Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-14
PoeiEc4 in
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BY the Ex-Committeeman


registration time will be at hand in
cities of all classes in the Com
monwealth. 1t is expected that the
registration will go to record figures
in some OF the cities, notably those
where there are mayoralty contests,
but that will not be the sole reason
because in many counties there are
stiff judicial or county nomination
battles on, and Philadelphia. har-
monized as regards it main ticket by
the action of Mayor Smith, has ward
fights galore.
According to Chief Clerk George
D. Thorn, of the State Department.
all registration places will close to-
morrow night and the only way to
set on the lists will be by applica-
ton to county commissioners.
The enrolment of voters in the
boroughs and townships is about
over.
Men not registered will not be
able to vote at primaries or general
elections in cities.
The windup of the contests for
ward honors in Philadelphia bids
fair to be more or less tame, as the
Republican leaders are commencing
TO put on the soft pedals and Mayor
Smith is insisting that the transit
lease be kept out of politics. The
Philadelphia Police Association is
commencing to obey to assessments.
Friends of candidates for judge are
making things lively with nonparti-
san appeals.
Pittsburgh dispatches tell of
strenuous times in the mayoralty
contest in that city and there are
intimations that Lackawanna and
LuZerne counties will be furnishing
interesting situations. In Scranton
the mayoralty battle is growing very
brisk and in Luzerne Thomas d.
Shea. who is running for judge
against his old rival, Judge II. A.
Fuller, is charging use of slush
fund.
Concerning the Pittsburgh con-
test the following is told in dis
patches: Every available effort is
being put forth by the three mayor
atty candidates here now. Demo-
cratic aid was thrown toward Or.
J. p. Kerr when Democratic State
Chairman Joseph +. Guffey took the
stump for the Independent candidate
at MONDAY meeting. Guffey asked
for support for Kerr, he said, be-
cause he wants to see n patriotic,
capable and nonpartisan mayor for
the next four years. NotwithstanG-
ing. supporters of William a. Ma
gee were carrying money around to-
day and Offering to bet that MaSee
gets the biggest vote. There is no
question but that Kerr has cut into
the vote of both his opponents, but
it is puzzling all sides Just how Dig
q swath he has ripped"
The Philadelphia Ledger prints
an interesting view of the national
importance of the Pittsburgh mayor
atty contest from its Washington bu-
reau: Pennsylvania politicians in
the national capital are watching
with the greatest interest the prog
ress of the campaign for mayor of
Pittsburgh. The outcome of this
fight has more than a municipal in
terest, because it will decide the po-
litical control, to some extent, in
state politics of Senator Penrose. Nu-
merous congressman who have been
drawn slightly into factional poll
tics having been forced against their
wishes at times to line up with Pen
rose or the Ware faction, are hopeful
that this contest will eliminate fac
tionalism in Pennsylvania for some
time. Reports coming here to-day
to the Penrose faction from Pitts
burgh are to the effect that the di-
Vided opposition, with a decided
trend among labor toward Babcock
gives hope that the Penrose candi-
date for mayor may capture more
than half of the vote at the primar-
les. The most certain thing, despite
the favorable reports coming to
Penrose, is that the fight will not end
in the primaries. Conservative men,
bers of both factions, who have dis
cussed the situation here, say the
bitter struggle will be carried into
the general election. The Penrose
leaders are counting upon the bulk
of the trading Democrats to aid
them in the general election, as well
as the dissatisfied followers of Kerr
Seriously viewed, neither Babcock
nor Magee has any certainty of sue
cess at this time. A few thousand
votes probably will decide the con-
test"
The Philadelphia Record prints
the following to-day: with the re-
turn of Governor Brumbaugh from
his vacation in Maine to the EXecu-
tive Mansion in Harrisburg to-day
some action is expected soon in the
appointment of a successor to the
late Judge Dallett, whose death left a
vacancy on the Orphans Court
bench. The Wares are said to have
favored the appointment of Joseph
A. Magee, an assistant city solicitor,
but considerable objection has been
expressed TO Magee because he Is
comparatively unknown. Among
those mentioned for the place are
Representative Thomas F. McNichol,
d. Webster Dougherty, David j.
Smyth, who was a director under
Mayor Weaver; Joseph p. McCullen,
George r. McCurdy, former presi-
dent of Common Council and a can
didate against Judge 'Dallett when
he ran for reelection, and Michael
Mccullough, an assistant in the dis
trict attorneys office. OF the num-
Der Representative McNichol is be-
lieved to have the best chance. Nc
Nichol is strong with the Wares and
made a good impression on the Gov
ernor during the recent session of the
Legislature when he led the Ware
Brumbaugh forces in the House"
The only unfortunate thing
about the Records prediction anent
the genial Thomas McNichol is that
he is a member of the Legislature
and can not take office until his term
ends next year The constitution
stands in the way.
Regarding the appointment Of
men to fill vacancies in the state
government it was said authorita-
lively to-day that Governor Brum-
baugh will not consider such mat
ters until late in the month. Dis
cussion of successors to men who
died this week has been deprecated
at the Capitol. That the Governor
should appoint before the primary
is not regarded as likely in any
event.
No one at the Capitol would talk
about the possibility of retirement
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