Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-10
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Refusal of the State county commits
sioners convention to go on record as
opposing the present system OF pri-
mary election laws, the personal regis
tration in third class cities and other
features of the election statutes OF
Pennsylvania ut yesterdays meeting
OF The Meadville convention was the
talk of Capitol Hill to-day. The dis
satisfaction with the operation of the
primary, registration and other laws
has been so general that the attitude
OF the county commissioners is not
understood.
One reason advanced for the oppo-
sition manifested TO the effort of
Messrs. Ritter. of Lycoming, and
Chidsey, OF Northampton to have the
convention adopt a resolution con-
demning the system was that the COM
miSsioners had suffered so much with
the present system that they felt they
could endure it a while longer and
dreaded a change which might Be
worse.
The State administration is giving
careful consideration to the whole
election law system. Attorney Gen
eral Brown is having the laws ap-
p!lcable TO the voting of troops in
Federal service looked uD and is
digesting some suggestions for changes
IN laws which may be submitted to the
Legislature. Governor Brumbaugh has
noted several times difficulties under
the present system and the long delays
which ensued in finding out results of
the May primaries are fresh in the
minds Of many people.
Owing TO the numerous sugges- /
tions for planks in the Republican
State platform for this Falls cam
paign, il is likely that the document
will be short ard sweet. Suggestions |
for 1'as =
are numerous and varied and some can |
be clasSed as weird. The chances are
that the platform, which will be draft I
ed by committee 10 be named by the
state chairman soon, will be much TO
the point. The time and place for the
meeting of the State committee will be 1
fixed before long.
The State administration leaders
are feeling out how the members of
the State committee feel in regard TO
the Governor in order TO determine
whether TO submit q resolution endors-
ing his course OF whether TO get tacit
approval by resolution on q legis-
lative program. The Governor has a
legislative program in mind, but the
question is whether II will be eNpedient
TO submit il. II is possible that the
Governors scouts may find that the
sentiment OF the State committee will
be for discussion of national issues
rather than State and will leave the
treatment OF the Governor 10 the COM
mittee without suggestion.
The course of the administration
has not been such as to arouse much
enthusiasm among Penrose and Oliver
men who control the committee.
-ConEressman John r. K. Scott, of
Philadelphia, who is a candidate for
reelection and the only one of the
administration candidates for Congress
- -
an appeal for forgetting of factional
differences. Mr.. Scott is generally be-
lieved to have a boom for Governor
lurking about him. He is close to the
State administration and his appeal
modestly says that he will take an
active part in directing" the Hughes
campaign in this State. Mr.. Scott's
interview comes out under the heading
Of Pennsylvania Hughes Campaign.
No. J. and says in closing: 1T is high
time we were getting our coats of and
casting all factional dissensions aside
to start the ball OF enthusiasm rolling"
Mr.. Scott appeal is regarded by some
as slam at the State committee. in
which his friends will be in the mi
nority. and by others as a bid for rec
onition as the close friend of Hughes
The belief is that some OF the men
who are now IN power in the State
organization Will make a tremendous
noise this year to show that they are
close to the candidate. State commit
tee plans are TO start the campaign at
the usual time aro in the usual way
The old bail bond scandal is be-
ing brought out again in the probe of
Philadelphia vice by the grand Jury
and some familiar statements about
police connivance are being made
The investigation appears 10 be turn
ing up about what has been found
before.
Senator Penrose in a statement
regarding his vote on the Federal child
labor bill took the position that il is a
matter for the States to regulate. He
says that, properly considered, the
legislation does not belong to what
Congress should enact. The Senator
said: Il am one of those who believe
that something ought to be left to the
sovereign States and that not every
detail Of law making should be consid- ]
cred BY Congress. The. country is too
large, and is constantly growing to be
successfully governed by the central
power in Washington. President VII
son in one OF his books declared
aRainst desirabIlity of congressional
legislation on this subject. II is not to
be supposed that I am opposed to the
regulation OF child labor or legislation
TO better the conditions and the hours
Of labor. I was opposed to this legfs-
lation because II was not in harmony
with child labor legislation recently
enacted in Pennsylvania. Under this
law. because Of the introduction OF an
eight-hour day in the anthracite coal
region. boys of Il years Of age NAV be
employed about the coal mines. Under
the Federal bill as it passed the Senate
no boy can work about the collieries
If he is under 16 years of age. This
[ bill. therefore. IS more restrictive than
( the Pennsylvania law. This conflict of
/ policies and provisions is sufficient ar
gument TO me that 1t is not desirable
/ for Congress to be interfering with all
these matters OF State concern regard
/ less of whether technically the consti-
tutional right to do so exists or does
not exist"
Senator Oliver, in explanation of
| his vote on the bill said: "I voted
against the bill because of the consti-
tutional question purely. II clearly is
unconstitutional 1 am satisfied that
many of the Senator'S who voted for il
are convinced it is unconstitutional" :"
William P. siegert, a real estate
expert, well known here. has been ap-