Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-18
Poeitica CT
Pe~~oqeSa~io
BY the Ex-Committeeman

while RepuDllcanS throughout
Pennsylvania are waiting for the
Philadelphia situation to clear up,
and the Republican gubernatorial
candidates are going through the
warming up canter, Democrats are
watching to see whether National
Chairman Vance C. Mccormick or
Acting State Chairman, Joseph f.
Guffey, is going to win in the quiet
struggle going on in the PennSyl-
vania Democracy, to see who is boss.
Mccormick wants to name the can
didate, but refuses to heed the re-
quest that he undertake the bur-
dens of a campaign. Guffey wants
to run. himself.
1t is commonly believed that Nc
Cormick wants to put up a dry"
candidate, as he would run on a
dry" platform, If he ran himself,
and Guffey wants to either avoid any
declaration and make national serv-
ice and win the war" the issues or
else be wet" either openly or not
belligerently. The federal office
holders are with Mccormick, as are
many of the wise leaders in the
counties, while the machine work
ers and the liquor men are inclined
to be friendly with Guffey. Guffey
is strong in a way and q good poll
tician. Mccormick is considered
strong, but not a good politician.
National Committeeman A. Nit
chell Palmer, is talking about Will
liam II. Berry, collector of the port
of Philadelphia, occasionally. while
some of the Mccormick men talk of
Humes.
Some Democrats are willing to bet
that Mccormick will run if he sees
chance to win, but that If he
thinks it losing contest. he will
back Humes. The President will
bless whatever Mccormick does.
One of the interesting features
about the Democratic situation is the
fact that the Democratic newspapers
have ceased to talk about their own
party woes and are devoting yards
and yards to playing up Republican
troubles.
The North American to-day says
that William II. Berry awaits word
from Mccormick whether he should
be candidate. 1t says he wrote the
national chairman, telling him he
would run if Mccormick did not.
The North American says Berry's
letter puts the question squarely at
Mccormick whether he is going to
run. 1t also notes the fact that West
ern Pennsylvanians who do not like
Guffey and are not enthusiastic over
Berry are boosting Judge Singleton
Bell, of. Clearfield, for governor.
This interesting remark is made
by Robert P. Habgood, candidate for
the Republican nomination for gov
ernor in a letter to the Pittsburgh
q Of To NiffNn tn q
that the candidate for governor, who
declares in behalf of the national
prohibition amendment, and who
does not strongly support candidates
in his county in the primaries who
will vote in the Legislature for such
ratification, fails to give his approval
the necessary and convincing force"
Nominating petitions of Ander-
son IL. Walters, Johnstown; Lex N.
Mitchell, Punxsutawney, and Fred
E. Lewis, Allentown. all Progressives
have bloomed, each aspiring to be
congressman-at-lafge. Congressman
Mclaughlin and Crago, are candi-
dates for reelection. Lewis and
Mitchell will be state administration
candidates as both are friendly to
O'Neil.
Lewis entry into the contest is
interesting, as he has been a strong
Bull Mooser. The Progressives are
badly split and the effort to have
them go in q block will be a failure.
Thomas Robins and other big factors
will be for Sproul; Pinchot and pos
sibly William Draper Lewis and Will
liam Finn, will be for O'Neil, but
not get heart failure over it. The
lesser leaders will divide and some
are already making faces at each
other over their preferences. "
Robert C. Shaw, prominent in
Democratic affairs years ago, candi-
date for congress at large and DEM
ocratic member of the State Board
of Education, faces a contest to sue
ceed himself as county school SUD-
erintendent of Westmoreland.
Samuel Castles, prominent in
Scranton, is a candidate for the Re-
publican senatorial nomination.
The Pittsburgh Gazette Times
is printing an interesting series of
editorials from various newspapers
of the state, showing the rising tide
for the ratification of the prohibition
amendment, a battle in which the
big Western Pennsylvania paper is
taking a leading part. From the
positive character of most of the
editorials, the amendment is strong
in every county.
Armstrong has nineteen less
licenses than a year ago.
The Philadelphia Inquirer's AL
toona correspondent says that the
candidacy of Senator Sproul in Blair
county sis being met with the high
est favor by the rank and file of the
Republicans of that county" It
claims the county for Sproul.
j, Purdy Cope, Monroe county
hotel owner, who is candidate for
senator. styles himself a Wilson
Democrat" He is strong for stock
ing of our streams with trout and
bass"
Samuel Wagner, of Tamaqua, is
a candidate for the Republican SEN
atorial nomination in Schuylkill on
a dry" platform.
-Bethlehem's new council, has
passed a building ordinance covering
about $4,000 words. It is said to be
a model compilation.
Robert w. Homan, who is a
candidate for the Legislature from
Mifflin county, lives in Lewistown,
and says that he will look after the
interests of the workman, although
he is no Socialist. He works for the
Standard Steel Co.. and is an AL
bright graduate.
Representative r. A. Ringler,
Democratic member from Reading,
is out for denomination. Represen-
tative James III. Maurer. the Social
list member, is also a candidate in
that city.
The Blessings