Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-11-15
Poeitica ;~
Pe~~Oqeso~io
BY the Ex-Committeeman

While friends and foes of the late
Senator James p. McNichol, not only
In Philadelphia, but throughout the
state are uniting in praise of mis-
manly qualities and his pre-emi-
nence as a political leader, there are
many specializing as to who will sue
ceed him in Republican affairs.
Newspapers generally pay tribute to
the late Senator's strength and agree
that 1t Will be hard place to fill.
Some of the first intimations given
were that it would shake the Pen
rose movement against the Wares,
which will be the big thing in state
politics next year, but this was
promptly dispelled by statement
from Senator Penrose that the fight
would go on.
The Philadelphia North American,
which fought Senator McNichol year
In and year out, gives over a page to
a review of his life in sympathetic
way to-day and other newspapers
carry editorials in which McNichol
is given warm praise as farsighted
city builder rather than a political
leader. The Democratic Record says
that the Senator was forced. into
politics, while the Press says the Nc
Nichol rule in municipal government
was less Objectionable" than some
others. The Ledger says that with
out his powerful aid movements
against sordid interests would not
have been as strong as they were by
good bit.
Concerning the future in the
state Republican organization the
Ledger voices the opinion of a good
many observers that Harry j. Train
er is McNichors logical successor.
The Ledger also says: What the po-
litical effect of McNichors death
will be, especially in view of his
alignment with the Town Meeting
party, and who will be his successor
as chief lieutenant of Senator Pen
rose in active command of the fac
tion opposed to the Wares were ques-
tions of paramount interest in all
political circles yesterday. McNichoGs
influence was so great, his following
was so large and the independent
leaders with whom he was allied eX-
pected so much from his followers
in Councils that these questions arose |
as natural sequence to the an
nouncement of his death"
The Inquirer, which generally |
gives the Penrose view, says in part:
The last political utterance of SEN
ator McNichol which was published |
was given as he left the polling place
on election day, when he announced |
that he was a follower of the politi-
cal fortunes of Senator Penrose and |
that he would go where Penrose
would lead. AS to McNichors prob
able successor in politics, no one can
safely predict. A man of his type
must develop. None of the present |
Penrose leaders is regarded as in
his class. Penrose adherents who
formed the Republican Alliance,
which In the late campaign support
ed the Town Meeting party, are go
ing to strengthen that organization
and PenroSe is counted upon to give
them every encouragement to keep
up the fight against the combina-
ton between Mayor Smiths admin
istration and the ares. Penrose is
prepared to renew his fight against
contractor rule which has been his
political slogan against the Wares,
even while he had the McNichol fol-
lowing as one of his principal assets. |
Penrose has advised his friends that
he is ready to go the limit against the
forces and that he pro-
poses to resume activities at once in |
for the primaries which
will be held next May, when state
will be made for COVER
nor, lieutenant-governo secretary of
internal affairs and for four candi-
dates for Congress-at-large, along
with district nominations for Con-
gress, state senator and state repre-
sentatives."
The Phila delphia Record to-day
says regarding Philadelphia muni-
cipal politics: Mayor Smith is en-
gagged in lining up councilmen in an
effort to see that upon the reorgan-
ization of both bodies the first Mon
day in January the reelection of |
James E. Lennon, a Ware lieutenant, |
as president of Select, and DIR. e. B. !
Gleason, a .Penrose- -McNichol fol- !
lower, of Common, will be assured. |
1t was claimed yesterday that the !
Mayor had driven sufficient Of the
anti-Vare faction. into line, and OBJ
tanned their written pledges as to at
tain his object. The rather crude
manner of requiring members of
Councils to submit their loyalty in
writing for the reorganization of
Councils caused some of. the men, |
not opposed to the succession by the
presidents in each body, to balk. |
Some of the old-time friends of Sena-
tor McNichol, grieved over his sud-
den death, We're almost moved to
rebellion against the Mayors con-
tinuation of his whipping-in process
following the announcement of Nc
Nichols passing away"
Republican members of Norris
town council caucused and selected
Norwood d. Matthias, for president
II. Z. Hiltner for treasurer Harry
Maxwell for clerk; H. NJ. Brownback,
for solicitor; S. Cameron Corson, en-
gineer. There are twenty-nine Re-
publicans in the membership of thir-
ty-three in council.
Bethlehem is stirred by Con-
stable John Doran going over the
heads of the police to clean up the
city of disorderly houses. Constable
Doran got evidence against eighteen
houses and served notice on the
inmates to leave town by Saturday.
Attorney C. c. Shull has been
appointed county solicitor by Mon
roe commissioners to succeed hisl
brother, S. E. Shull, who was ap-
pointed presiding Judge.
Some of the commissioners to
take vo es OF Pennsylvania soldiers
at camps have sent word here that
they will file their returns at the
county seats and the duplicates at
the State Capitol in amDle time he