Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-24
PAYROLLERS GET
NEW SHAKEDOWN
Ware War Fund Contribu-
tions Not Up to Expecta-
tions of Committee
MANY BALK AT DEMAND

In a last desperate effort TO raise a war
fund with which to combat the Town Meet
ing ticket, Harry g. Ransley, chairman OF
the Republican Central Campaign Commit
tee, has issued a second appeal for fumes
to the hundreds OF city employees who baked
on paying any political assessment when the
first demand was made six weeks ago. The
second appeal was necessitRted by reason
Of revolt" so widespread as to materially
reduce the income usually derived from
the nearly $4,000 placeholders.
The responses TO the first appeal for vol
untary contributions have been so meager
that the alarmed committee members have
been forced to issue new reminder and
to back it up by quiet tips that of1ceholders
had better get into line in the next two
weeks The arrival in city Hall Of hun
dreds Of second appeals created a mild
sensation this week and many conferences
have resulted The second appeal Issued
on Central Campaign Committee stationery
iH similar to the first and reads as fol-
lows
Dear Sir-A Voluntary Contribution TO
the Republican Central Campaign Commit
tee for the necessary expenses TO conduct
successful campaign will be much appre-
clated.
yours very truly,
HARRY c. RANSLEY, Chairman.
Check should be drawn to the order OF
Thomas +. Watson, treasurer"
These letters we're sent out under the
direction Of William +. Finley, and the
capitalizing OF the words voluntary Con-
tribution' is taken to mean that the sub
ject-matter is paramount to all others in
the eyes of the worried committeeman.
IN one important branch Of the city gov
ernmcnt more than two hundred of these
duns were received, and the more timid Of
the employees lost no time in making good.
In the Department of Public Works, the
Department OF Transit and other depart
ments and bureaus employing many teChni-
cal men and skilled mechanics, scores have
revoted against the payments and in many
instances the men receiving salaries rang
ing well into the thousands Of dollars have
declared their willingness to quit their
places rather than submit TO a system that
they declare TO be unfair.
Bearing I'm mind a number Of instances
where man have, during the last year
been dismissed for failure to pony up. most
Of the delInquonts stand willing TO lose
their places. Their attitude is due in some
instances 70 the knowledge that technical
men and skilled mechanics can easily OBJ
tain positions with private concerns where
they Will not be harRsRed each year with
political demands Others feel that there
fore any contribution TO a losing cause
would be worse than useless.
A new. appeal, within the week for Lib
erty Bond subscriptions has led many Of
fcehoders to reply to the city Commit
tee that all of their available cash has
been used in the purchase of bonds. and
that therefore they are not IN a financial
position to accede to the demands now
being made upon them This excuse is not
ticians are pointing out to the bond holders
the ease with which they can realize on
{. Jlr recent purchases and turn the pro-
ceeds over TO the needy committee