Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-20
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Pe~~oqeSo~ia
By the Ex-Committeemsz

Col l.. w. Strayer, Washington cor
respondent of the Pittsburgh Dis
patch and well-known here as a keen
observer of political affairs, has arous-
ed quite a discussion over an article
he sent from Washington to his news
paper telling how the Republican Con-
gresSmen from Pennsylvania and ma
tional Republican leaders think about
the factional row now going on. Col.
Strayer sounds note of warning such
as has been heard from many news
paper editors through the State.
Republican leaders in Washing
ton,' says his dispatch, ARE concern
ed over the factional warfare in Penn
sylvania. The struggle of the opposing
elements for political control there
has attracted attention throughout the
country, and the developments of the
contest, whose storm center is Harris
burg, are being followed with interest
by politicians of both parties at the
Capital. Republican leaders who are
endeavoring to bring together the two
wings of the party in the country at
large confess that they find little en-
couragement in Pennsylvania. When
they give utterance vaguely to the
hope that q truce will be declared and
that harmony will follow they encoun-
ter the confidence of Democrats who,
taking the cue from National Chair
A.
al Committeeman A. Mitchell Palmer,
who spend most of their time in
Washington, declare that the breach
is too wide to be healed; that the
Democrats will gain in the municipal
and county elections this year, and
that next year Pennsylvania will elect
a Governor who will be a Democrat.
Members of the Pennsylvania delega-
ton make no concealment of the fact
that they are heartily tired of the
wrangling of the leaders over patron
age in Philadelphia and at Harris
burg, and that they are ready to join
any movement that may end the fac
tional strife. The cloak-room gossip
of the Pennsylvania Republicans
shows clearly that they are for peace
at almost any price and that they be-
lieve factionalism must cease If the
Republican party in Pennsylvania is
to get anywhere in the near future.
Especially is this true of those Repub-
lican congressman who were elected
last November by a scratch and who
, hesitate at the prospect of attempting
to carry their districts again unless
they have the support of united
party"
The name of Secretary of the
Commonwealth Cyrus E. Woods is
again being mentioned as a candidate
for Governor who would be generally
acceptable to Republicans. Newspa-
pers in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
have been mentioning him.
United States District Attorney
/ +. Lowry Humes, of Meadville, men,
| toned as a possible candidate for the
| Democratic nomination for Governor,
| declares that there is nothing to it.
Roland S. Morris declares that he has
no boom and one by one the Demo
Gratis mentioned are dropping out and
clearing the way for the President to
once more announce his choice.
Councilman Dillinger, of Pitts
| burgh is creating quite row. His
latest threat is to go after the Mayor
w. G.. wilkins, noted Pittsburgh
engineer, took a fling at the proposed
! Lake Erie and Ohio ship canal to-day
in a luncheon at Pittsburgh. Last
week w. II. Stevenson, chairman of the
board, told why the canal should be
built and Mr.. wilkins to-day declared
! that it would not. The project Is one
on which the State has spent over
$167,000 for plans, legal services and
engineering, etc, including press clip
pings.
| One of the funniest things about
the legislative session this week ha;
/ been the maneuvering of the Demo
! Gratis. They wanted to make a lot oi
| capital last night out of the call fol
| information on house patronage, Du
some of them were afraid that there
would be disclosures about the way
some patriotic Democrats have helc
| places and they ducked. Likewise
some of the Democrats were eager tt
take a long decess. but were afraie
to show their hand. The Democrat.
are blundering about as they have
done ever since the reorganization
bosses came into control 1t only
needs one Democrat to start something
to get others fairly bristling with sus
picion.
The Socialists are becoming very
active in the State again. They plaT
to hold a series of meetings in Harris
burg next month.
More Philadelphia Legislation
showed up last night, this time from
the Ware side. 1t would provide fo
a budget plan for the city government
and regulate other matters which hav,
been discussed. A lovely fight ovel
what shall be done to the Philadelphia
government is in sight.
| George d. Thorn's bills to change
the time for filing nominating peti