Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-09
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BY the Ex-Committeeman

Figures from the official count of
the votes of Pennsylvania for presi-
dental electors, State officers and JUS
tice of the Supreme Court, which have
been prepared for Governor Brum-
baugh, will probably be used as a
basis for some commentary upon the
working of the nonpartisan law by
the Governor. Some time ago the
Governor inquired of judges and
others familiar with election matters
throughout the State what suggestions
they had to make regarding much
discussed changes in election laws and
especially the nonpartisan judicial act.
There were many and varied replies
which the Governor has been study
ing. The most notable thing about
the nonpartisan act this year was the
fact that 476,039 fewer people voted
for justice than for electors.
Just what recommendations the
Governor will make regarding the
election laws is not known. He has
expressed great interest in simplifying
them.
Presence here within the last few
days of ex-Lieutenant Governor John
M. Reynolds. of Bedford; Congress
i
eX-Mayor Ira w. Stratton, of Reading,
has revived interest in the appoint
ment to be made to fill the vacancy on
the Public Service Commission, caused
by the death of Samuel W. Pennypack-
er. For a time it was considered that
Mr.. Lafean had the inside track, but
the outbreak of war over the speaker
ship caused the appointment to be
deferred, 1t is understood that the
pressure of work at the offices of the
commission has been brought to the
attention of the Governor and he may
make an appointment before Christ
mas.
Advent of Representative George
w. Williams, of Tioga, into the con-
test for the speakership nomination
in the Republican caucus has not been
received with much excitement by the
partisans of either Richard j.. Bald
win or Edwin r. Cox. In fac. they
have refused to comment and it is no.
ticed that newspapers which have
been boosting Cox as the administra-
ton candidate have not even mention
ed Williams; while the newspapers
backing Baldwin have given very little
more notice. The Williams appear
ance in the arena appears to have
been surprise, painful to some. State
administration leaders declined to
4
was a scheme to ''sew up" the local
option votes in the House and de
liver" them to Cox when the time
came for Williams to withdraw, etc,
which has been rumored. The Bald
win people declared they knew moth
ing about the start of the move.
speaking at Philadelphia last
night Senator Penrose said that Bald
win would have more than a majority
of the Republican votes of the House
when he went into the caucus. This
statement followed q nose counting
conference at the senator's offices
At Pittsburgh Congressman John r
X. Scott, who is plotting Mr.. Coz
around and exhibiting his own boom
for Governor on the side, declared that
the outlook for Cox was fine" This
laconic statement followed wal
council in Pittsburgh. Cox men claim
to have made some inroads In the
western end of the State and hint al
appointments to be made soon.
The Cox leaders will meet in
Philadelphia to-day to go over a re-
canvass of the State. The original re-
port of the "pickets" has been dis
| carded and a new one has been under
way The Cox people reiterate conf
dence in victory. Signs of "lining up
of clerks at the Capitol to work or
home members are to be seen on the
horizon.
| Considerable interest has beer
aroused by a speech made the othel
evening in Philadelphia by Commits
sioner M. J. Ryan, who is being pu
more and more to the front as
spokesman for the State administra,
ton, probably because he is a Demo
crat. Mr.. Ryan declared that Cover
nor Brumbaugh Is a much misunder
stood and maligned man and pointed
to the late Samuel w. Pennypackel
as a man much abused and yet honor
ed by all before he died. Auditor Gen
-eral-elect Charles A. Snyder and Dair,
and Food Commissioner James Foust
who spoke at the banquet did no
mention politics.
The city authorities of Readint
have started something in the way
of food inspection which has attract
ed much attention. 1t is proposed t.
inspect oil foods at the source as wei
as in handling.
| Ex-Representative r. r. Dearden
of Germantown, is out with some in
teresting political talk. He says h,
is the man who discovered Mavni