Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-13
Poeitc4 i~
Pe~~oqeOo~ia
BY the Ex-Committeeman

political battle as a result of Cover
nor Brumbaugh's announcement last
night that he will permit the use of
his name in the Republican presiden-
tial preference primary. The an
nouncement is regarded by news
papers to-day as a challenge to the
leadership of Senator Boies Penrose
and attention is called by more than
one paper to the fact that the Gov
ernor made his announcement in reply
| to request from Henry G. Wasson,
Republican national committeeman
from Pennsylvania, a bitter opponent
of Senator PenroSe. The newspapers
appear to think that the Governor is
eager enough for reunited party in
Pennsylvania to fight for that object
and that those whom he criticises for
events of four years ago will not be
slow to face him on the issue.
The Philadelphia North Amer
lean seems to hail the prospects of a
disturbance in the Republican party.
/ The Philadelphia Press indicates that
it looks for further developments. The
Philadelphia Ledger says: "Pennsyl-
vania will be a great political battle
ground, on which Senator Penrose will
| face the supreme test of the strength
of his organization. The Senator, with
all the resources at his command, will
contest with the Governor at all
points. In this factional strife the
Governor will be backed by the Vare-
Smith combination in Philadelphia,
and their allies and the administra-
ton forces in the State. Senator Pen
rose counts on the interior counties,
as well as on his alliance with Senator
McNichol and with Mayor Armstrong,
of Pittsburgh. a deciding factor
probably will be the vote of Progress
sives returned to the Republican
party
The Philadelphia Inquirer does
not comment editorially and says in
| its news story: "It was pointed out
last night by admirers of Philander
Chase Knox, who have been hopeful
that he would be made the choice of
Pennsylvania for the Presidency, that
the Governor thus indicates his will
ingness to withdraw only for someone
from "a sister State" There was not
word of comment to be had from
Senator Penrose upon the Governor S
letter 1t is likely, however, that the
senior Senator will be heard from
later in the week. He expects to re-
main in this city until next Thurs
day, when he leaves for Pittsburgh,
where he will confer with leaders of
Western counties. Senator McNichol,
too, was silent. Senator Ware is with
Mayor Smith in the South. Congress-
man Ware preferred to wait until the
Governors letter shall appear "in
print" before making formal COM
ment, he remarked, however: EVERY
body knows my personal regard and
admiration for Governor Brumbaugh.
1t is unnecessary for me TO say any
thing upon that score "
The Pittsburgh viewpoint is as fol-
lows in the Pittsburgh Dispatch: In
a tentative announcement of his own
candidacy for the Republican nomi-
nation for the presidency, Governor
Martin @. Brumbaugh yesterday chal-
| lenged the State leadership of Senator
Boies Penrose. In effect it is the long
expected statement intended TO open
the fight for control of the Republican
! forces in the Commonwealth and the
delegation to the national convention"
The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times says:
The statement of the Governor, to-
gether with the Wasson letter on which
it is based, looks like challenge to
United States Senator Boies Penrose
TO fight to determine who shall go to
the Chicago national Republican con-
vention as the Republican leader of
Pennsylvania. For the last four
months there have been reports of an
intended battle in Pennsylvania be-
tween the Penrose and the Brum-
baugh-Vare forces. 1t was generally
conceded that it was UP to the Gov
I'ernor to start the fight and his an
nouncement generally will be taken to
mean that his hat is in the ring"
The Pittsburgh Post points out an
interesting point as follows: AT the
same time the Governor made 1t plain
that if another candidate was to be
named, he desired him to be selected
-t, Al,v Ta,, 10,
This is regarded here as direct slap
at enator p. c. Knox. For some time
Senator Knox has been considered the
most logical candidate for the Repub-
lican presidential nomination, but Gov
ernor Brumbaugh, in his letter, wishes
il to be understood that no man from
this state, except himself, will re-
ceive his support. The Governor is
playing for the support of the Wash
ington party vote. His letter is a reply
to Henry G.. Wasson, n staunch Wash
ington party man. The Governor and
Wasson have had a number of con-
ferences during the past few weeks
and it is understood that these letters
were arranged with a view of captur-
ing the Washington party support"
The Democratic viewpoint is given
by the Philadelphia Record in a long
article, in the course of which it says:
Thus with his hat in the ring the
Governor offers himself as the pivot
around which the factions seeking
State leadership and control of the
Republican organization will whirl, in
what Is expected to be an extremely
bitter contest. The Governors for
ward coming is accepted as clearly in
dicating the trend of battle which has
for it's purpose the overthrow of the
Penrose- -McNichol forces and the fur
ther elevation of the Wares, by com.
bining the anti-Penrose forces among
the regulars with the Progressive ele
, ment. And in the background it i!
intimated that the Governor may serve
TO corral the Pennsylvania delegation
, and in the role of an alternate turn i
over to Theodore Roosevelt or somt
other nominee acceptable to the Pro
gressiVes."
! AS to effect on the State fight thu
Ledger says: Now that the lines havt
; been clearly drawn between the oppos
ing factions, Vare-Brumbaugh Leaders
will confer. with the object of makini
up a straight Brumbaugh ticket. Like
wise Senator Penrose's lieutenants will
make up their own ticket. EX-Speake
, Alter was only one on the origina
Brumbaugh or harmony list to whom
Senator Penrose particularly objected
on his ticket. it is intimated, the sen
! ator will substitute the name of e. V
Babcock, of Pittsburgh. who Withdrew
from the senatorial field in the in
terest of Mr.. Knox. Another who will
appear on the Penrose ticket will b,