Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-29
COX ENTERS RACE
FOR SPEAKERSHIP
Child Labor Bills Father
Has Vare-Brumbaugh Sup
port Against Penrose
BITTER FIGHT FoREsEEN


Announcement by Edwin r. Cox. ware
member Of the state House OF Representa-
| tlves from the Fifth Philadelphia District.
Of his candidacy for speaker OF the next
House and the persistent report that he
will receive the Endorsement of Governor
! Brumbaugh and Mayor Smith were the
latest developments in the speakership con-
| test.
incidentally. Richard j. Baldwin, Penrose
candidate for speaker. returned to this city
after tour of the State He buttonholed
| the members of the House In their own dis
tricts and asked for their support After
expressing confidence that he would be
| elected, Representative Baldwin said:
'f arrived this morning from a tour Of
the state. | found the members in every
district visited favorable to my candidacy.
| and the sentiment in those localities was
that my experience fitted me well for
that position as any member OF the House"
Governor Brumbaugh is expected here
this afternoon and a statement ndorsing
Cox is expected momentarily. In political
circles there ls no doubt that the Governor
the Mayor and the Wares will indorse Cox.
Representative Cox's announcement is the
answer of the Ware e-Brumbaush coalition to
the declaration Of war made yesterday by
Senator Penrose, who came out openly for
Richard j. Baldwin of Delaware County for
Speaker. and 1t drew the battle lines clearly
FOR bitter factional fight in the Leg
islature.
The two factions of the Organization
viii make their fights on the strength OF
their records and allgnments. Baldwin. with
the backing OF the Penrose wing, will have
the united support OF the manufacturers
who opposed the child labor and work.
mems compensation laws, the liquor inter-
ests. the railroads and insurance COM
panies.
The Delaware County man has faithfully
defended and worked for these interests
all during his six terms as a member of
the Legislature.
Coxs record is almost exactly opposite
TO that of Baldwin. The South Philade-
phian Is the father of the present child
labor law, and worked hard and led the
fight for the enactment Of the workmens
compensation law Although he is not now
openly pledged to vote for local option next
session, he was one of the few Philadelphia
Legislators who had the courage to vote for
the measure last session, and the local op-
tionsts are counting upon him again to sup
port their measure
Mr. Cox voted for local option at the
last session of the General Assembly and
his friends and hackers are counting on the
support of Governor Brumbaugh, the State
administration the Smith city administra-
tion and the Ware organization. the Magee-
O'Neil faction in Pittsburgh and the local
optionists.
The Cox announcement is regarded as
significant following the visit OF Mayor
Smith and Congressman Ware to confer
with Governor Brumbaugh at the Executive
Mansion in Harrisburg two days ago
The showdown between the rival factions
followed an attempted peace parley. Acting
the emissary between the rival faction
alsts, State Senator Grow. Republican
State chairman, who reached the city yes
terday from his home in Uniontown. sought
Senator Ware early in the morning The
two were closeted some time, and any har-
mony plans which may have been pre-
sented by either side apparently were re-
jected. Grow. following the conference with
Ware, hurried to Senator Penroses office.
His report resulted in n conference of SEN
ator Penrose with potential leaders from
various sections of the State. and at it's
conclusion Senator Penrose made the an
nouncement which leaves no further doubt
that the warning factions intend to fight
until one side or the other is eliminated as
political factor in the city and State.