Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-10-22
Poet;ca tn
Pe~~o4esoio
By the Ex-Committeeman

Republican organization leaders in
Philadelphia and declared in favor
of the Town Meeting ticket as one
more nearly representing the senti-
ment of Philadelphia and the feel
ing of people throughout the state.
The Senator's statement is one of
the most vigorous documents he has
ever issued and may have moment
Gus consequences in next years cam
paign for the election of a state
ticket. The statement makes a clean
break between the Senator and his
friends. who constitute a good part
of the Republican organization in
Philadelphia, and the Wares and
their allies who have control of the
city committee, on municipal affairs
and it is presumed that the anti
Penrose elements throughout the
state Will endeavor to make the most
of II throughout the state. although
the Senator says distinctly that 1t is
important to start housecleaning in
Philadelphia in advance of the
gubernatorial election.
The Penrose statement, which is
given wide publicity all over the
state to-day, refers to the fact that
he has been in Washington in ma
tional affairs until week or so ago
and that he feels called upon to de-
clare for the Town Meeting ticket as
more representative than that of the
Wares.
The conditions in Philadelphia are
denounced, the Senator saying:
MY position is not new. 1 success
fully opposed the attempt of the
chief street cleaning contractor in
Philadelphia to nominate his brother
as Mayor because the proposition
seemed to me indefensible from any
point of view. 1 expressed my views
fully on contractor government in
May, 1916, at a meeting of independ-
ent Republicans anxious to help in
the election of Republican Presi-
! dent. / am glad now to be able to
say that the death knell of contrac-
! tor rule has been rung. The limit of
desperate, vicious and criminal polit-
lical methods has been reached.
Government and party control by
a contractor in Philadelphia has re-
solved itself into government by
murder No greater shame could be
inflicted upon this city. the cradle of
American liberty. than that at this
war crisis, when the United States is
engaged in a world struggle for
democracy, the very shadow of In
dependence Hall should be polluted
with murder, foully done in the in
terest of contractor politics."
| DIED
y have received very many per-
sonal visits and letters from all over
| Pennsylvania urging me to make a
public statement defining my posi-
tion and condemning and repudiat-
1P the shameful situation in Fhil9
| delphia, so that the party in the
state, approaching next year an i'm
nortant gubernatorial election, may
be relieved of disgrac sfll stigma.
fnat crime, and the corrupt system
o. contractor rule which caused it
makes clear the duty of every right
minded citizen. Republicans of state
and nation look to the voters of
philadelphia to purge the parry in
this city of the contractor control
which has brought disgrace and
shame to the party name.
This can be done by the election
of the Town Meeting candidates,
and by the defeat of contractor
controlled candidate for City Coun-
ellis. For the good name of Phila-
delphia. and for the honor of the
Republican party. 1 earnestly hope
to see the contractor candidates
overwhelmed by defeat at the polls.
| trust that this contest is only the
beginning and that it will be carried
out until the next Mayoralty cleo
ton. The police must be as
absolutely taken out of politics as
the state constabulary, and the city
government must be amended and
revised, even If it is necessary to call
an extra session of the Legislature" :"
The North American says the
Senator "bolted the murder ticket"
and "scathingly arraigns govern
ment by murder and contractor
control" The Inquirer emphasizes
the fact that the Senator was called
upon by people all over the state to
speak. The Press says he makes "a
formidable reinforcement" for good
government forces and the Lcdgu.'
says; "Penrose's bolt was the
dramatic climax to the recent series
of bolts of Penrose and McNichol
ward and division leaders from the
In this regard it was announced that
the Independent organization will be
allied with q Republican league
about to be formed, representative
of every division and ward in the
city" The Record gives this
Democratic. view: "Once again has
United States Senator Boies Penrose
against contractor control of mu-
nicipal affairs. and to this he added
sweeping condemnation of govern
ment by murder"
-Ex-Mayor Joseph Cufflel. OF
Johnstown. has a force of detectives
investigating what he alleges to be q
plot to destroy him and his family
His children. burning corn husks. had
n narrow escape from being blown to
pieces by a stick of dynamite that
had been in the husks. Planks placed
from the ground to a porch roof in
dicated an attempt to get into his
home.
Another move in the plan to
unite all the independent forces of
Philadelphia in the war against con-
tractor control of the municipal gov
ernment was made yesterday, when
Clarence d. Antrim, Washington
party nominee for City Treasurer,
formally withdrew in favor of Will
liam r. Nicholson, Town Meeting
candidate for the same office.
S. V. Hosterman has been ap-
pointed District Attorney of Lam
caster county, in place of Cleon N
Berntheizel, of Columbia, who is an
Adjutant General in the United
States Army, having left with the
Fourth Regiment. Hosterman has
named II. Edgar Sherts as his assist
ant.
Bitterly denouncing William A.
Magee, the Brumbaugh-V Ware candi-
date for Mayor, as enthusiastically,
unreliable and not worthy of the con-
fidence of the people," DR.. ]. P. Kerr,
president of City Council, and recent
candidate for Mayor of Pittsburgh,
issued a statement last night declar-