Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-05
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BY the Ex-Committeeman

Representative Edwin r. Cox, the
South Philadelphia member who is
backed by the State administration
forces for the Republican caucus
nomination for the speakership of the
next House, was here last night for
several hours consultation with At
torney General Brown and other men
interested in his campaign and re-
turned TO Philadelphia to see other
leaders to-day. Mr.. Cox came to town
quietly, conferred quietly and departed
quietly. He made no statement and
except for the usual announcement
that Cox was going to win the head
quarters of his boom gave out nothing
about his visit here.
1t was intimated that Mr.. Cox came
here to o'ameet some members from
upstate and some labor leaders, but
they either missed connections or
something happened. He was an
nounced as about to begin a tour of
the state, but according to what Paul
n. Furman said to-day he had gone
back to Philadelphia.
While Mr.. Cox was here Senator
Penrose at Washington was announc-
ing that he felt absolutely confident
that Representative Richard j. Bald
win would be the caucus nominee. Mr..
Baldwin has the same opinion.
The belief is that the admins
tration forces are commencing to think
that the only way to stiffen their fight
is to commit the Governor to a policy
of using patronage and of dropping
men from the State service whose
home members do not go along. Sew
eral of the more vigorous members of
the administration have favored this
plan all along, but the Governor is said
to fear the effect of such q policy on
confirmation of some of his appoint
ments.
Governor Brumbaugh will sit in
at a high council of war at Philadel-
phia the latter part of the week, when
it is predicted things will begin to
move.
The Cox boom was helped along by
a clarion blast from Insurance Com
missioner ]. Denny O'Neil at Philadel-
phia last night. He said: TT is not a
contest between two men. 1t is a
battle between right and wrong. 1t is
a fight between corporate greed, cor
rupt politics and all the allied selfish
interests against human rights and
the common people. / appeal to every
man in the state who loves his home
and wants to give his boys and girls a
chance to grow up in a clean, decent
state to line up in the fight, to get busy
and see their members and ask them
to vote for Representative Cox"
Notwithstanding the North Ameri-
cans claim that Mayor Smith, of
Philadelphia, is lined up with the State
administration In the speakership
fight, the Philadelphia Record to-day
says: Just before he left the city yes
terday for a week s hunting trip in
Pike county Mayor Smith again dis
claimed any interest in the bitter con-
test between the Penrose- -McNichol
and the -Brumbaugh forces over
the election of a Speaker of the House.
Despite his persistent protestations of
neutrality little credence is attached by
politicians to the Mayors announce
ment. as it is generally believed that
he has declared his readiness to "go
the limit for Representative Edwin
r. Cox, the Vare- Brum baugh candi-
date for Speaker. 4 have made no an
pouncement whatever concerning the
speakership, the Mayor is quoted as
having said. I am not paying atten-
tion to 1t, and do not intend to mix in
the fight at air."
The Philadelphia Press, which is
strongly booming Cox for Speake er,
claims that he has enough in sight to
win. The North American opens an
attack on Baldwin because of his atti-
tude on some cold storage legislation
The Scranton papers seem to think
that Baldwin has the better of the
chances.
Congressman Barchfeld has start
ed fight to hold his seat in Congress.
The courts will settle 1t.
Congressman Butler turned up
with plurality of 12,777.
State administration leaders claim
three legislators in Lackawanna. The
other side say the best they can get is
two.
Chester will Guild a $250,000 city
hall.
Mayor Jones. of Coatesville, has
started to fight the contest to unseat
him. He says that he can win.
Lancaster city officials for the next
two years, elected last evening by
council, are all Republicans, as only
four of the thirty-six select and COM
mon councilmen are Democrats. The
principal offices filled are: Controller,
]. II. Rathfon; fire chief, William
Johnson; water superintendent, Charles
K. VIII; street commissioner, Chester