Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-22
Poeit;c4 ;m
Pe~~o4e0aia
BY the Ex-Committeeman

| ASSoiuih6 " lne gossip WHICH mas
followed the informal and inconclu-
sive conference of the Democratic
congressman, Federal jobholders of
| high degree, state Democratic ma
chine big wheels and little cogs at
Philadelphia on the occasion of the
| dinner to Ambassador designate Ro-
land s. Morris, the Democratic lead
ers of the state are turning lovingly
| toward Democratic National Chair
man Vance c. Mccormick as the
candidate for governor again. Pleas
ant memories of the lavish pace set
in Mr.. McCormick's campaign of
| 1914 seem to 'linger and there are
some men who recall the way the
| state was made to sit up in 1902
when Mr.. Mccormick ran for mayor
of Harrisburg.
Ever since President Wilson set
a precedent by Democrats in Janu-
ary 1914 by designating Mr.. Nc
Cormick as the man the Democracy
| of the Keystone State should run
| for governor the Democratic leaders
/ of this state have been awaiting word
from the White House. For a time
there was talk of A. Mitchell Pal
William B. Wilson, but both were
shot full of holes by people who did
not follow the Wilson leadership in
purely Democratic affairs. Just
whether the President has swung to
Mccormick or the Democratic lead
| ers for making suggestions remains
to be seen.
The Philadelphia Ledger in
Washington dispatch has this to
| say of the matter: Democratic
leaders in Pennsylvania are virtually
unanimous in their demand that
National Chairman Vance McCor-
| mick stand as the party's candidate
| for governor next year. This was
/ learned from men who attended the
| Democratic conference in Philadel-
phia yesterday 1t also is known that
Mr.. Mccormick does not wish the
| honor and will sidestep If he can,
but the party workers will endeavor
| to force him to run. There was some
talk of Secretary of Labor William
| B. Wilson as the gubernatorial cam
didate, but it is understood that he
was not considered the most favor
able man. In the discussion it de-
veloped that Joseph O'Brien, of
Scranton, was the choice for lieu
| tenant governor and will be urged to
make the race. Mr.. O'Brien said he
| would not be candidate and did
not want the place, but, like Mr.. Nc
/ Cormick, he may be forced into the
fight Joseph +. Guffey, acting state
chairman, is being quietly talked
about as a possible candidate for
governor, but he has made no move
in that direction. It'was the general
opinion of those present at the con-
ference that the campaign should be
waged principally upon national is
sues, especially upon the record of
the Wilson administration in han
ding the war"
Newspapers are generally pretty
wary ebout taking the Mccormick
boom very seriously in view of the
fact that Mccormick is very busy at
Washington with details of the eX-
port board and some men in politics
are inclined to regard the noise over
the Harrisburger as an effort to hide
some moves beir x made on behalf of
Wilson. 1t is we'll known that the
national administration a week ago
meant TO have a candidate for Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania who could be
distinctly considered as a labor can
diGate.
The newspapers of Philadelphia
have been commenting rather Sc
verelv on Mayor Smith and it COM
mencCs to look as though there
would he some support for the calls
for mass meetings to protest against
the course of the city administration
in politics.
-Pnlladelphla newspapers gen.
orally denounce the conditions which
brought about the disorder in the
Fifth ward of that city and the de-
lvelopmeEts have for the time being
overshadowed every other incident in
political affairs. The independent
movement is reported to-day to be
showing strength and the men be-
hind it to be bent OF getting into the
| fight.
In Pittsburgh the belief is that
the hulk of the KeIr strength will go
to Babcock; although Magee men
intimate that the former mayor will
have some surprises. Both sides are
preparing for very strenuous cam
raign and it will start without much
loss Of time.
The Scranton situation indicates
that the battle between Durham and
Conneil will be fought out at the
polls, Just as in Pittsburgh.
| --LuZcrne NAV have two candi-
dates on the ballot after all because
Shea men assert that Judge Fuller
does not have 81 per cent of the
vote.
1t il going to take the official
count in half a dozen counties to
decide who will be judicial nominees.