Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-05
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Continued from Page One
a few self-consttuted ofilceholders is
seldom witnessed in the management of
any party. The present Democratic
leadership in Pennsylvania has never
been deep-rooted or in any way in ac-
cord with the real Democratic strength
of the State. 1t Is based solely on the
control of Federal patronage under the
Wilson administration.
Few of the real Democrats who hold
elective office from Democratic sections
are in any kind of harmony with the
Palmer Mccormick Guffey leadership. II
seems strange that any political leader
ship should so pers silently ignore and
drive away such important party ele-
ments, but such is the fact.
Few Are Elected
"The holding of Federal office Is the
chief qualification for participation in
the councils of the Palmer-Guffey-M Nc
Cormick coterie. The members are all
appointed and few are ever elected to
anything. Hence, the Democratic party
in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania has
been demoralized. The slate arbitrarily
set up by the Guffey-P Palmer Nc Cormick
outfit was repudiated at the primary
eleItlpn ny tne real democratic voters
o file State.
This is the actual Democratic situa-
tioI. which resulted virtually in the dis
abandonment for the time being of a great
party
President Wilson has ostentatiously
announced upon a solemn occasion in
speech to the Senate and House that
politics should be adjourned, anG Mr..
McAdoo has recently called upon the
employees of the railways to get out of
politics. 1t would be befitting, becom-
ing and decent, if Palmer, Mccormick
and Guffey were called off and ordered
to attend strictly to the supposed non
partisan duties of their positions
Palmer particularly holds position
of high financial and industrial import
ance, dealing with property amounting
to many millions. and he could well
abstain from partisanship at this time
and not permit his activities to sink to
the level of village postmaster holding
office as the result of partisan service.
"ShouId Administer Office"
certainly the duties Of alien property
custodian are eXacting enough, and he
should administer his office for the good
of the whole people and on strictly nom
partisan lines. Instead of so doing.
every appointment lie mas TCa0e IN the
custodian's office is a Democrat.
democrats are appointed directors of
industrial concerns on good salaries and
with no Knowledge or qualification what
ever for the business committed to their
care.
Fat assignments and employment
are given to lawyers whose chief quail
hcation is the support of the Wilson
end of democracy. The way Palmer's
office is being run is fast becoming the
subject of widespread criticism and will
doubtless come in for widespread pub
licty at the porper time. 1t would be
the part of ordinary common sense for
Palmer to conform himself to the duties
of his office in spirit of nonpartisan-
ship and let the Democrats of Penn
sylvania settle their affairs without tn,
coercion of Federal patronage.
80 far as | am concerned he has no
justification at all for bringing me into
this controversy in his own household. -
Mr.. Snnott admitted today he had
sought the support of Palmer for tn.
candidacy of Judge Bonniwell.
But that was all thai Sinnott would
admit of the charges made by Palmer
yesterday.
SinnOtt Passes Lie
Sinnott gave the lie direct to Mr.. Pal
mer Early in the morning he was not
sure he would make formal reply to
Mr.. Palmer. But after conference
in the office of a distilling company, 232
South Front street, which he heads, Ne
decided to issue a statement which was
almost a general denial of the national
committeeman's assertions.
Are you going to take any legal
action against Palmer?" Sinnott wa.
asked.
"All / am going to say is in thai
statement" he replied. Then he hur'
ried back into his private office. where
according TO one of his clerks. the Con
ference" was being held.
Sinnotts statement
Mr.. Sinnott's typewriter statement
follows:
| have carefully read the articles
in the Philadelphia newspapers con-
tanning the reported statements made
by Mitchell Palmer before the Demo-
cratic State Committee at Harrisburg
Yesterday. So far as his reported re-
marks affect any conversation j may
have had with him at any time, they
are untrue.
He is reported as saying, John Sim
mott. president of the Pennsylvania
Wholesale Liquor Dealers Association,