Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-13
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Iacy nave been quietly getting hold
OF what members the Democrats
may have in the General Assembly
whlch VIII meet here next month.
some tlme ago ii was remarked that
the attenuon of such heretofore
Dusy Pehnsylvania bosses as Vance
= McCormtck, A. Mitchell Palmer.
Joseph f. Guffey, Roland S. Morris
and James l. Blakslee was so alb
soroed by their federal offices that
tney did not have time to spare for
the affairs of the party which gave
! them prominence in their native
STATE The party machine got mixed
up IN an awful smash and in the
disturbance the number of Demo-
/ Gratis returned to the Legislature
sank TO the lowest figure known in
u generation.
| While the bosses were busy furl-
ing sails at Washington to prepare
Ior the storm and the windmill
torce here preparing for some ad-
verse currents from the Bonniwell
taction, the leaders of the Old Guard
! quietly went out and sewed up what
legislators the Democrats will have.
II was not hard to do. Many of the
candidates who did get elected felt
that they had been neglected by the
tituIar powers and that the bosses
VINO had smiled on them were now
100 big to bother with their home
state any more and were ready to
line up.
1t is now said along the line that
.he SIN Senators in the upper House
nave decided to support Senator w.
Clayton Hackett, of Easton. for pres-
laeht pro tenn. and that the twenty
three members in the House are fa-
vorable TO Harry f. Lanius the
ind member from York county. as
the party candidate for speaker
against Robert S. Spangler, who
seems to be rapidly getting the tre-
mendous Republican strength of 1S4
behind him.
Some of the Philadelphia news
papers notably the Democratic Rec
ora and the Public Ledger, devote
considerable space to-day to denials
OF any harmony plan on mayor as a
result OF the Moore dinner. Sena-
tor ware Is quoted by other news
papers as saying that there were no
ollNe branches passed around at the
national capital and gave the i'm
preston to some interviewers that
ne did not want the idea of peace to
De too strong. The Inquirer saws
there were mo evidences locally"
of any harmony plan and SAYS that
since Ware has seen the demand
tor new charter for Philadelphia
he has evolved one of his own.
The Public Ledger considers the
speakership settled. After much dis
cussion of the subject it says to-
day: 1T had been known for some
time that the Penrose and Ware
forces regarded Mr.. Spangler's can
didacy with favor, and it now can
be said that he is acceptable to the
dry federation and other antiliquor
organizations throughout the state.
Mr.. Spangler, known as a wet at
pervious sessions of the Legislature,
was elected upon his pledge to sup
port the national prohibition amend
ment. The dry forces believe he will
keep his pledge, and the liquor peo-
pie are confident he will give them
a square deal. Representative George
Williams, of Tioga, who was gem
orally favored early in the race, will
be but a passive candidate. So
strong is the sentiment for Mr..
Spangler that several western Penn
sylvania politicians returned to
Pittsburgh yesterday prepared to in
form their followers in Allegheny
county that the speakership question
virtually was settled and that Mr..
Spangler would be elected at the
Republican caucus in Harrisburg
January 6"
The Philadelphia Press says:
THE charter reform idea is attract
ing attention growing in strength. 1t
will come before the incoming Legis-
lature under better auspices than
met these proposed reforms two
years ago, and we have faith that
something of value in charter
changes will be accomplished at the
session"
Liberal propositions for new
city jobs and activities, requiring
about s135,000. are contained in de-
partmental estimates which Mayor
E. V. Babcock submitted to Pitts
burgh councilmen. Besides 100 new
policemen and 100 new firemen
which are asked for, Mr.. Babcock
wants several new appointments in
his own department. He asked for
the installation of an historical bu-
IGdu Vi thO ilGiilbGlct at g@tUUU ii
year each, who are to make up a
history of the Pittsburgh men who
are in the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps; an assistant secretary to the
mayor, at $4,000; an information
clerk at Sl,S00, two new police mag
istrates, at S2,500 each; a steno-
grapher-clerk, at $3.50, and a. clerk
at $3.50, are proposed for the
Morals Court.
Completion of the official count
of the votes polled in all the coun-
ties of Pennsylvania at the last cleo
tion will not be possible until next
week, according to officers at the
State Department, the official re-
turns from Luzerne county will not
be ready for several days, it was
stated in a message received by
George d. Thorn, acting Deputy
Secretary of the Commonwealth, as
the return of votes of soldiers and
sailors from certain camps have been
thrown out.
State authorities have asked for
complete statement of the pro-
ceedings in the courts at Wilkes
Barre and they will be studies with a
view of making any recommended
tions which may be asked when the
time comes to draw up a new act
to govern such voting. The votes
were taken in 1916, 1917 and 1918.
under the act of 1854.
The bills of the more than 125
commissioners who took the votes
this year have been audited and the
checks will be issued next week.
VViIkes-Rarra dfsnatcb Save. a. A.