Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-01
PoeittcA ;,t
Pe'sso4GSonia
By the Ex-Committeeman
The MHfin0s

at p. m.
Senatorial caucus meetings, Capitol
9 p. m.
Both houses of legislature meet for
organization at noon Tuesday.
Whether the contest for the speak
ership of the House of Representa-
tives which will meet at noon to-mor-
row for organization will be carried
beyond to-night's caucus and whether
the Democrats would get into fight
over their speakership nomination and
stage sideshow of their own were
questions which were interesting the
whole State to-day. Indeed, judging
from newspaper comment, kilograms
and telephone messages coming here
and the numerous men active in poll
teal life who throng the hotels, there
is more interest in the speakership
contest in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
and other cities than here. Harris
burg is used to these battles, although
the virulence of statements which has
marked the present rumpus is some
thing unknown in the State Capital
since 1895.
| Underlying all the comment and
discussion of the contest among men
| VINO observe politics and play it is
general expression of the uselessness
of the present row, while upstate
men declare their weariness of being
narrowed up every time there is a
break in Philadelphia.
Following Saturday nights ex-
change OF Vitriolic statements between
Senator Penrose and Attorney Gen
eral Brown and Governor Brum-
baugh's sudden dismissal of Banking
commissioner Smith there was calm
! for few hours, but Harrisburg woke
up to find walls, fences, billboards,
poles and even surfaces of streets
plastered with placards assailing Bald
win in terms that recalled the days
when men considered verbal brickbats
the proper Weapons in politics. In
the evening the Baldwin people did
some posting of placards on their own
hook.
Senator Penrose led off last night
with statement in which he declared
that instead of the State adminiStra-
ton helping the Republican ticket the
defeat of congressman and legislators
by Democrats was due to the work of
certain people in the Capitol. 1t was
severe arraignment and also banged
Congressman John r. X. Scott, field
marshal of the Cox forces, and the At
torney General. Senator Ware made q
retort showing that Philadelphia had
been true to colors, but the Allegheny
county administration leaders were
silent.
Governor Brumbaugh renewed
his appeals to the people against
Baldwin and assailed the management
of the Republican party in this State
by it's titular leaders.
Some minor interchanges followed
and people went to bed thanking their
stars that the end of the muss was in
eli lnn 1,iIn 1nI.a 1,sS 7
med up the fight as "A war of epithets
but who cares?"
Henry Gransback, the "father of
the House" has issued the Republican
caucus call and expects to call it to
order on the dot. Only members and
accredited newspapermen will be ad-
mitted.
w. e. Tobias, the unsuccessful
candidate for Congress in the Clear
field district, is going to contest the
election of Congressman Rowland.
Rowland had a hard row to hoe and
there were charges made that he did
not get loyal support.
-EX-Speaker George e. Alter rs
here greeting many friends and look
ing on. He is for Baldwin as the best
fitted man.
Congressman S. Taylors North,
chairman of the appropriations COM
mittee in the stormy days of 1913
says the fight is worth staying here
to see.
Good Roads" Jones, now Sena-
tor, was a prominent figure about the
Capitol and was greeted by many
friends.
Congressman elect T. w. Temple
ton, of Luzerne. says he is certainly
enjoying things here
The demand for the resignation Of
Banking Commissioner Smith was the
theme of much conversation about the
hotel corridors and there was general
regret that he had been asked to go
because the place is desired for a
younger and more active man. Sharp
criticism of the Governor was voiced
in many quarters, but, his friends de-
Tended him by saying that in an
emergency he was entitled to all the
patronage he could get. An offer of
the place to Gabriel III. Moyer, of Leb-
anon, was reported, but it was turned
down hard.
The Philadelphia mercantile ap-
praisers were reappointed Saturday
except Edward Devliu, Senator PEN
roses friend, who was replaced by
Frank j. Ryan.
Major Merrick, former Senator
from Tioga, is here and renewing old
acquaintances and also having much
entertainment as he always does. Tie
major has a fund of anecdotes of poll
tics that makes one forget work and
worry.
The contest has brought to the
city over a score of Eewspapermen,
some of them the best posted men on
politics in Pennsylvania.
News OF the death of ex-senator
Il. l. Phillips, of Newcastle, came as
a shock to many friends in the Legis-
lature. He was 65 years of age and
served four years. as a Senator.
Daniel j. Shern, an ardent Cox
boomer, circulated among old friends
in the Legislature who recalled the
days when SLern and Congressman
Scott used to say things about each
other on the floor and then eat lunch
together.
Numerous Delaware countians
came here to-day to greet Baldwin
and to root for him.
Senator Penrose took dinner with
the Allegheny countians last night
and 1t created something of a panic
among Cox men, who hurriedly count
ed up their strength. Allegheny is in
strategetic position.
William Dawson, of Scranton,
former chief clerk to the banking
commissioner. is here meeting his