Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-17
Poeit;c4 ;n
Pe~~eqaoo~io
BY the Ex-Committccman

bSlleIOnte Democratic WatChman,
one of the newspapers that has been
Democratic in season and out and
that is looked up to by readers in
many, parts of the state. The
Watchman has seen in the distance
some signs of party disturbance
and issues a warning as we'll as COM
ment.
Discussing the recent move of the
Harrisburg Democratic association
in calling for a restoration of the
old-time Embossed" Democratic
state convention it styles it "a de-
mand." And it commends the idea
of general discussion of party af-
fairs. the formulating of a platform
III open meeting and discussion of
merits of candidates in advance of
the primary, which is the very last
thing that the ruling class of the
autocracy styling itself the Pennsyl-
Nanla democracy wants in this year.
The Watchman shouts this abroad:
Party conventions are not only use
ful but essential for the purposes eN-
pressed by the Harrisburg associa-
tion and they are equally valuable
y
. leaders. Since the abandonment of
party conventions there has been no
way OF getting acquainted with local
party workers. Under the conVen-
ton system nearly every year de-
Neloped some talented young man
who was encouraged into political
activity by the older party managers
and thus new blood was supplied 10
the organization and new Zest given
TO the labor of promulgating party
principles and promoting party sue
cess. For five years 4 bunch of Of
flee holders, assembled in n distant
city. have monopolized party man
agement."
Still further evidence of the big
factional fight brewing in the State
Democracy was furnished to-day by
the Philadelphia Record, the big
Democratic organ of the state, which
while taking much pleasure in the
Republican family differences finds
time TO note trouble in its own party
Some days ago the Pittsburgh Post
had an article which called upon
Democrats to present a united front
and other Democratic papers show
| that their heads are out of the sand
and that they see a factional fight
looming up.
The Records article is rather
startling in the way ii presents the
attitude of the Democratic bosses. 1t
says: Bitter factional troubles are
again threatened in Democratic
ranks in the Berks-Lehigh Congress-
ional district, the Democratic strong
hold of the state. as the result of an
attempt by \. Mitchell Palmer, Dem
ocratic national committeeman from
Pennsylvania, to dictate the nomina-
ton of n Congressional candidate.
Palmer and his friends, according
to information received from WASH
ington, have slated William NJ. Croll.
of Reading, ma. I officer of the port
here. AS, soon : the news of the
Washington conference leaked out,
Congressman Arthur G.. Dewalt, OF
Allentown, announced his candidacy
for a denomination. Dewalt claims
that he did so at the signed request
| of 600 of his BerkS county cOnstitu-
ents. To further add to the complica-
tions, Charles 3. Spatz, the Boyer
town editor. who has had the Con-
/ gressional bee for many years, an
nOunces that he is a candidate and is
/ in the field TO stay. Dewalt defeated
Congressman Rothermel, of Read
ing, four years ago. although Rother-
mel at that time had the active sup
port OF Palmer"
While Highway Commissioner ].
Denny O'Neil was here last night in
consultation with Governor Brum-
baugh and Attorney General Brown
/ regarding his ambition to succeed
the Governor, Senator William c.
Sproul was making statements at
Philadelphia indicative of his de-
sire to be a harmony candidate
against whom no stones can be
thrown. The Governor is opposed
10 Sproul, but the Senator hopes to
I win him. Senator Sproul came as
near to announcing that he is can
didcte as he could without a for
NAL staten ent. Il am the candidate
OF no faction was the way he put
Z il. He said ne is about to tour the
state. Mr.. O'Neil is to be guest of
honor at a big dinner in Pittsburgh
next week and will likely make an
announcement then.
To add to the joys of the time a
conference of men from northeast
ern counties friendly to the state
administration such as c. d. Cough
/ In and L. r. Holcomb, of Luzerne,
and George W. MaXey, of Scranton,
| held a meeting last night at Wilkes
1 Barre and launched a boom for
| Chairman W. d. B. Ainey, of the
I Public Service Commission. Mr..
| Ainey is in Pittsburgh and his views
U
/ law he cannot be a candidate for
any nomination and be a commits
! sioner. so unless he is an out and out
candidate he will not say much.
The Ainey conference stirred up
| friends of Congressman L. I. Nc
i Fadden, of Bradford; Col. H. c.
/ Trexler, of Lehigh, and Col. ]. a.
| Watres, of Scranton. and to-day
from messages coming here it looks
| as though more favorite sons would
/ come in. The Watres boomers plan
to have a meeting next week.
! Considerable comment was
evoked about the Capitol to-day at
the ardent press agenting being done
| for Highway Commissioner O'Neil by
the Mccormick newspapers. Some of
! the administration men were in
clined to be critical as one day the
/ Governor is slammed and the next
day O'Neil doomed. Tomorrow it
may be Commissioner Ainey's turn.
/ Support from such a quarter is rath-
! or indicative of Democratic hopes.
In view of the apparent inten-
ton of Messrs. Sproul and O'Neil to
run. which means a fight, harmony
advocates have been getting very
busy and the name of George E.
Alter, former Speaker. who is a local
optionist and identified with neither
side, is being mentioned as one be-
hind whom all can line up and be
sure of a square deal.
The appointment of Richard V.
Farley, the former Democratic SEN
ator from Philadelphia, to place on