
around real anxious to show his run
ming capacities.
The Philadelphia Inquirer to-day
contains this article: Il am assured
of many more votes than majority in
the Republican caucus" was a conf
dent declaration made last evening by
Richard J. Baldwin, of Delaware coun-
ty, the Penrose favorite for speaker of
the House of Representatives. Mr..
Baldwin had just left James f. Wood
ward, of McKeesport, chairman of the
Allegheny county delegation, who met
many well known Republicans here
yesterday. i am personally favorable
to the election of Mr.. Baldwin as
speaker said Mr.. Woodward. "Af-
ter l was elected chairman of our dele
CATION l said l would support the can
didate for speaker who would have
the backing of q majority of the dele
cation from our county. When l left
home a majority of our members
| were favorable to Mr.. Baldwin. / do
not know what influence the activities
of Governor Brumbaugh since that
| time have had upon some of our men,
bers. 1 am familiar with Mr.. Bald
wins record and believe he would
make q capable speaker. Our delega-
ton will meet again probably before
we go to Harrisburg"
The Philadelphia Record says
about Williams: "If Williams adheres
to his reported decision to continue in
| the fight his candidacy is expected to
weaken the Cox cause considerably.
Politicians declare that there is no
doubt but what the Tioga legislator
will corral many of the local option
votes in the House, and 1t is this
strength, combined with the votes con-
trolled by the Wares in Philadelphia
and those controlled by the Finn Ma
gee forces in Allegheny county
which are counted on to
put Cox over. Every local option vote
pledged to Williams is considered u
direct loss to the Cox boom.
Concerning the signs of war as a
result of the dismissal of Brumbaugh
the Philadelphia Ledger says: "One
of the principal points to be taken up
by Senator Penrose, on his assumption
that Baldwin will be chosen speaker,
is the number and scope of the legis-
lative inquiries to be made into the ac-
tivities of the Brumbaugh administra-
ton. The Penrose element hopes by
means of these Investigations to sup
ply itself with material for the pri-
mary campaign when the next Repub-
lican candidate for Governor is to be
nominated. 1t was officially announced
yesterday that the Penrose plan is to
inquire into Just how much good roads
work the Governor has done; how
much money has been spent in other
directions, and generally to Investigate
charges of extravfA ance and salary
raising" Ware leaders promptly char
acterized such talk as hot air meant
to encourage the Baldwin men,"
The Philadelphia North American
to-day prints an extended article to
the effect that a big fight to make
| Senator Penrose the undisputed State
leader has been launched. Thus far
the North American has been dis
tinctly favorable to the Vare-B Brum-
baugh- Magee alliance and its article
states that a vigorous bombardment
of the Governor is to be started. 1t
also says that "the record of the State
Administration from Its inception is to
be gone over" and that men are ex-
amining into accounts and records