Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-15
PoeiticA &.
Pe~~oqaSo~io
BY the Ex-Committceman


tary of the Commonwealth, includ-
ing some for a number of men who
have requested the blanks for state
wide nominations. Under the law
the petitions may not be circulated
before March and must be filed
by April IL.
Some of the requests for the nomi-
mating blanks indicate Il healthy in
tereSt in the primary as the num-
ber asked is considerably in excess of
! those required to name a whole state
! ticket. Socialists and members of
other parties on the lists have made
requests for papers, but practically
all of those asked by Republicans
and Democrats are for Legislative
nominations.
One of the interesting features
Is the demand for congressional
papers, while there are many asking
for state committee papers.
While there is no question but
what the enthusiastic endorsement
given to Highway Commissioners
O'Neil by the Dry Federation as its
preference for governor was the will
of the great majority in that gather
| ing there were some puzzled people
| at the convention. They were chief
! ly Democrats or Independents. They
wondered how they were to be for
O'Neil for the Republican nomina-
ton and how they could maintain
their party connections. The eN-
PLANTATION was given that the resolu-
, ton for committee of five to can
Vass" the situation in the Demos
cratic party and urge the party to
center" on a dry candidate was
precaution and that it should dem
onstrate that the Dry Federation
was above party, above man, for the
a 1,,,n q NnNrnrO1 no
election.
The Democratic argument was
that if O'Neil happened to be nomi- !
noted by Republicans and dry
Democrat by the Democrats, the |
forces would be divided. They also !
wanted to know what O'Neil would !
do if he was defeated because they
doubted whether the national lead
ers who hail from Pennsylvania
would stand for sinking identity of
the Democracy in gubernatoriai
year by endorsing a Republican. The
Democrats were panied by the opin-
ion given of their standing as party,
but were soothed by the O'Neil peo-
pie by the assurance that the COM
missioner was going to win and that
they needed not worry.
There are some reasons to sus-
pect that eX-Judge w. Il. Porter, OF
New Castle, would be willing to be
dry Democratic candidate for gov
ernor. Porter and w. \. McNair,
late candidate for secretary of inter-
nal affairs against the wishes of the
bosses, were the only militant Demo-
Gratis here for the Federation meet
ing. The eX-judge is said TO think
that this is a year of possibilities,
but if he or his friends had any mis-
givings about the endorsement glN,n
O'Neil they did not express them out
loud.
e. Lowry Humes did not come
here, as advertised, for the reason
that he is a candidate and if he had
come to the Federation he would
have been in nice position atter
that O'Neil endorsement. Humes is
said to be a bona tide candidate,
which means that he won't get out
of the race for any one less than a
national chairman.
Mr.. O'Neil went home last night
pleased with the GRAFTON given hlm.
He will be in Pittsburgh over the
weekend and make speeches next
week in Cambria, Somerset, Blair
and other counties. He will have n
big meeting in Altoona on the twen-
ty-first.
A somewhat promiscuous crowd |
was centered after dinner in the
corridor of the Bolton the other eve
ming when State Chairman Dietrich /
of the Washington party. now with
the State Insurance Department; /
Clifford Pinchot. once and presumab-
" now candidate for senator, |
Farmer" Crea. and ID. A. Orr, of
the Chambersburg Spirit, editor of
the Patriot in its better days, chanc- |
ed together. Mr.! Pinchot suggested |
to Farmer" Greasy the retirement !
OF Pinchot and the lusty farmer to (
an upper room for consultation when
Editor Orr, with a probable view of
leading TO some political confusion
called "Pinchot while up there |
nominate Greasy for governor" Mr.. !
Pinchot did not use the hesitation !
common to him when the name of
another is suggested as a candidate, I
but with seriousness responded: He |
Is the man who would suit me eN- |
actly, I am for him." An adjourn |
ment was made, Greasy and Pinchot !
retired together arm in arm, and 1t |
is not improbable that the nomina-
ton was made with unanimity.
Mr.. Orr interiected that as this
was Pinchots second declaration
within the week for two different
gubernatorial candidates he couldn't
make out whether this was an in
crease for Greasy or loss for O'Neil. |
Later when Greasy was asked by
IA passing friend, ITO what party,
Farmer do you now belong" the
Farmer answered.: Like David b.
Hill. am a Democrat" Whereupon
Chairman Dietrich ventured: well
| see where you have one advantage
over Hill; you're alive"
The Philadelphia newspapers
to-day pay particular attention to
the fact that Senators Sproul and
Ware lunched together yesterday and
those of last evening said that the
Sproul headquarters would be open
ed inside of a week with w. Harry
Baker and w. p. Gallagher in
charge of details.
There will be much political
writing in Philadelphia the. next few
days. Senator Penrose and Chair
leaders.
Auditor General Snyder yester-
day delivered himself of the remark
that if necessary he would overhaul
every bill for salary and expenses
and that he had a man watching ev-
cry department to see that the state
gets it's moneys worth.
Lex n. Mitchell, of Jefferson
county, last night lessened the num-
Der of candidates for Governor by
saying he would not run. Mr..
! Mitchelrs boom was typewriter
with an Altoona date line and he
repudiated it as the mistaken efforts
of a well-meaning friend.
| According to newspapers Col.