Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-10
PetKc4 L.
Pe~'seqesa~ia
By sase Ex-Comnaitteemaa

| <ACliOn VI Tic 1uleTn0 county paTb
one of the largest in the state, in en-
dorsing Charles B. Lenahan, Wilkes
Barre attorney, for the Supreme
Court at a largely attended meeting
yesterday means more trouble inside
the works of the Democratic state
machine. Not only did the Luzerne
bar endorse one of it's own members
for the bench, but 1t did so in spite
of efforts to have Justice Edward j.
Fox, the Democrat appointed by
| Governor Brumbaugh to succeed the
late Justice S. Leslie Mestrezat, given
the support of the Democrats of the
anthracite region and right in the
face of the fact that the Democratic
state chairman put into office by
the Palmer Mccormick faction, is
also a member of the LuZerne bar
and a neighbor of Mr.. Lenahan.
The situation as regards the Dem
ocrats and the. Supreme Court is
getting almost as interesting as the
Democratic gubernatorial situation.
| When the Democratic state commit-
tee met here in June an effort to
| have Justice Fox endorsed was
blocked by Lenahan and his friends,
aided by A. V. Dively, of Blair, who
has also become a candidate. 1t will
be recalled that Justice Fox was
named after the choice had been put
up to National Democratic Chairman
Vance c. Mccormick and National
Committeeman A. Mitchell Palmer,
who are reported to have enthusiast
ically approved of the Easton at
torney.
The endorsement of Lenahan is
the first to be given to a Democrat
since that meeting and will be fol-
lowed by endorsement of Judge H.
o. Bechtel, in Schuylkill; Mr.. Dively
in Blair, and probably some other
Democrats. There is talk of Justice
Gustave A. Endlich, of Berks. Just
where the Democratic machine is
going to head is hard to say.
Chairman Mclean is marking
time with his campaign plans until
he sees what will come out of the
fitting of some men who are obsessed
with the idea that they can bring
peace in the Democratic party in our
time. Judge Bonniwell refuses to say
anything about his plans, but it is
said he is working just as quietly as
he did before he sprang his primary
surprise to perfect his own organiza-
ton so that If the resolutions COM
mittee does not give him a say in
the platform next month and the
candidates hand him only the hon
OAdiy SeloCIlOl VI d cain ptll6h COIll-
mittee chairman, which seems likely, |
he can announce that he will run
his own show and the state will be
treated to the spectacle of can
didate running his own campaign
and a state committee conducting a
rival organization.
1t is said that the selection of
George G. Paxton, of Washington
county, to be member of the State
Commission of Agriculture, was
made at the recommendation of Sec
retary Patton, who chose him be-
cause of the activity of the Paxton
family in real agriculture. The Pax
tons have been big stock raisers and
are noted as progressive farmers.
Pittsburgh city council has pass
ed an ordinance increasing the pay
of policemen and has STAYED off some
trouble in that direction.
Members of the Philadelphia
Republican city committee who arel
of independent inclinations have
asked that the contests brought
against them by the Ware organiza-
ton be advanced and not strung
along.
Allentown is looking to Harris
burg for information in regard TO a
municipal paving. plant. The city
authorities wanted to establish a
plant to save expenses and found
that the third class city law allowed
it and that Harrisburg was doing
pretty well with one.
According to some reports E. B.
Dorsett, former chief of the state
bureau of markets, has backing for
reelection to that post and with
most of the commissioners for him.
Members of the State Granse
say that they intend to make the
$50, 100000 road bond issue one of
the big things of the campaign and
will start next month. 1t is sus-
bected that there is more or less of
a scheme in the minds of the emil
nent Democrats and independents
who are running the grange to make
it an oblique attack on Senator
Sproul who sponsored the amend
ment
Senator William C. Sproul and
Senator E. e. Beidleman will be
speakers at the Shade Gap picnic
in Huntingdon county on August 8.
1t will be a great gathering of Juni-
alta Valley folks.
Men in politics all over the state
are watching the Wilkes-Barre
Chamber of Commerce, which has
demonstrated what a live CONNER
cial organization can do in civic af-
fairs. The Chamber has made SEN
sational charges against the police
department relative to law and order
and stands ready to back them up
either in an investigation or court.
The Chamber secured some detec-
tives and had them get into the in-
side of the police system in the guise
of men who wanted to operate some
sort of show. The Chamber has
become one of the biggest factors in
the county under its energetic man
agement and is being watched all
over the state. Yesterday Mayor
Kosek said that the Chambers
charges would be taken up and that
no one would be protected.
Lancaster Democrats believe
they can head off the attempt os the
York Democrats to get the internal
revenue office removed from the
White Rose city. The wires to Wash
ington are working hard.