Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-23
PoeHicA IT.
Pe~~e4e0o~ia
BY the Ex-Committeeman

Senator William G. Sproul, of Della
ware, last night declared that he did
not mean his speech of the night be-
fore in Leiperville to be considered
as an announcement of candidacy for
Governor in 1918 and about the same
time National Committeeman A.
Mitchell Palmer, the Democratic
leader of tie State, who had been in
dustriously booming Vance G. Nc
Cormick for another try two years
hence, said that he thought McCor-
mick would be a good candidate if he
would accept.
Senator Sprouts declaration and
the Palmer expression of doubt
whether Mccormick would care to en-
bark in another campaign ended a
good bit of the talk about guberna-
torial sidelights for a day or so. How
ever, everyone realizes that the speak
ership contest will have q tremendous
bearing upon the selection of the sue
cessor to Governor Brumbaugh.
II have explained my attitude on
the goVernorship many times. No man
can be insensible to the greatest honor
in the Commonwealth. AS l have said
before, l would rather be the State
Senator from Delaware county, and
have the good will and confidence of
my home folks, than be Governor"
said Senator Sproul. IF ever L am
Governor" Senator Sproul went on,
'and / would like to be, to please my
own folks here, will be regular
Republican Governor. If a regular
Republican Governor is not good
enough to win the confidence of the
Republicans of this county, then 1 am
not good enough to be your Cover
nor"
1t is interesting to note that Pal
l'r1An SfNrsn npn q
friends, college mates and have q
warm regard for each other. Palmer
has been mentioned as the most avail
able timber for Governor, but he is
swinging to Mccormick, who is able
to pay the bills, is ambitious and who
is said to desire to be Governor more
than ever because of the way things
have been going on Capitol HILL
There are a dozen men talked of
for the Republican nomination for
Governor and some of them have been
listening, while others have been at
tending to their business and declin-
ing to get mixed up in every fight. A
better time for booms will be next
Christmas. Incidentally, the Demo-
Gratis may have so much on their
shoulders by that time that Palmer
will need q searchlight to find a man
willing to be sacrificed.
announcement of the candidacy
of Representative Wilson G.. Sarig,
the squire from Temple, for tie
Democratic nomination for speaker,
means that the Democrats will stick
together. Sarig is a member of the
ringmasters committee and any mem
ber not voting for him need not come
around when loaves and fishes are
due from Washington. Sarig won
fame in the last session by some pro-
found thinking on legislation although
he understood his speeches better than
those wEo heard them.
Democratic bosses had their
heads together yesterday and decided
to have the ringmasters meet here
next week.
The Philadelphia Ledger and the
| Pittsburgh Dispatch are declaring for
an end of the present factional fight
ing or thorough investigation. The
Dispatch, which is favorable to the
| Governor, expresses disgust with the
present situation.
Philadelphia members of the House
will be called together for the purpose
! of caucusing on a candidate for the
| speakership early next week, probably
on Wednesday. OF the forty-one men,
| bers of the House from Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Press says There
is practically no differences of opin-
ion that the candidacy of Edwin r..
Cox is favored by "a and Richard j.
Baldwin by Ia members. Whether
under these conditions the Baldwin
supporters will attend the meeting is
| questionable. 1t Is not believed, how
ever. that they will appear, for recent
| ly Senator Penrose, who is leading the
Baldwin campaign, expressed the
! opinion that there would be only one
Republican caucus, that at Harrisburg
on Monday night, January !, and that,
while there was nothing to prevent
meetings of the Philadelphia legisla-
tors. their action would have no eff
| feet"
| Senator Penrose announced his pur-
pose yesterday of coming here in the
closing days of the speakership cam
paign to work in the interest of Bald
win. He will leave Philadelphia next
Saturday and will remain here until
the caucus ends Monday.
Judge whitehead has refused to
| order the ballot box of the Third ward