Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-02
PoGtica ;~
Ps~~sqeoa~ia
BY the Ex-Committeeman

Democratic state bosses have sat
down hard on the proposition that
there should be gathering of the
men who run the machine in various
parts of the Commonwealth held in
Harrisburg to plan the campaign
| for 1918 and have let it be known
| that in due season the half dozen
| men who control the federal appoint
ments in Pennsylvania will meet at
/ Washington and determine what
| shall be done. The move started here
some six weeks ago by the Harris
| burg Democratic Association to Sc
cure general Democratic state con-
| ference got more momentum than
! generally believed and there were
signs in a number of counties that
| leaders. aspirants for jobs and men
! interested in the party in other re-
spects than pie would demand such
meeting to discuss the merits of
candidates for state nominations in
advance of the primary and to talk
! over party policies.
The suggestion was eagerly taken
up by some men who have been
! hunting a chance to scalp the pres
ent leaders and coupled with fear
| that the insurgents might gain
strength and that some one would
provoke a discussion of the liquor
issue, which the Democratic machine
leaders want to avoid, the big bosses
caused the word to cease from trou-
Bling to go out. 1t was intimated this
week that the President did not de-
sire to have anything stirred up in
Pennsylvania during the present
state of affairs. Hence, men who dis
| turb the serenity of the bosses, most
of whom hold federal jobs, might be
| looked upon as unfriendly to national
veal This silencer is always effec-
| tive because Pennsylvanians are pa
| triotic and the bosses know it.
1t is declared by friends of Ma
mick that he will not be a candidate
for Governor. Four years ago it was
declared that Mr.. Mccormick sought
only the welfare of the Democracy
in Pennsylvania and not public place
and he wound up by becoming a |
candidate, although of course, it was
stated that it was at the earnest de-
sire of the President that he entered |
the contest. 1t is said in dispatches
from Washington that Mr.. McCor-
mick will again be sent abroad by4
the President to make some observa-
Board. Whether while engaged in
this patriotic work, which would pre-
vent him from making a campaign,
his friends will insist upon nomi-
mating him is not known.
A. Mitchell Palmer, James I.
Blakslee, w. II. Berry and others
hold federal jobs. which are reason
ably sure. Joseph f. Guffey is willing
to run, but the bosses think he would
n hn candidate nf |
his name and corporation affiliations.
So there is blare of trumpets and
General c. Bow Dougherty, of Lu-
zerne, former commander of the Ma
tional Guard and close friend of Pal
mer, rides into the ring.
In Il short time the bosses will |
decide whether Mccormick will ruin
or not.
Senator Sproul is meeting with
friends in Philadelphia and Commits
sioner O'Neil is having conferences
in Pittsburgh. State Chairman Crow
is busy in the state seeking what the |
Philadelphia Evening Ledger says is |
real harm mony."
Upon the instruction of the chair
man of the State Prohibition Com
imttee, a conference of the Philadel- |
phia Prohibitionists and all those, |
regardless of past political affiliations, |
who with them agree that Pennsyl- !
vania should ratify the Prohibition |
amendment, is called to meet next |
tuesday evening in Philadelphia for |
the purpose of naming fifteen dele |
gates to the State Convention, to be |
held in Pittsburgh on Lincoln's birth |
day, to declare, if they so desire, their |
attitude and make such recommen-
dations as they deem wise.
-"Police and iiremen must be di- |
vcrced from politics This is the |
demand made by the last grand |
jury, which yesterday made its final |
report to Philadelphia Quarter Ses- |
sions Court. In dealing with the po- |
lice and fire situation, the grand jur-
ors say that indirectly the death of
firemen can be laid to politics be- |
cause men are placed in charge not !
because of their ability as freight |
ers, bLt as political fighters.
Insisting that his position is pro- |
tected by Civil Service and that he
cannot be removed except on charges
made and sustained, John II. Thom-
as, superintendent of the police and
fire alarm system, refused to surren-
der the office when w. j. Neave, ap-
pointed to the place by Mayor Alex
r. Connell, reported to take Charge.
Thomas maintains that the Mayor
will have to use the police to forcibly
remove him, ana that he will then
take the fight into court. He says he
is following legal advice. Four years
ago Thomas was appointed by Mayor
Jermyn to succeed Neave. Neave re-
fused to give up the Office and, when
forced out, went to court and won,
the court ordering Jermyn to rein
state him. Neave then resigned.
The situation is similar now, with
the principals in reserved order.
The Philadelphia Press says that
the appointments in the Philadelphia
Register of Wills office will be made
next week and that there seems to be
an understanding between Auditor
General Snyder and Mr.. Sheehan.
The Palmer people, who lost
their newspaper in Easton, have
started in to make the Nazareth
Item their bugle call for Northamps
ton county. They might utilize some
of the wind being spent by Demo-
cratic organs here to wind their horn
in the Twenty-siXth district.
One of the funny things about
the Democratic wind mill is that
every effort is being made to bring
out opposition to Congressman John
NJ. Rose in the Blair Cambria Bed
ford district and meanwhile Warren
Worth Bailey, who is out of joint
with the bosses, is building up a
machine to capture the nomination