Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-19
PeeKc4 ;~
Pe~~oqeOo~io
By the Ex-Committceman

! NAAN RSAASNNAh6 VI
machine in Pennsylvania, seems to
have attracted attention at Wash
lngton. The fact that while some
! OF the bosses of the Democracy, ma
tlonal and state, were making
| speeches and giving out interviews
that this was time to eschew po-
htics and the cobwebs were being
wiped from the windows of Demo-
| cratic state headquarters was rot
| lost on many people. 1t is all part of
the scheme to keep people interested
while getting ready for the big cam
palgn to swing the state next year.
This activity behind the scenes
seems to have impressed many peo-
! pie who observe public affairs, and
Jonathan Bourne, Jr., president of
the Republican Publicity Associa-
ton, which is peculiarly applicable
10 Pennsylvania, says in part:
If this is not time for politics.
why has the Democratic national
! committee recently organized on the
most systematic campaign basis ever
attempted by any party committee
In the United States? Why is that
committee issuing partisan publicity
matter and maintaining an extern
slve publicity bureau? If this is not
time for politics, why do we have
solidly Democratic cabinet, why
Ri
tributors given the most powerful
positions in our war organization and
why was the chairman of the Dem
ocratic national committee chosen
TO go as a representative of this
country to the war conference in Eu-
rope?
IF this is no time to talk tariff.
why are we maintaining a tariff COM
mission, why was that commission
placed in rho Of two 10,
and why is the commission now con-
Quoting tariff inquiry? Shall the
businessmen of America keep silent
while an official organization of free
traders talk tariff? Shall men who
exercise alert foresight in their pri- |
Vate business adopt a 'watchful wait |
ing policy in public affairs? Shall
we postpone preparedness for peace
until peace has come? Shall men be |
told that they are nervous and hys-
tericaP when they urge preparedness
FOR commerce lust as they were when |
they urged preparedness for war? |
Shall men who believe in America
FIRST leave tariff discussion and tar
III legislation to that political party
which, in 1913, legislated for Eu-
rope and Asia first?
Shall Republicans cease to talk
politics while all the power of the !
Democrats in office? Let the Demo- |
cratic press answer"
1t is also to be noticed that
While the Democratic bosses, ma
uonal and state, are shaking their |
heads solemnly over the tendency of |
anyone else to talk politics, that the |
6osses are taking good care to build |
up the machine. The new laws pass |
ed because of. the war make many
places and deserving Democrats are
taken care of. In every revenue dis |
trlct Democrats are being put on the |
public payroll. This is presumably |
also to be deprecated as a conversa-
uonal topic. At Scranton alone !
Revenue Collector Kirkendall named |
five men to places paying from ST.
400 to $1,000 a year, one of them |
being Bernard Kelley, burgess elect |
of Dunmore.
Mayor E. B. Jermyn, of Scran- /
ton, Philip V. Mates and Albert Da-
Wis, of West Scranton, are mention |
ed as probable candidates for state !
senator. Mr.. Davis was q candidate |
four years ago, losing to Senator
Lynch by only few votes.
Eight Tamaqua men, who start
ed an election contest to prevent
- 80 5S tNA Gil lHhiiieS lllo scat tS ldA
collector, unexpectedly found them !
selves as defendants yesterday at
Pottsville when they were put on the |
witness stand in court and asked as
to whether they paid their taxes
within two years. Ralph Dry, Her. |
bert Becker and Jay Gould gave sat- !
isfactory answers, but there is a |
doubt as to whether Albert Ans
pacht, another petitioner, qualified
nc al
be heard on Monday, and, if they
fail to qualify, the petition becomes
invalid.
While Governor Brumbaugh has |
not made any direct reply to the |
question whether he intends to call
a special session of the legislature
or not to act upon the prohibition |
amendment, 1t is generally assumed |
from the tenor of his remarks that
he considers it useless and that as
the last legislature was wet he |
would share responsibility for de-
feat of the amendment if he sum-
moned the assembly to act on the
measure. The Governor says q de- |
feat in Pennsylvania for the amend |
ment would have serious conse-
quences. Only in the event that
there is a change in sentiment,
which would have the effect of caus-
ing legislators TO line up for the
amendment, will the Governor call
an extra session. 1t will be recalled
that the vote on local option last
spring was 1877 noes to 72 ayes in
the House and that the dry for
the war; bill went down with 1921
noes to Ga ayes.
Auditor General Snyder says
that he hopes the supreme court
will settle once for all the question
OF the rights of the State Senate.
The auditor general is just back
from Philadelphia hand says that he
is not after any one" but simply
trying to see that deficits are not
created and that money is spent
along the lines contemplated by the
legislature of which he was a MEM
Der.
Death of Judge L. L. Davis, of
Pittsburgh, makes another vacancy
for the Governor to fill. Judge Ia
Wis, who was well known to the lawy-
ers of the state, had been a member
of the bar for thirty-seven years and
judge since appointment by Gov
ernor Stuart in 1908.
Elk Congressman Wanger, of
Norriston, has suffered a mental
breakdown. He had been in ill
health for some time.
Friends of Senator P. C. Knox
say that he would not consider run
ming for governor under any condi-
tions.
Delaware county "drys" have
started their antilicense fight. A
Chester dispatch to the Philadelphia
brass aaUas xyiIl hn ~ ox,