Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-22
Poe;t;c4 i~
Pe~~oqGa~io
BY the Ex-Committecman

Democratic machine attempts to-
stifle suggestions of a contest for
the nomination for head of the
Democratic State ticket at the No
Vember election and the industrious
manner in which certain newspapers
have been insisting that the Repub-
hcan breach is tending toward the
irreconcilable and only needs to be
helped along to bring the time
! when all good Democrats can agree
upon a victorious ticket have be-
come so notable the last few daysl
as TO create a suspicion that the
POSSES OF the windmill are trying to
nlde something. Actions of certain
Democratic leaders have been al
5000 DIT ike those of men who are
trying TO start a stampede to pre-
vent trouble in their own herd.
In the last few days the arrogant
attempts TO set up congressional |
candidates in several districts have
lrritated men who have been loyal
followers of the McCormick-Pal-I |
mer- wilson organization and the |
mess mess made by the National admin
istrauon in certain directions has
ADDED to the worries of the bosses. |
n month ago it seemed to be smooth |
So iling for whoever the big Wilson |
PICKED out and one day it was little |
wilson and the next day McCor- |
mick. When Sproul and O'Neil be-
gan 70 be talked of as candidates |
Tor the Republican nomination the |
posses lost their heads and conclud- |
ed out that it was. all over, but when
they began to put down six and car
ry two they left out some figures |
which have refused to stay out. |
Signs OF the Democratic row that
crop up before every gubernator- |
1al nomination are increasing andI
somehow the idea of a convention
TO discuss merits of candidates in |
| advance of the primaries will notl
stay under the snow.
Men who week ago were will |
ing TO go to bank on the proposition |
that the state administration would |
come out with a ringing endorse
lnent of Highway Commissioner J. |
Denny O'Neil for the nomination for |
governor are said to have some
doubts as to where the administra-
ton stands. Notwithstanding thel
Dom ocratic declaration in this city
last week that the Wares were with |
O'Neil the South Philadelphia lead |
ers have been as canny as they were
when they were launching Brum-
baugh about this time four years
ago. There are some who think
| that O'Neil had made up his mind
to be candidate anyway and that
he started his own boom, probably |
giving the Governor courteous no
tice, but without waiting for the ap-
| proval of the administration war
council. 1t seems to be generally be- |
| lieved that Mr.. O'Neil will be q cam
didate to pretty near the finish, but
Senator Sprouts continued reitera- |
| tion of the statement that he will |
not be the candidate of q faction !
has puzzled some of his friends, who
are also being regaled by the per-
siStent intimation from administra-
ton sources that the Chester Sena- |
| tor will retire in favor of some per- |
son acceptable to all hands rather
than be the cause of a perilous
| party break.
Mr.. O'Neil is said to have de-
termined to make his next utter
ance at the dinner to be given in his
| honor at Pittsburgh Thursday and
some of his friends have been coun- !
selling a statement more moderate
| in tone than that with which he en- |
tered the contest. The O'Neil head |
quarters will be opened in February.
| it is now stated. although as a mat
! ter. of fact the Highway Commission
er does not need headquarters. They
| are Wherever ne happens De.
The first definite alignment of
any one connected with the state ad-
ministration beside Highway Com
missioner J. Denny O'Neil in his
| subernatorial, campaign will come
| on Thursday when Attorney General
| Francis Skunk Brown will be the
chief speaker at the dinner to be
| rendered to the commissioner by
| Pittsburgh friends. Attorney GEN
| eral Brown, who returned to the
| Capitol early to-day after about six
| hours on a train, said that he ex-
| pected to speak at the O'Neil' din
ner and would probably say some
| things" Whether Governor. Brum-
baugh will make q direct statement
| for Mr.. O'Neil or not is a matter of
interesting conjecture at the Capitol.
| The Governor has declined to add TO
his observation of last Friday. Mr..
| Browns decision to go to the dinner
| opens up some speculation as to-
| whether the administration will
sound a call for everyone to line up
| for O'Neil or whether there will be
| individual moves made by people
! connected with state government
Auditor General Charles A. Sny-
| der expects to have O complete
statement of expenses of the State
| Insurance Fund and estimates of
| what it will cost to run the business
/ for the next year and a half in a
1 short time. 1t is intimated 81 com
| promise will be reached in the mat
| ter OF the audit whereby the Auditor
| General will get all that he seeks.
Ex-Speaker George e. Alter, of
| Allegheny county, who has been
mentioned as a likely harmony can
| didate for Governor, was here on
business at the Capitol yesterday,
| but declined to talk politics. Mr..
Alters friends say that he has no
intention of becoming a candidate
| for Lieutenant Governor.
1.-The boom from Altoona for
! Representative Lex n. Mitchell, of
jefferson, as candidate for COVER