Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-19
Poeitica IN
Pe~~eqeso~io
By the Ex-Committeeman

petitions to be filed by candidates
for. state, congressional and legisla-
tive offices in advance of the May
primary are being printed by the
State Printer for the department of
the secretary of the commonwealth,
the order being in accord with the
decision of President Judge George
kunkel, of the Dauphin county
court in the test cases brought last
spring. The blanks set forth that
day fixed by law and that office
hours will be observed. The sug-
sestion is also contained that petit
tions should be filed early, prefer
ably a week ahead, so that they may
be examined for defects and correct
cd before being invalidated by eX-
piration of time limit.
The first day upon which petit
ttons may be circulated is March 2,
and they must be filed by April IL.
Candidates to be nominated in
clude governor, lieutenant governor
and secretary of internal affairs,
four congressman at large, thirty
two district congressman; twenty
eight senator's and 207 members of
the House of Representatives.
The outstanding thing in state
politics at the end of >this rather
eventful week is that While Senator
Penrose is popularity supposed to be
the big factor behind Senator VIII
liam G. Sprouts candidacy for gov
ernor and Governor Brumbaugh 20
be the man whose colors Highway
Commissioner j. Denny O'Neil Will
carry in the primary contest, neith-
or one of them has directly endors-
ed any aspirant. Governor Brum-
baugh has contented himself by say
ing that Mr.. O'Neils statement
meets views of many persons, but
lie does not say that he is for him,
although he will be. The supposi-
ton is that the Highway Commits
sioner, having determined to run
long, long ago, put out his an
nouncement the other day without
awaiting the formal approval of an
administration war council.
Senator Penrose instead OF en-
dorsing Sproul yesterday, as many
expected he would after the O'Neil
made a declaratlon
for an open fight at the primary.
He paid little attention to the at
tacks made upon him by the High
way Commissioner, who says ne VIII
make more next week, and went
ahead with preparations for an
active campaign, talking things over
with Philadelphia, Allegheny and
upstate leaders.
The Penrose statement on the
openness of the primary is so broad
and free that it is the subject of
much comment in the state to-day. |
It is the very opposite of what the
administration people have been
contending is the Penrose attitude. |
;rf+ 1f m n ~
remarked Senator Penrose when
asked as to the O'Neil candidacy, lis
10 give the opportunity to those so
Inclined to submit their candidates
10 the people of the state. The days !
OF stating candidates have passed |
by if they ever existed to any eX-
tent. Every candidate must come |
forth on his own merits and submit |
his claims to the people. L sup |
pose there will likely be a number
If candidates for the different state |
Jffices to be voted for in May. Full /
md free discussion among the Re-
publicans of the state is to be in
vited and encouraged"
Mr.. O'Neil left here last night |
lfter saying that he would have more |
o say on the moral and economic |
ssues at Pittsburgh. He will come /
lere Monday and go home for the
Inner in his honor on Thursday. He |
s supposed to be in Philadelphia to- |
lay where efforts are being made by |
men to line up the Wares |
or him. Similar work is being done |
With William A. Magee, but up to
late the Highway Commissioner has
lot gotten either element.
1t is said by trends of Chairman
". d. Il. Ainey that he will not an
lounce any candidacy. He is being
doomed in many sections, but de-
clines to talk politics.
Clifford Pinchot, who said last
week that Sproul would have opposi-
ton, has not yet said anything in
support of O'Neil. 1t is suspected
that the eX-forester, who. is very
much for Pinchot, will hold back in
the hope that things may take a turn
he might be called upon to
lead an army of protest.
One of the significant things
about the gubernatorial situation is
that Lieutenant Governor Frank b.
McClain, who has been much men
toned as a possible candidate, joked
about the O'Neil candidacy. What
was it begun for If it was so soon to
be done for he is quoted as saying
at Philadelphia. Mr.. McClain is for
Sproul, it is generally believed, and
# he is, that means a good deal.
Senator Penrose yesterday rap
ped Mayor Smith of Philadelphia. for
the manner in which people are be-
ing fired" from the city hall in
on the score of econo-
my. He said: 1.-The wholesale dis
charges now being made in City Hall
are without precedent. Efficient en-
ployes of long service with the city
under different administrations seem
10 be ruthlessly discharged without
sufficient reason. The efficiency of
the municipal service is likely to be
shattered, and unless
some legal remedy can be devised
the civil service law is not worth the
paper it is written on. OF course, in
the end this and other phases of mu-
nicipal maladministration will be
by the people at the
earliest opportunity and react on
those responsible therefor"
LABOR NOTES