Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-27
PeeHca &.
Pe~~o4esasia
By the Ex-Comnitteeman

Indications that the friends Of
United States District Attorney L.
Lowry Humes do not propose to-
tamely acquiesce in the stating of
Acting State Chairman Joseph +.
Guffey, of the Democratic state COM
mittee, for the Democratic nomina-
tion for governor by the machine
were seen all over the state yester-
dayl and there were also signs that
eX-Judge w. 4. Porter, president of
the Dry Federation, which had given
]. Denny O'Neil it's nonpartisan en-
dorsement here last month, was de-
veloping feelings that the Demo-
cratic people wanted him. Guffey's
announcement is expected within
forty-eight hours and then the state
machine will begin to give dis
play of ruthlessness in the name of
pure politics. The Democratic state
windmill in Market Square is dis
playing much activity and it looks
as though the bosses would order the
workers to get busy for Guffey very
soon.
1t is interesting in view of Cuff
feys silence about where he stands
on the prohibition amendment to
note that the Dry Federation work.
ers are boosting Porter and that the
state is being flooded with 'litera-
ture" by dry" people in behalf of
Humes.
The Philadelphia Record to-day
calls attention to the effort to put
Humes to the front as dry can
didate. 1t will be recalled that Humes
started a boom, but after a confer
ence with National Chairman Nc
(NnrnninlF haH
norship was an expensive PROPOSE
ton. The Press also notes Demo-
cratic internal troubles and the
North American sums it up this
way: In the Democratic organi-
zation the leaders are sitting tight
and waiting until the Republicans
have agreed upon their candidates.
Joseph Il. Guffey, of Pittsburgh, is
expected in Philadelphia this week,
to announce himself as candidate
for governor. Among the followers
of A. Mitchell Palmer, leader of the |
state Democratic organization, there |
are many who want the candidate |
for governor to take the middle of
the road and stand on the prohibi-
ton issue. If Guffey, who is the
choice of President Wilson for gov
ernor, announces, men close to MIN
say, that he will have nothing to say
regarding the ratification of the pro-
hibition amendment until after the
primaries, the question then would
be decided by the state committee
in making up the Democratic plat
form"
A. Nevin DIETRICH, chairman of
the late Washington party state com
mittee, who was given leave of alb
sence from his duties as chief eX-
aminer of the State Insurance De-
partment late yesterday at his own
request, will become one of half q
dozen field men for j. Denny
O'Neils boom for governor. DIETRICH |
is declared by Insurance Commits
sioner Charles A. Amber to have
requested leave of absence some |
time ago so that he could play poll
tics but Mr.. Amber says that he
wished him to finish up some work.
When DIETRICH moved the chief eX-
aminer's office from Philadelphia to |
this city it was predicted that there |
would be trouble for him. The an
nouncement of the granting of leave |
followed visit Auditor General |
Charles A. Snyder had DIETRICH pay
at his office. Mr.. Snyder said that |
the visit was, satisfactory" to him.
1t is understood he asked DIETRICH |
what he was doing and DIETRICH told |
him he intended to secure leave of
absence. Mr.. Snyder denied empha-
tically that he had forced DIETRICH to
take a leave.
Thomas c. Jones. of McKees-
port, will be the chairman of the !
O'Neil campaign committee, al
though O'Neil will run his cam
paign himself Mr.. Jones is former
judge and personal friend. Joseph |
N. .Mackrell, of Pittsburgh, will be
secretary in charge of headquarters. |
Mr.. Snyder's notice that he
would insist upon men active in poll |
tics showing him whether they were
working for the state has caused a |
subsiding of some politically active |
citizens at the Capitol.
State Senator William C. Sproul |
permitted it to become known yes
terday that he does not intend to be- |
come involved in any controversy
that may resolve itself around the |
Republican choice for lieutenant
governor" says the Philadelphia In !
quirer. Senator Sproul proposes to |
follow the course originally outlined
by him, of adhering strictly to the |
campaign he is making as a guberna- |
torial candidate on the broadest and
most progressive lines, irrespective |
of any factional differences that |
may arise in the Republican ranks
from time to time"
The Pittsburgh Gazette-Timesl
says that the Sproul announcement
in its "scope of Informative discus
sion" has "value far above anyl
considerations of partnerships" The J
Wilkes-Barre Record says editorial
ly that it is evident that he "is not
going to be on the defensive" The
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin gives
strong editorial endorsement to the
announcement of the senator.
Thomas ]. Pfarr has been re-
appointed fire marshal of Allegheny
county for the fifth time.
-Schuylkilrs enrolment will
show 81 900 Republicans and about
5000 Democrats.
The Wares having demolished
Magistrate Campbell, are now after
the ward leadership of Clerk of the
Courts Thomas w. Cunningham.
John FISHER, prominent Phil
adelphian, will be n candidate for
Congress.
Reading voters are getting to-
gether in a nonpartisan league to
down the Socialists. Republicans
and Democrats alike will fight Rep
resentative James II. Maurer and his
associate. Henry Stump. A bitter
attack upon Maurer as a Socialist
is expected to be made.
Representative Isadore Stern,
who was here yesterday, says he eX-
poets to be a candidate for Con-
gress-at-Large and that he will fay
John r. K Scott.