Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-20
PoetttcA ;~
Pe~~oqeSo~io
BY the Ex-Committceman

! II
The manner in which the friends
of Superior Court Judge William d.
Porter of Pittsburgh, have taken
hold of the proposition of renominat-
ing the judge and the emphatic en-
dorsement given him by the bars of
a number of counties, has raised the
hope of many Pennsylvanans that
the state may be spared in 1918 a
repetition of the recent primary and
general election scrambles for places
upon the appellate benches. In Il
number of counties members of the
bar have given hearty approval to
the course of Judge Porter and :he
sentiment manifested in favor of his
denomination has been so general
that there is now not much doing in
the way of opposition.
Men active in politics in Pennsyl-
vania have upon a number of occa-
sions expressed the hope that when
the state is engaged in strenuous
contests for the nomination of party
tickets for state offices next year
that it would be fine thing to keep
the single statewide judicial elec-
ton out of partisan politics. The Por-
ter candidacy will furnish an oppor
| tunity for testing the strength of this
feeling and also of the popular at
titude toward the nonpartisan act.
1t is very evident from what is
| being said and done at the State
Capitol that Governor Martin G..
| Brumbaugh proposes to take a hand
in the primary campaign. The Gov
ernor has told friends that he will
make speeches in behalf of canii-
| dates for the Legislature pledged for
the dry" amendments and many
| look for him to depart from tradi-
| tions connected with the last years
of gubernatorial terms and go on the
stump. The Governor is fond of cam
paigning and with his well-known
personal predictions in behalf of
antiliquor legislation he will not
want for theme.
| Men opposed to the dry"
amendment are already setting up
pins about the state and are bending
their efforts to sew up the nomina-
| tions for the Legislature in both
parties. Some of the Democrats are
! in quandary as they fear to openly
|
effect on some of their most ardent
supporters.
Mayor Smith was indicted by the
| Grand Jury yesterday on charges OF
contempt of court and conspiracy to
violate the Shern law in connection
with the outlawry in the Fifth ward
last primary election day, which re-
suited in the killing of George A.
nl ~ ICDn n
Deutsch the political opponent OF
James A. Carey, Mercantile APP
praiser, and one of the principals
alleged to be responsible for the
reign of terror that swept through
the ward on that day, was indicted
on charges of murder and man.
slaughter together with Lieutenant
David Bennett. Policeman John
Wirtschafter, Michael j. Murphy
Emanuel Cram, Lewis Feldman ana
Clarence Hayden, his political fol-
lowers
Between 10000 and 10000 votes
are expected TO be added to the
strength of the Town Meeting party
/ through plans which will be placed
in operation at once, says the Phil
adelphia Press. 1t is the purpose OF
the new party leaders to secure
complete list of names on the as
SCISSORS lists, which closed last night.
These will be compared with the
names of those who are registered on
the voters lists of last fall. A diff
ference of more than 10000 is eX-
pected to be revealed. Every man
who failed to register for the recent
election and who is now on the as
/ SCISSORS lists, will be subjected to a
personal canvass, with the idea that
when a large number failed to enroll
in August and September, they rep
resented the Independent element
who lack interest in elections when
there is no prospect of a vigorous
right at the polls
The city of Scranton has started
to cut down expenses and three fl
departme battalion chiefs have
! been dropped.
General regret is being manifest
ed at the Capitol on the retirement
of Deputy Attorney General Horace
w Davis. He had many friends here
and made a fine record.
| -Mayor-elect Babcock has every
one guessing on his appointments in
Pittsburgh. Announcements are due
next week.
The fight against Representative
i John f.. Arthur of Philadelphia, ac-
cepting a Philadelphia city office ap-
pears to have been sidetracked.
j. O. Mulhern, well known here,
} has been made an assistant fire mar
shall in Philadelphia.
Auditor General Snyder's action
in ordering a new audit of the state
| insurance fund finances is attracting
!, much comment as it is taken to in
dicate "a policy of much activity on
the part of the Auditor General to
hold down expenses in departments
| If it looks like creating a deficit.
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