Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-05
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BY the Ex-Committeeman

Considerable comment has been
aroused in Western Pennsylvania over
the criticism made at Pittsburgh by
Senator l.. e. Beidleman, president
pro tenn of the Senate, on the non
partisan judicial election law. There
have been few changes made in the
election laws of Pennsylvania in the
last fifteen years that have worked
out as hoped and the judicial law has
made more trouble than all the rest
and also operated in q distinctly un-
satisfactory manner in a number of
districts. A bill is now pending to
abolish the nonpartisan feature of the
Judicial law and 1t seems to be getting
considerable nonpartisan support.
In his speech the Dauphin Senator
who took pronounced stand in favor
of funds for highway improvement,
said: The fool nonpartisan law in
regard to election of judges" was not
satisfactory and had operated to keep
well qualified men off the bench and
brought about defeat of men of high
standing. "A good judge" said he
should be kept in office as long as his
health continues"
Men connected with the State
government are not any more con-
cerned with the suggestions for
changes in the Pennsylvania govern
mental scheme made by Harry S. Nc
Dewitt, solicitor of the Economy and
Efficiency Commission, than are a
number of taxpayers in various coun-
ties. judging from some comments in
newspapers. The proposition to abolish
about score of boards or bureaus and
consolidate their work is not expected
by these newspapers to prove popular
on Capitol Hill, but they give warn
ing that it may be an issue in the State
campaign next year if the State ad-
ministration does not make some ef-
fort to reduce expenditures and jobs
and to prevent some of the occur
rences in the last year or so. or
course, no one would expect Demo-
Gratis, if they got control of the gov
ernment to be any more sincere in
reduction of expenses than they were
at Washington, where the increases in
expenditures for government have been
enormous and jobs seem to be put in
hot houses to hurry them along. But
the newspaper comment indicates that
the Democrats are going to beat the
economy tom-tom next year.
The Philadelphia Record publish
es the following from a Washington
staff correspondent: Vance G. Nc.
National Committee, announced to-day
he would not be a candidate for Gov
ernor next year. When asked, how
ever, If he would be a candidate for q
seat in the United States Senate, Mr..
Mccormick refused to admit or deny
that he would oppose Senator Penrose
for reelection.
1T is the consensus of opinion
among leading Pennsylvania Demo-
Gratis now here that Mr.. Mccormick
will make a strong fight to succeed the
senior Republican Senator from the
keystone State and that he will have
the support of President Wilson in the
contest. 1t is not believed President
Wilson's campaign manager is slated
for a Cabinet berth but there is a
strong feeling that he will surely he
the Democratic candidate for United
States Senator and that he will make
his fight on State issues and the sue
cess of the Wilson administration.
I'm a short statement Mr. McCor-
mick praised President Wilson and de-
clared the people are now rejoicing
over the fact that they returned him
to Office last November. A change
during the crisis through which this
country is passing, he said, would have
caused a condition of uncertainty that
would react as a detriment to the ma
| ton"