Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-05
WITTTG RESIGNS CITY
COMMITTEE CLERKSHIP
AS WARES GET CONTROL
Voluntary Action of McNichol
Man Follows His Service of
More Than 25
Years
FINLEY MAY GET PLACE

Harry wittig. chief clerk of the Repub-
lican City Committee for 10 years. off,
cially connected with the committee for
more than 25 years and known in political
circles as the master Of detail" OF the Re-
publican Organization. will retire on We'd
nesday. when the city Committee meets TO
organize.
His action, which will be voluntary will
come as direct result Of the complete
Ware control OF the City Committee. which
viii be made certain tonight when various
ward committees meet to elect their City
Committeeman. The appointment Of Mr.
Wittig, a McNichol man. would not be OPP
posed by the Wares, II Is understood. on &C.
count of his long service but he will retire
OF his own accord. for he would find him
self in the unpleasant position Of Nc.
Nichol adherent serving officially on Ware
committed
For the last few days Mr.. wittlg has been
secretary of the City Committee In all ex.
cept name. The laws OF the committee re-
dutre that the position OF secretary be filled
by It's members. John McCleary and state
Senator Edward w. Patton are now filling
the secretaryship, but Mr. Wittig has been
performing virtually all the duties which
fall to the position.
William Finley Select Councilman from
the Ssth Ward and close political fol-
lower of the Vares will probably be chosen
on Wednesday to succeed Mr.. Wlttig. Mr..
Wittig VIII continue to serve as Sergeant
alarms of Select Council.
David H. Lane, chairman of the Repub-
llcan City Committee. will be reelected
without opposition. II Is expected.
A new treasurer will have to be chosen,
however, as Robert Moore, McNicho fol-
lower from the 4th Ward, and the ncum-
bents lost control of his precinct to Samuel
w. Saus. Ware lieutenant. in the recent
Primary election. Moore. therefore, will
VNNN ha
His successor is a matter of speculation.
Senator Ware has remained in the city
to take charge personally of the reorganlza-
tion OF the City Committee and to build
up his fences in all wards where the pres
ent domination is uncertain. Today he
launched a move to defeat Blakely Nc
Caughan, candidate for reelection to the
City Committee from the gath ward and
Oscar c. Noll slated candidate for re-elec-
tion from the 37th Ward Both are Nc
Nichol men, and the Wares are determined
to wrest the ward control from the PEN
rose-McNichol faction in these two wards.
Members of the Ward Committee in the
37th Ward were notified today that unless
they elected Arthur Brenner. Ware man,
and an employe in the Office of the Clerk
of Courts, to the City Committee tonight,
their section would receive no patronage.
The same warning was issued to the men,
bers of the Ward Committee in the 24th
Ward. Michael Crane has been selected TO
oppose McCaughan In this ward.
1t is rumored today that the Penrose-
McNichol members of the City Committee
might bolt and form Rump Committee on
the grounds that the Wares have used the
club of patronage to rule the Ward Com
mittees
Senator McNlchol in statement issued
on the train while en- route to Chicago
gave credence to this rumor. He attacked
the Ware control of the City Committee and
mere paper control which has been won by
coercion of office-holders and the lure OF
additional officers"