Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-03
PoeiEc4 im
Pe~~oqeOo~io
By the Ex-Committeeman

The Pittsburgh mayoralty con-
test is exciting interest far beyond
the bounds of Pennsylvania and 1t
appears to be the opinion of the
political wiseacres in Washington and
New York that 1t is drive of the
State administration against Penrose
leadership in Western Pennsylvania.
The Senator is quoted by the Phila-
delphia Ledger as saying in Wash
ington that there was nothing to get
excited about in the contest at
Pittsburgh and the Ledger says that
the word is out that E. V. Babcock
must win to keep up the Penrose
prestige. Columbus and Cincinnati
papers are devodng some space to
the battle, while the Pittsburgh pa
pers run a couple of columns a day.
The Pittsburgh Post, the Democratic
organ, carries three columns and de-
votes about a column to the three
leaders: E. V. Babcock, w. A. Ma
gee and DR.. ]. p. Kerr. Babcock is
talking on a business basis for the
city and DR.. Kerr is lambasting Ma
gee and his friends. The former
mayor is devoting himself to pro
gress" speeches and declines to say
whether the Wares or anyone else is
lnLeTeSISu III MS campaign.
Governor Brumbaugh's failure to
visit Philadelphia for the demon
stration in honor of the drafted men
put a damper on much political talk
and 1t is now reported that the Gov
ernor will not return. until just be-
fore the primary. Adjutant General
Stewart represented, the State in the
review of the parade.
Attorney General Brown and other
prominent officials are expected this
week in Harrisburg and it is cur
rently reported that some appoint
ments will be announced from the
Governors office, although no one
here has any information.
The Philadelphia Press in its ed
itorial review says of the Philadel-
phia situation: But after all, though
the ward fights are the subject of
most pressing concern to Rialtoans
and are first in order--decision of
them coming on September 10 the
day OF the primaries-the subject of
greatest concern to the mass of
Rialtoans is the possibility of a fight
not in the Organization itself but
outside the Organization and against
lls II may nave DttH lIldI W dNOlu
any encouragement of attack from
without the Organization leaders
concurred in the so-called "har-
mony slate, which as has been point
ed out is one which really found it.
self and which merely maintained
the status quo by endorsing for an
other term all those officials who
were not by law prohibited from sue
ceeding themselves. But among the
workers everywhere there exists the
deepest interest over the possibility
of an independent movement with
'reformefs' at the front and Senators
Penrose and McNichoi behind"
The Philadelphia Ledger in the
course of some political gossip says:
Governor Brumbaugh has the pow
er to fill by appointment the va
cancy on the Orphans Court bench
caused by the death of Judge Dallett
and every lawyer in the city is a po-
tential candidate, A pertinent phase
rivalry between Francis Skunk
Brown, the Attorney General, and
John r.. X, Scott, Congressman-at
large, Both are close advisers of the
Vare- -Brumbaugh alliance. 1t is un-
derstood in inside political circles
that Mr., Brown would like to see Jo-
seph p. Gaffney, chairman of Coun-
ellis Finance committee, win the ap-
pointment. Mr.. Gaffney is in the same
law Office with Mr., Brown, Mr., Scott,
on the other hand. 1t is whispered,
favors the appointment of David j.
Smyth, former Director of Public
Safety. Politicians are watching the
preliminaries with notable zest."
Considerable interest is attached
to the meeting had with Senator
Penrose at Washington last week by
State Chairman Crow, Auditor Gen.
eral Snyder and others, 1t is reported
that local contests were gone over
and matters connected with some
appointments discussed,
-Philadelphia newspapers are
giving much attention to the matter