Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-14
Elimination of Penrose
and Strong Independ-
ent Party Forecast
WARES EXPECTED
TO GAIN STRENGTH
McNichol's Shoes as Leader
Not Likely to Be Filled,
Say Politicians
pESERTIONS PROPHESIED

The political map Of Philadelphia and the
c,ote was changed In moment today
nv the death of Senator McNichol.
The annihilation of United States Senator
poes Penrose as both n Pennsylvania and
philadelphia political power, and the forma-
,,nn of a strictly Independent party as
tremendous force to fight the Ware domina-
,ion of the city government, were among
the results that astute political leaders saw
IN the unexpected demise of the man who
controlled the political destinies of Phila-
delpha for many years.
The Penrose political machine depended
Almost entirely upon Senator McNichol for
It's strength In Philadelphia, and the senior
senator himself depended in a large degree
upon sunny Jim" for advice in conducting
his State campaigns.
The McNichol followers who remained
byal to their chief when the Wares cap.
tured the city tive years ago stood by Nc
Nichol almost TO man, out of personal
regard for the man they had fought scores
OF bitter political battles with.
For this reason, politicians generally took
the view that no one will be found to fill
Senator McNichol's shoes as leader of the
anti-vare forces within the Republican Or
sanization
TRAINERS BREAK RECALLED
Harry j. Trainer, Select Councilman from
the Third Ward. was mentioned as a pos
mitted on all sides that Trainer would not
be able to hold all Of the McNichol strength
for Penrose. Trainer broke with the Wares
three years ago. and his fight against the
South Philadelphia leaders has been a per-
sonal one.
with the lack of strong and dominat-
INK leader TO take McNichols place. whole
sale desertions from the former Penrose-
McNichol camp are looked for. Party
regularity" and the common ground of
facing a fight against reform forces will
send many of them into the Ware camp
according to politicians
The most prominent Of the McNichol ward
leaders who stood by Senator McNichol
through thick and thin, even when the
Smith Administration cut off all their pa
tronage. are among those whose reversion
to the Wares Is expected.
They include Magistrate William T.
Campbell of the Twenty fifth Ward, who
swung his ward against the Wares at the
recent election at the personal request of
Senator McNichol, although he was n can
didate on the Ware ticket.
James NJ. Neely. In the Ninth Ward, Is
another ward leader who remained loyal
to McNichol out Of personal friendship
Another is Elias Abrams. of the Sixteenth
Ward. Blakely D. McCaughn, of the Twen-
ty-fourth Ward. and Oscar T.. Noll, of the
Thrty-seventh Ward. are others who fol-
lowed McNichol through political adversely
and whose switch to the Ware camp would
not surprise political circles.
Perhaps the strongest personal follower
Of Senator McNichol was Mercantile APP
praser James A. Carey, who was black
lacked in the Bloody Fifth" Ward, where
he is leadsT' while fighting to win the ward
Tor McNithol at the primary election
With the Wares virtually unopposed in
their domination of the Republican machine
IN Philadelphia, even the turnover Of Carey
whom they opposed this year more bitterly
than any other McNichol ward leader, is
looked for by Ware followers.
DEsERTIoNs PREDICTED
The loyalty to Senator McNichol was not
confined to ward leaders. however. In a
dozei wards whore the anti-Vare strength
within the Organization has been a serious
factor. the division leaders themselves stood
by McNichol out of personal friendship,
even to the extent Of boltlng the Repub-
lcan party. Hundreds of them will now
Tine up with the Wares. If the predic-
tions Of the politicians come true.
The swing to the Wares started in the
last campaign. while Senator McNichol was
confined to his sck-bed.
Charles Seger and Charles Hall. who
were aligned with the Penrose-McNichol
forces for twenty years. threw the Seventh
Ward, which they control. to tn" Nar"
ticket City Solicitor John P. Connolly. who
was Senator McNichols own selection for
the office he holds, also ''went along" with
the Wares
OF the sixteen wards in the city where
me Penrose.McNichol forces were power-
tul Senator Penrose may have left only
the Third, the Sixth. which Is Penrose-
Democratic. and the Eighth. his own ward.
In the Fourth Ward. County Commission
or Robert J. Moore will continue the fight
against the Wares. In the Fifteenth Judge
Charles l.. Brown Is the Penrose leader. and
IN the Eighteenth. Robert Grier. They
probably will remain In the Penrose camp.
The Town Meeting party will lose much
o. Its party machinery through defections
from the Penrose-McNichol wing Of the
organization and will have left as a nucleus
ior strictly Independent party the reform
clement that combined with Penrose and
McNichol to overthrow tho Vare-Smith ad-
mlnistration this fall.
senator Penrose's State power will be seri-
ously jeopardized by the loss OF strength
III Philadelphia. and the loss In this city
may swing the balance of power against
MN In the State campaign next year. when
Governor. Legislature and Congressman
are to be elected.
Penrose. with the assistance Of Senator
McNichol, has been able to obtain between
.ooOO and 100000, votes in Philadelphia
with the loss of most of the McNichol