Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-22
PoGttc4 i~
Pe~~eqeso"io
BY the Ex-Committeeman

Republican waters; the uncertainty
surrounding Governor Brumbaugh's
ideas on an eXta session of the leg
islature and the Sproul appearance
at the Pittsburgh dinner last night
there is plenty to make Washing
tons birthday of interest to people
who follow politics in Pennsylvania.
The Democratic leaders are try
ing their best to avoid a fight in
their party. The 'wets" and the
''drys" have been getting ready to
throw things at each other and bat
tie between the Old Guard and the
ReorganiZers will be renewed in
element and the uplifters and the
/ play safe" boys are all following
their own lines and the Democratic
situation looks like a spider web af-
ter a drive by wasps.
The Democratic conference will
be vastly different from that held
/ four years ago when the ticket was
framed up by half a dozen men at
| Washington. This year resentment
against having it done on the banks
OF the Potomac forced a change.
-O'Neil men were jubilant to-
day. They claimed the failure of
Scott and Mackey to appear at the
Pittsburgh dinner with Sproul was
conclusive evidence that there was
nothing doing in the reports that
the Wares were for the Delaware
man.
The highway commission will
be in Cambria county to-day and
tomorrow will have round up in
Pittsburgh. In his Altoona speech
last night Mr.. O'Neil attacked the
present road law.
State Chairman Crow. who was
at the Pittsburgh dinner, attracted
much attention by conferences with
William a. Magee, who is with the
state administration and commonly
believed against O'Neil. Chairman
Crow will be in Philadelphia tonight
and spend the weekend in confer
ence with friends on the Republican
ticket.
The North American charges
that Ware men blocked a probe of
Mayor Smiths bonding company in
Philadelphia.
Newspaper comment is not gen.
orally favorable to the extra session
proposition which has been so much
talked of about the Capitol and men
prominent in the state administration
declare that there will be no re-
convening of the legislature. The
extra session idea, however, is strong
~ III SGu bN IildIlN VI TIE IllGll dNbANG
in the dry movement.
~
1t is said that some people have
the impression that Governor Brum-
baugh has read in the Pennypacker
biography how the governor of 1906
oANled the extra session that year
In spite of protests by the politicians
and his own friends and made a rec
ord of legislation which was COM
II IL i
do likewise. Others say that If he
has that idea conditions are differ
ent this year and that men in his
cabinet will tell him so when he re-
turns from the South.
The number of suggestions for
inclusion in the call is growing and
some of the up state administration
leaders are nervous about chances
that re-apportionment will subtract
from rural counties and add TO ur-
ban.
Quite a number of names are
being talked of for the Republican
nomination for state legislator from
the Second Lackawanna district and
many of them are based on the sup
position that Hugh A. Dawson, who
is now the representative from the
district, Will llEIIl III Ills uC-
cision to retire from politics for the
present. Prof. James r. Hughes has
many friends working in his behalf,
while John Wolfe, another Green
Ridge man. is also mentioned as a
possible candidate. Benjamin Jones,
of North Scranton, and Nathan Je-
hu, who was defeated for alderman
last fall, are also possibilities along
with Virgil H. Crisman and William
r. Sims, all KIN own here.
1t is pretty certain now that
Charles F. Ditchey, of Shenandoah,
who on the first Monday of January
retired from the office of Sheriff of
Schuylkill county, will not have the
track to himself in the race for the
Democratic nomination for the Of
flee of Congress. Efforts are max
ing to have James j. Moran, of Potts
vile. enter the field for that nom
ination. Mr.. Moran is a member of
the Schuylkill County Bar and is the
president of the Union Safe Deposit
Bank of Pottsville, possessing much
experience in the practice of the law
and in finance. He served a term as
County Auditor prior to the county
coming under the Controller act.
The Pittsburgh Dispatch in a
story from Philadelphia says that
one of the things which is keeping
the O'Neil men busy is the attitude
OF William a. Magee. former Public
Service Commissioner, who has not
| indicated what he will do. Mr..
Magee favored Chairman Ainey some
time ago and although wooed by
| O'Neil men has remained silent.
Up in the northeastern corner
of the state things are shaping them
| selves so that it looks as though
| Senator Z. +. Warner would have
| Democratic ticket although some
Democratic leaders around here are
making faces at him. Ex-Auditor
General L. b. Hardenbergh, Sena-
tor from that district years ago, is
reported as thinking seriously about
running again.
Representative James G.. Dell,
of Huntingdon, may be agreed upon
| for denomination for the House Dell
was the leader of the Farmers al
! lance" in the House last season and
kept things interesting because of
! the insistence with which he COM
batted city influences.
| Scranton people seem to think
that it may narrow down to Z. B.
Jermyn and Albert Davis for the
Republican Senatorial honors in
Lackawanna. Senator w. NJ. Lynch
is said to be thinking more about
his place as head of Farview hos
pital than of another term. Some