Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-21
PeeItc4 i~
Pe~~e4esonia
BY the Ex-Committceman

Democratic scouts" who have
been going through Central Penn
sylvania counties sounding out sem
timent for eX-State Treasurer Will
liam II. Berry, now collector of the
port of Philadelphia. as a possible
candidate for the Democratic nomi-
nation for governor have run up
against scouts from Western
Pennsylvania who have been busy
1 among dry" Democrats urging en-
! Judge William Z. Porter, and have
! struck pronounced sentiment
among the old machine element and
many of the reorganizers of a prac-
\ teal turn of mind for Acting State
Chairman Joseph +. Guffey. These
/ scouts" have been passing through
/ Harrisburg the last few days and
while Democratic state headquarters
denies all knowledge of any feeling
out of sentiment it is apparent that
some very active work is being done
in n hurry on behalf of the Demo
cratic state leaders.
Democrats who have been getting
about have reported a general favor
for National Chairman Vance c. Nc
Cormick, but it is not believed that
he will run. In Western Pennsyl-
Vania nominating petitions are be-
ing circulated in behalf of the DEM
ocratic guhernatorial candidacy of
eN-Judge Porter. who made Law
renee county dry" and who is pres
idcnt of the Dry Federation. Por-
ter's friends wanted to endorse him
as Democratic candidate for gov
ernor when the federation endorsed
Highway Commissioner ]. Denny
O'Neil for governor without respect
a rt u t1,n
Valentines Day.
United States District Attorney E.
Lowry Humes has not abandoned
Gubernatorial aspirations. it is also
stated. and William y. McNair. of
Pittsburgh. candidate for secretary
Of internal affairs four years oca.
IS developing ambitions. Papers in
his interest are being circulated in
Pittsburgh.
The state primary will be held
lust sixty days from to-day. Accord
ing to reports which have come to
headquarters of various parties and
candidates here the enrolment in
boroughs and townships yesterday
was not marked by any rush and no
general move to change registrations
occurred. In fact, the conditions in
many small towns were as usual.
while in the country farmers were
too busy to so to the polls. AS the
Philadelphia Ledger remarks to-day.
apathy is general" while the COM
ment of that newspaper on the in
activity of independents is something
which has ben heard about the State
Capitol for some time. Both Sproul
and O'Neil men haye been expressing
surprise at the general lack of in
terest in the campaign outside of
strictly political and official circles.
| The truth is that the country is at
war and not much interested in fac
tional squabbles and the men, and
1 the women, too, are busy in many
| lines and not particularly concerned
as to what one in office or out of
office thinks of declarations of men
! in regard to the dry" amendment
or criticisms directed against those
| in high station. The bulk of the
voters of Pennsylvania would like to
get this primary election over as
soon as possible.
Clifford Pinchot will probably
become a member of the State Com
mission of Agriculture in April. Gov
ernor Brumbaugh has maintained si-
| lence as to the offer to Mr.. Pinchot,
although Mr.. Pinchot says the place
was rendered him, and the Governor
has also refused to say who he will
remove to make way for the former
forester. However, Chairman H. V.
White, of Bloomsbury. who locked
horns with the Governor over the
| -four bill may retire.
The meeting of the Philadelphia
city committee has been put off until
next week. Saturday Senator Sproul
makes his formal statement at
Swarthmore, and meanwhile Mr..
O'Neil is swinging around the circle,
making speeches.
A Pittsburgh dispatch to the
Philadelphia Press says: "Mayor
Babcock and the City Council have
again locked horns over political ap-
pointments, and a statement made
to-day by the Mayor is that he in
tends to oust all city employees who
supported William A. Magee in the
mayoralty fight last November. The
trouble began with the dismissal
from the force of City Solicitors of
c. Elmer Bown by City Solicitor
| Stone. and which the Council con-
| demned by a vote of to 3, asking
the Mayor to reinstate Bown. Here's
the Mayors answer made to-day:
I am for Babcock men, not Magee
men, and if go into conference with
City Council, Jarrett (Magee mani
might also go out of the law depart
ment. / believe in appointing people
who were for Babcock and not people
who were for Magee. 1t is no use to
have a conference with Council for l
wouldn't change my mind"
At the Williamsporu meeting of
the Prohibition county committee of
Lycoming, Congressman Edgar r,
Kiess was endorsed for reelection,
and Charles V. Adams and Charles
IF. Bidelspacher for the Legislature.
; All are candidates for Republican
nomination. II. t. Ames was elected
J chairman, DR.. C. w. Huntington.
secretary and Henry Meade, state
committeeman.
Both C. A. Bowman and Calvin ].
Rhen have heretofore sought the
Republican House nominations in
Z Lebanon and may be expected to
make good use of the knowledge
they gained at that time, in the pro-
motion of their present aspirations
Harvey S. Bomberger, of Palmyra
T has taken out papers as a candidate
for the Assembly on the, Republican
, Democratic and Prohibition tickets
He is more or less we'll known or
e the Hill.
l The Altoona Tribune indulge,
G on this editorial: THE assumption
that any man carries the Republican
voters of Pennsylvania or of BIail
j county in his vest pocket is likely Il
| he diSnroved Iv tba nrin, n ~ rast,i4s