Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-19
PoeiEc4 ;~
Pe~~oqe0o~ia
BY the Ex-Committeeman

Brawling among Philadelphia Demo-
ment to the vacancy in the office of
appraiser of the port has gotten to a
stage which has attracted national at
tention and the Wilson administration
is more or less concerned over the
row which has broken out right when
it was figured out that the Democrats
of Pennsylvania had been harmonized.
The circumstances attending the crea-
ton of the vacancy left a bad impress
sion and now when the Democratic
newspapers have been proclaiming
harmony the Philadelphia factions
have started pulling hair again and
filing the air with war cries.
The Democratic state leaders, who
had been sayingehow they were going
to turn the Republican row to their
own advantage, are now trying to
settle the fuss and some action may be
taken when the bosses get together
here next week in case nothing is done
in the meantime.
A Washington dispatch to the Phila-
delphia Inquirer shows how the rum
pus is regarded at the national capital.
1t is as follows: Success of the har-
mony plans recently formulated with
the regular faction of the party in
Philadelphia probably will depend
upon the ability of the two factions to
agree upon a successor to w. w.
Roper, who recently resigned the po-
sition of appraiser at the port. A.
Mitchell Palmer, national committee
man. has been here for several days
comforting with Fourth Assistant Post
master General Blakslee and other
Pennsylvania politicians. President
Wilson probably will appoint any
man suggested by Mr.. Palmer. MIR.
Roper's resignation came as q result
of President Wilson's attitude in in
sisting upon the demands of the rail-
road brotherhoods for a so-called
eight-hour day. Although a Demo-
crat, Mr.. Roper strongly disapproved
of the Presidents surrender to the
brotherhoods, and offered to resign
Immediately, but under pressure he
agreed to stay in office until after cleo
ton. In the interim Mr.. Roper
changed his politics and voted for
Hughes. He again rendered his resig-
nation following the election and this
time it was accepted"
The part the Democratic Iegis-
lators should play in regard to the
movements for investigation of depart
ments of the State government as out
| lined by Senator Boies Penrose will be
discussed at a meeting of the Demo-
cratic state ringmasters committee
which will be held at Democratic State
| headquarters in this city on Monday.
| This committee was created at a con-
ference of Democratic legislators and
State leaders at which it was stated
plainly that any Democrat mixing in
the Republican speakership row would
have trouble. The conference chose
| L. Lowry Humes. United States dis
| trict attorney of Western Pennsylva-
mia and a former legislator, as chair
man and the drafting of bills was
placed in his charge State Chairman
James F. Guffey. Roland S. Morris and
other State leaders are expected here
on Monday, when the general policy OF
the Democrats will be outlined in re-
gard to Investigations. IT is believed
that the Democrats will insist upon
their own resolution for investigation
but are so eager to make political
movement for a probe.
| The name of Major General c. NJ
Clement. commander of the National
Guard division. is figuring considerably
in the gossip about Public Service
Commissioner since the return of the
| general from the border. General
Clement is lawyer and lives at Sun
bury and many letters and telegrams
urging his selection to succeed Samuel
w. Pennypacker have been sent to the
Governor. NJ. f. Bushong, Lancaster
member of the State Commission OF