Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-28

| nave Deen good working agreem ent
among some people in politics
and the police on one hand and gun
men on the other. Arrests which will
involve prominent men are openly
| threatened.
Some of the speeches made at
the meeting last night can not fail
to make an impression upon the
state and the charges made may even
affect contests in Pittsburgh, Scran-
ton and other cities. The Fifth ward
murder in Philadelphia will be the
biggest influence in Pennsylvania
politics this year and may smash
some ambitions for next year. EX-
Mayor Blankenburg, the war horse
of reform, was the chief speaker
and assailed the conditions; the
fighting priest, the Rev. Daniel l.
McDermott, and the Rev. Floyd
Tompkins made speeches which in
other times would have caused riots
All speakers demanded to know who
paid the money that hired the gum
men.
A letter from John Wanamaker,
read at the meeting, declared the
men responsible for the outrages in
the Fifth had "set back the hands
of the clock" These men," said he,
in his communication, have delayed
the arrival of peace and given cour-
age and comfort to our enemies" "Is
1t not fair to presume" he declared,
that the old warmakers abroad have
hailed with delight the cable-given
facts of the 10th of September and
used them as proof of our inability
to govern ourselves"
DIR. Tompkins declared: "It is
indeed a shame that when our boys
are leaving to give up their lives for
democracy against autocracy that
that very autocracy should be at
work within our own DOORS" Father
McDermott said: 1T is one of our
objects to make this city free from
millionaires who contribute money to
politicians with which to hire gum
men. 1t is another to free the police
and the firemen from slavery"
The Philadelphia North Ameri-
can, which says $4,000 people took
part in the demonstration, gives a
synopsis of the resolutions which
were adopted and plays up the fact
that they demand the impeachment
of officials, that the police be taken
out of politics and that citizens unite
to elect the right kind of men for
Councils. Other newspapers give the
same ideas.
If the idea of an independent
movement is carried out and it is
reported that Senator Penrose and
| his friends are ready to go along with
1t against Mayor Smith and the
Wares, it will mean a lining up OF
forces not hitherto interested in the
factional contests in other parts OF
/ the state. Thus far the state adj
ministration and the Wares have
forced the fighting. Development OF
the plan proposed at the town meet
ing, if carried to other counties
would mean alignment of some very
aggressive factors against men in
whose interest Capitol Hill influence
was eXerted in the primary.
The whole state will wait with
interest the development of things in
Philadelphia. Every political leader
except Senator Penrose is there in
close touch and the Senator, who has
been working with the Senate
Finance Committee on War Meas
ures, says he is going home to get
|
away.
1t is not believed that Mayor
Smith or Director Wilson will resign
and as for making changes in policy
that will be up to City Councils.
According to the Philadelphia
Ledger an attack may pe made upon
the validity of Senator w. NJ. Lynch's
tenure of the superintendency of the
| FarView State institution at the
meeting of the Board of Trustees in
Philadelphia to-day. The Senator has
been under fire more or less ever
since he took the place, it being CON
tended by some that ne had no right
to hold salaried state job while a
Senator.
The filing of certified returns
from various judicial districts ap-
pears to have struck a snag. Few are
reaching the Capitol.
Attorney General Brown TODAY
rendered a voluminous opinion to
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Woods on the relation of the consti-
tuition and the soldiers voting act
of 1864 to the election of 1917. in
which he holds that soldiers have the
right to vote at the November cleo
ton. THE division by the constitu.
ton of elections into general and
municipal and the amendment OF
4 1909 are not intended to take away
! this right" says he. Mr.. Brown saws
that while soldiers have the right tc
vote for all candidates at this elec.
tiOn VET there are nra cficot dfeso,,I