Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-05
Pse;ttc4 &.
Pe~~eqesa~in
BY the Ex-Committeeman

From all accounts the rout of the
Paine err Mccormick leadership of
the Democracy of Pennsylvania in
the recent primary was due more
to the sublime overconfidence of the
leaders than to anything else and
there are numerous stories being
written and told about the man
ner in which the chieftains who had
been given everything by President
Wilson to build up a machine passed
up suggestions and information. 1t
is now intimated in Washington that
the President, who is not keenly
| interested in men who do not deliver,
has been more or less impressed by
the inability of the reorganization
leaders of the Keystone State to do
what they have proclaimed they were
| going to do in the presidential, gu
| bernatorial and congressional cam
paigns and also by the manner in
which they were beaten on May 81.
One of the most striking of these
| stories comes from Washington and
is to the effect that a group of state
| leaders went to Palmer and McCor-
mick about a week before the pri-
mary and told them the manner in
which the Old Guard and the Bonni-
well forces had joined forces, warn
ing them that old Colonel Jim" Cuff
| fey was very much alive and that
Bonniwell had behind him an ag-
gressive combination composed of
liquor people with personal allies of
the judge, including many Demo-
Gratis connected with fire depart
ments, the judge being president of
the State Firemen's Association. This
group was composed of experienced
men in Democratic warfare and was
laughed at. The two bosses then
took the visitors into their conf
dence and showed them, on paper,
just where Joe Guffey was going to
carry sixty-two counties and that the
other five were doubtful. The result
of the election was that Bonniwell
carried most of the counties which
wero on the sure thing" list of the
Palmer Mccormick leadership.
While considerable newspaper
space is being given to meeting
yesterday between Senator William
G. Sproul and the Ware brothers,
Chairman Harry c. Ransley, of the
Philadelphia city committee and 9TH
er Ware leaders, Penrose men do not
seem to be much disturbed. The
meeting, it was stated, was to plan
the fall campaign in Philadelphia,
where the Wares plan to make a
showing for Sproul which will give
them claims to consideration for
the Philadelphia patronage. The
Wares were the people who saved
Tener in 1910 and never allowed him
to forget it. They seem to be de-
temined to have their foundation
with the next governor secure. And
with the vote given Sproul at the
primary they had something to talk
about at the meeting.
In all probability eX-Speaker
Richard j. Baldwin will become
candidate for the Republican Sena-
torial nomination in Delaware coun-
ty to succeed Senator Sproul when
he becomes Governor. While it seems
like talking far ahead, it is under
stood to be the plan to have the Sem
ator continue in his seat for the
opening of the Legislature and then
to resign just before he is inaugu-
rated. The same plan would be fol-
lowed in the case of Senator Ed
ward e. Beidleman, of this county.
Friends of Superior Court Judge
John w. Kephart have been quietly
getting things started for him as a
contestant for one of the Supreme
Court nominations. The Cambria
county judge gave the state an eye
opener when he ran for Superior
Court and his friends say he is capa-
BILE of doing it again. The lines are
being laid for the candidacy of JUS
tice Alexander Simpson. The story
persists that since the Munson boom
fiattened out that A. Mitchell Pal
mer has been given to understand he
may have the second vacancy him
self or may name the man as the
Governor is anxious to avoid a fight
on Simpson and would like to get the
Democrats lined up behind one of
their own faith.
State Highway Commissioner
O'Neil filed his personal expense ac-
count as q candidate late yesterday
afternoon. He expended $10,6S2.22.
OF this sum $500 was paid to c.
w. Kiser, treasurer of his campaign
committee, who accounted for his
receipts from the candidate in his
committee account filed yesterday.
Joseph n. Mackrell, his campaign
manager, received $500 and the fol-
lowing sums were given to county
organizations: Erie, $400: Beaver,
$500; Northumberland, 500; Lacka-
wanna, $3.50, and Mexican, 500.
Robert P. Habgood. also a candidate
for the Republican gubernatorial
nomination, turned in an expense ac-
count that showed he had spent
more than $500 on advertising and
publicity. He did not total the hun
dreds of items, which include adver-
tising in many papers throughout
the state, but his bills paid amount
to s2,S28.75. while S2,672S3 worth
of bills are still unpaid.
Highway Commissioner ].
Denny O'Neil is expected to make
his first statement since the cleo
ton tonight. The Commissioners
has steadfastIy refused to Comment
upon the result except to say that he
was studying the returns and analyz-
ing. especially with reference to the
wet" and dry" votes. To-day he
left with Joseph N. Mackrell, his
campaign manager, for a trip over
some roads in Southern Pennsylva-
MIA and is expected to make his state
ment tonight. Governor Brumbaugh
may also speak after O'Neil has is
sued what he has to say. Tt is not
believed that Mr.. O'NeiE contem-
plates any independent move.
-Ex-S Senator Moses r. Shields.
of Nicholson, Wyoming county, has
been appointed to clerxship in the
Auditor Generals Department The
former senator served in the House
and Senate and was a member of
the Capitol Investigation Commits
sion. Harry IT. Shattuck, of Brook
lyn. Susquehanna county, and w. G.
Fisher, Sunbury, former factory
inspector. have also been appointed
to clerlSships.
Unless Allegheny and some of
not filed official returns give Judge
w n P0rtar vary largo N, n In r;tia.