Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-05
FACTIONS CONTESTS
ON COMMITTEE VOTES
Charges and Counter Charges of
lllegality and Strong Arm
Tactics Made

Plans are being made TODAY bv the Ware
ana Penrose-McNichol forces TO contest the
elecuon OF several city committeeman who
were elected last night following hot fights
in numerous wards
Both the Ware and the Penrose-McN Nichol
followers charged that strong-arm methods
were used and 1t is possible that the courts
Will be asked to decide the legality Of sev
eral meetings
AZ the elections in the Twenty-fourth
ana thirteenth Wards the rival followers
almost came TO blows. The result of the
elections gives Ware thirty-three and the
Penrose-McNichol forces fifteen in the city
committee.
Among other surprises-was the defeat of
Iorrler recorder Of Deeds Ernest l.. Tustin
committeeman from tho Thirty-fourth
ward, who was defeated by John c. Nc
Avoy the Ware candidate by a vote of
90 to 30 Tustin had been promised \thc
support OF Mayor Smith, but this promise
seemed TO have little effect among those
VINO were doing the voting Tustn said
tne o1 ware men held rump meeting and
nllea vacancies in the committee in order
10 give them a majority.
The defeat Of Oscar NolI Penrose-Nrc.
Nlchol committeeman from the Thirty-sev-
ehth Ward, was another big surprise Noll
was deteated by Arthur d. Brenner, a Ware
follower by vote of 23 to 21. Noll was
city committeeman from the ward for sew.
enteen years.
In the Twenty-fourth Ward the rival
| factions held two separate meetings in the
same room at the Republican Club. Forty.
irst street and Lancaster avenue. Each
side claims victory. Blakely D. McCaugh-
an the Penrose- -NcNlchol committeeman,
claims reelection, and the Ware supporters
assert That their candidate, Michael !.
Crane, was elected.
TIo
! OF the committeeman were Ineligible, and
| asserted that Thomas Wlltbank. chairman
| declined TO listen 10 their charges This so
| angered the Ware supporters that they held
| a meeting to elect Crane.
The faction favoring McCaughan claims
| that he was reelected by a vote of A to
| So but followers Of Crane announce his
! election by vote of 81 to 35.
Strong-arm tactics, bribery, trickery and
other charges characterized the election in
the Thirteenth Ward. The Ware men claim
| that their candidate, Common Councilman
William II. Jones, present committeeman
| received twenty-five votes and was elected
| while Court Clerk John Flaherty McNichol
| candidate received but seventeen votes
! 1t is charged by the Flaherty supporters
that, although they had a majority in the
| committee, many Of their men were pre-.
| vented from entering the meeting by strong.
arm men at the door. The Flaherty fol.
| lowers also assert that Congressman Johr
| r. ~ Scott, a Jones supporter, was admit.
| ted to the meeting despite the fact that ht
| is not member of the committee and does
| not live in the ward.
When questioned concerning the Jones'
| F'laherty fight. Senator McNichol said to
day that IL the Jones faction made any
| contest before the city committee the mat
| ter would not end until certain persons wer,
| called into court and asked TO explain why
they attended meeting where they had nc
| legal right to be present.
| McNichol supporters claimed that two
| members Of the committee who have job!
| at City Hall--Theodore Clay and Thomas
Hewitt-were discharged yesterday aft
| ernoon and informed that If they voted
right they could return to their positions.
Magistrate John l.. Collins, McNichol city
| committeeman from the Fifteenth Ward
| was reelected. He received forty-ninC
votes and II. w. Kelley, the Ware cand
| date. thirtV-seVen.