Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-27
TOM ARMSTRONG
Is FUSION CHIEF
Independent Councils Leader
in "Revolt of 1905"
Selected
A PRACTICAL REFORMER

Thomas F. Armstrong, former leader Of
the Independent forces in Councils, has
been chosen chairman of the new indepen-
dent movement that has been launched to
defeat the vare-Smith ticket at the general
election on November 6.
Mr Armstrong will act as chairman of
the mass-meetlng in the Academy Of Music
tonight. His appointment as permanent
chairman Of the new independent party
will be offlcially announced later.
The man who will direct the campaign
to overthrow the Vare-Smth city admins
tration, was the leader among the cham
pions of the citizens rights in Councils
during the municipal uprising Of 1905. un-
der Mayor Weaver, Although elected on
the Republican ticket, he espoused the cause
Of the anti.organization element in that
fight and was one of the principal lieuten-
ants of Mayor Weaver when Weaver fought
the Republican machine. His record is Of
the highest and he is "A practical rerormer.
Mr.. Armstrong is a member of the Com
mittee Of Seventy, the Committee Of One
Hundred. the Union League and the board
Of directors of the Manufacturers Club.
He is a partner in the cement firm or Arm
L
sayunk avenue.
PENROSE RET1CENT
United States Senator Boies Penrose In
Washington today refused TO openly com
NIT himself as to his attitude toward the
fusion independent movement that has been
launched against the Vare-Smith city Ad-
ministration through the new Anti-Contrac-
tors party
He would not deny that It is his intention
to bolt the so-caled "ffty-1fty" harmony
ticket. but announced that he has made no
statement TO any one regarding his inten-
tions.
"I was at the meeting OF the conferees
In charge OF the war revenue bill from
o'clock yesterday morning until nearly z
o'clock last night | have not seen a news
paper man, have made no statement to any
one. and have not authorized any one to
make any statement for me-" he said.
Color was given to the report that PEN
rose intends to openly support the anti
contractors ticket by the action taken last
night by Penrose Republican clubs. The
Penrose Republican League of the Forty
sixth Ward and the Young Mems Republi-
can Club, Of the Thirty-siXth Ward, last
night adopted resolutions calling upon Dis
trict Attorney Rotan to repudiate the Re-
head the ticket Of the anti-contractors'
party.
ROTAN SMILES AT ACTION
When asked about the action of these
Penrose clubs, Rotan today smiled and
said: II know nothing about It, and / am
not thinking anything about politics at this
| time. / am going ahead in the investga-
| ito of this murder case without the slight
| est thought about politics"
The Republican city committee, through
| Sheriff Harry C. Ransley its chairmar- last
| night read both the Carey and Deutsch fac
| tions in the Fifth Ward out of the Republi-
| can Organization. Ransley issued a state
| ment in which he said that the city COM
mittee has no need of either faction in the
| Bloody Fifth" His statement follows:
| The Republican voters of Philadelphia
who nominated the county ticket at the
recent primary have no responsibility for
| the disgraceful political conditions in the
Fifth Ward This ward is of no impor-
tance whatsoever to the Republican Or
| ganization, and it's vote never has any
| bearing upon the results Of the general
! election.
The Republican organization had no
interest In the affairs of the Fifth Ward
| and had not the slightest participation in
them. The belligerent factions have been
| maulng each other at every election In
that ward for twenty years. There are
not more than 1000 voters In 1t at the
most and there is no reason that will
appeal to a sane man why the motives
of 10000 Republicans throughout the
city should be impugned because OF the
| disgraceful conduct of handful of peo-
| pie in this ward. 1t will be remembered
| that each gentleman nominated on the
| Republican ticket at the primaries re-
ceived a very large majority of all the
qualified voters of Philadelphia