Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-14
Poe;ticA t~
Pe~~oqGOo~io
By the Ex-Committeeman

pdity III l5lS was last nlgnt packed
up by Mayor Thomas B. Smith, of
Philadelphia, in a statement tele-
phoned from South Carolina. A num-
Der of men prominent in affairs who
are friends of the Governor, like
Congressman w. S. Ware, and a num-
Der of men connected with the State
administration, including some re-
Gently named as Compensation
referees, have strongly commended
the Governors stand. The Governor
has been receiving numerous letters
and kilograms of commendation from
his friends, but the general effect upon
the public has not yet been gagged.
In every county the Governors an
nouncen2ent is taken as a challenge
TO Senator Penrose's leadership. The
Senator continues silent, but the inn
preston is gaining ground that he
will accept the challenge. Pittsburgh
dispatches say he will declare for
4 Roosevelt, Washington having an
nounced that Knox Will not embark
in any presidential matters. In any
event many think that the lines are
being drawn for fight in which the
nominations for Congress- -at-large,
auditor general and State treasurer
and control of the State committee
will be fought for. If delegates are not.
However, there is a lurking hope in
many quarters that a battle may be
avoided.
The newspapers of Philadelphia
with a couple of exceptions, comment
adversely upon the Governors an
nouncement in editorials. The In
quirer and the North American do
not discuss the matter editorially, but
the Evening Bulletin last night as
sailed the Governors announcement
and the Public Ledger to-day attacks
1t with vigor. The Press also deplores
the fight and the Record raps the
| Governor and his advisers. The Pitts
bursh Gazette-Times. owned by
Senator Oliver, is silent editorially, but
says in its news columns that the Gov
ernor has moved and that it is up
! to Penrose to make the next move.
In other words, the Governor has
opened the fight.
The Ledger says editorially:
Fractional strife is not the way to
| Republicans. and Governor Brum-
baush deceives nobody when he rep
resents his present position as one
assumed in response to the para
mount desire of his heart" to bring
about a union of all the Republicans
of Pennsylvania and to aid in pro
ducing harmony and good will in the
national councils of the party" Far
/ from being in his own person of
! presidential stature, Governor Brum-
baugh is being put forward to serve
no other purpose than to intensity
! factional controversy. He has been
selected by adroit and designing par
tisans as the instrument by whom
they hope to bring about the down
| fall of the opposing factional leader"
! The Press sums up the matter this
way: IF there is no other Pennsyl-
vania candidate on the primary bal
/ lot of this State except Governor
hgllRh he q n
receive the votes of the State in the
national convention on the first bal
! lot. This may not be permitted, but
the division and dissenson which this
| issue threatens to create cannot fail
to be a bad thing for the party and
ought to be avoided"
The Democratic Record gives it's
view as follows: There is no evidence
of surprise in any quarter over what
ought to be considered the remark
able inconsistent announcement of
Governor Brumbaugh made public
yesterday. Since 1t became apparent
that the Governor was leaning so
! heavily upon the Ware influences for
his guidance in matters political it
has come to be expected that he
would have to part with company of
/ lengths in an effort to win what has
apparently been in his mind from the
| beginning of his administration"
Mayor Smith in his statement
commendS the letters as Statesman
like papers" and adds / wholly and
heartily approve of their spirit and
sentiment The Governors life has
been one of successful effort for the
public welfare. From information of
political conditions throughout the
State | am satisfied that he is the only
man under whose leadership the Re-
publicans and Progressives can unite,
and thus avoid the disastrous result of
1912. He represents all that is best
/ in American character and citizenship,
and it will be my personal pleasure
and a duty to do all in my power to
support and aid him, to the end that
there shall be a united Republican
party led by one who knows the needs
of the people and has the ability and
courage to be and do the right" The
Ledger raps the Mayor for inconsis-
tency referring to his declaration
against factionalism in December.
The Knox position is set forth in
this dispatch from Washington: Fol
lowing the announcement of Governor
Brumbaugh that he would contest in
the primaries for delegates for the
| Presidential nomination, word reached
Washington tonight that former Sem
ator Philander G. Knox would not per-
nit the use of his name in the fight
| for delegates. Mr.. Knox is said to re-
gard himself solely as n candidate for
Senator and would not care to have
written on ballots his name as being
supported by delegates pledged to
vote for him for the presidential NOM
iination. The announcement of Gov
ernor Brumbaugh was received with
mixed emotions by members of the
Republican delegation who happened
to be in Washington. Close friends of
the Governor said a Statewide cam
paign would be made for delegates
pledged to him as the "favorite son"
candidate. Supporters of Senator
Penrose, learning that former Senator
Knox did not care to have his name
used, said they would use their in
fluence to bring about an uninstructed
delegation. Although Mr.. Knox will
not permit his name to be used, an unA
instructed delegation could present
his name to the convention if an op-
portunity presented itself for the
naming of a dark horse
The Gazette-Times says: "In both
the local Penrose and Brumbaugh
camps yesterday the leaders were
waiting to hear what United States
Senator Boies Penrose had to say
about the letter to Governor Martin
G. Brumbaugh announcing his candi-
dacy for the presidency. 1t was gen.
-. IL 4 n