Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-08
Poett;ca IN
Pe~~oqeoo~io
By the Ex-Commttteeman

Pennsylvania officialdom yester-
day underwent greater changes, out
side of the state government, thar
have been known for years and II
is estimated that close to 5000 per-
sons assumed office either for the
first time or by start of terms for
which they were reelected. Through
the operation of the constitutional
amendments of 1909 and the various
! laws affecting judicial terms and tho
| officers CT all cities and boroughs
| which have been materially changed
in recent years practically the whole
| governmental machinery of the
municipal divisions of the state was
| changed. County governments were
| the only ones not affected to any
| great extent.
In most places the reorganizations
Of councils and boards were effected
by harmony agreements, although
in Philadelphia the feeling between
the factions cropped out in an at
tempt to defeat loan bill, which
was passed by only one vote to spare,
an hour before councils reorganized.
Wilkes-Barre and York had stormy
times in reorganizing, but things
seemed to be harmonious in Pitts
burgh and other storm centerS, al
though the general interest shown IN
politics i'll the Smoky City probably
means some strenuous campaigning
this fall.
OF unusual interest was the in
aGSuration of the city manager plan
of government in Altoona and the
appearance of Bethlehem as n third
class city on an announced plan Of
business efficiency, the development
of which under Mayor Arch John
ston will be followed with the great
est interest.
With the city and county gov
ernments in office for another two
years at least political interest now
turns to the gubernatorial situation
and it is believed that there will be
little delay in getting the campaign
for the nominations started. Sen
ator William C. Sprouts announce
mont 'ot gubernatorial ambitions is
said to be due in a day or so and
may rrecede his visit to Pittsburgh
to atterd the Armstrong dinner,
which will be the big gathering Of
Tenrose men. Friends of Senator
Sproul say that there will be no an
nouncement from him unless he has
assurance of Ware support.
On the other hand it is said
that the Delaware senator can not
count upon state administration
support all along the line even if the
Wares declare themselves favorable
to him. The meetings to be held
here and at Philadelphia the 1eXt
few days will show what the admin
istration is going to do. People
about the capitol look for aphear-
ancc cf Attorney General Brown as
the candidate.
Democratic leaders are preserv-
ing a monumental silence unril the
Republican alignment is seen and
then the slate will be issued. Mean
while suggestions of a convention to
discuss merits of candidates ere be-
ing choked off as rapidly as made.
Tho Cambria county bar yes
terday went on record as endorsing
Superior Court Judge William d.
Porter for denomination. The judges
friends are getting active all over :he
state, even Democrats being for him.
Friends of Ex-Speaker George
r.. Alter who has been much talked
of as a possible harmony candidate
for the Republican nomination for
Governor, one whose nomination
wouldn't leave any after effects, say
that he will neither run away from
nor run after a nomination.
-EX-Lieutenant Governor Louis
A. Watres, of Scranton, will have
some friends at the Armstrong din
ner and the gatherings to be held in
that city and the claims of the
Scranton man will be urged.
Judge John Faber Miller, of
Montgomery, who has been men-
toned at home as possible candi-
date for Governor, only smiles. 1t
looks as though the judge was being
given complimentary mention by
some people in order to head off a
lineup for Sproul.
According to Philadelphia news
papers Clifford Pinchot has decided
that he will not be a candidate for
gubernatorial honors, although
ardent friends of the eX-forester
here Cay that they have no such
word. Pinchot had a long confer
ence yesterday with William Draper
Lewis, who had some experience in
state campaigns, it will be recalled,
and decided to save his money.
-Ine TepOTIeu ueClSlOH Ol MT.
Lewis to stay out of the ring makes
Highway Commissioner j. Denny
| O'Neill an interesting figure and a
statement as TO his ambitions is Gag
erly awaited. In the event that At
! torney General Brown should not
become a candidate on behalf of the
state administration, Mr.. O'Neil
would be the man put forward.
However, he is just as likely to go
forward on his own hook as not.
| Senator Penrose will leave Phil
adelphia tomorrow for Pittsburgh
to attend the Armstrong dinner and
the war councils. Senator Sproul
will leave the same day and Senator
L. L. Beidleman, talked of for Lieu
tenant Governor. will join the Pen
rose party.
The oath to District Attorney
Rotan and his ten assistants was
administered by Judge Joseph Rog-
ers. formerly one of Mr.. Rotan's
staff in PhiladelDhia