Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-26
Poeiica ix
Pe~~e4eso~ia
By the Ex-Committeeman

Sidestepping of the liquor issue
by the conference of the Democratic
bosses of Pennsylvania with the
leaders of the counties and the cap
tains of the organization held in
Philadelphia on Saturday is the talk
of men active in politics in everyone
OF the sixty-seven counties of the
Keystone State to-day. 1t is con-
sidered as remarkable that the DEM
ocracy instead of declaring for the
amendment as a matter of principle,
in view of the talk of that character
INDUCED in by it's chieftains, shelved
the whole business as too dangerous
to handle in advance of the primar-
les. The conference was dominated
by National Chairman Vance C.
Mccormick, National Committeeman
A. Mitchell Palmer and other men
who have taken positive stands on
the liquor issue in years gone by and
they demonstrated that they ran
the show by ignoring men prominent
in the "Old Guard" And yet the
meeting adjourned with the under
standing that the platform would
be made up after the primary.
If the bosses think they can avoid
fight by waiting to see how things
line up after the May primary they
VIII be disappointed. because the
wet" element of the Democracy
means to fight and there is also dis
satisfaction over the stating of Act
ing State Chairman Joseph f. Cuff
tey, or Pittsburgh, as gubernatorial
candidate.
In addition to William H.
Berry, the hardy annual of the
receptive candidate for anything big.
there are chances that Judge Eugene
c. Bonniwell. head of the State Fire
men, may become a candidate, as
Col. James M. Guffey, the former
ruler of the Democracy and uncle
or the acting state chairman; Judge
John M. Garman. of Luzerne, and
other insurgents, are said to be for
him, while the name of James GAY
Gordon is being revived. E. Lowry
Humes discovered that he was not
a candidate for governor after visit
ing Mccormick.
The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times
says: 'Tt was announced that no
formal action had been taken. but
II was generally conceded that the
Democrats were going back home |
with the understanding that Mr.. |
Guffey is to be slated candidate for
governor Several weeks ago. Mr..
Palmer. Vance Mccormick and n |
few others gathered in Washington |
and decreed that Mr.. Guffey was TO |
mead the ticket. The affair was sim
ply the insiders" calling the out
slders" in and making them believe
they were being consulted. Mr.. Cuff |
tey's formal announcement can be |
q oh
philadelphia newspapers, while |
devoting considerable space to the
suggestion of n referendum by the |
people OF the state on the prohibition |
amendment during the sitting of the |
next Legislature, do not seem to
warm up very much to the idea. 1t
is believed that the idea was thrown
out to sound sentiment, such as the
Governor did with the extra session |
proposition.
plan the Philadelphia Press saws: |
The prohibition amendment will
come up for ratification in this state |
In the next Legislature. It threatens
TO confuse the election in November |
by presenting an issue on which
party lines are not clearly drawn. |
The politicians would rather avoid
this, and a referendum vote on pro
hibition by the people is proposed. |
1t can be managed and perhaps with |
a special election in prospect to get
the views of the voters on the pro |
hibition amendment, the lines will
not be drawn so tightly on that sub !
Ject in November and candidates for !
the Legislature, or some of them |
at least, may escape the terrible !
necessity of taking a definite stand |
on the question of national prohibf- !
ton"
The attitude of the PhiIadel-
phia Record, especially its editorial |
OF yesterday, is causing some
thoughtful waiting around the DEM !
ocratic state headquarters. The wind |
mill force is not sure that there |
may not be gales.
Owing to Senator Vare's illness, |
the sPhiladelphi9 councils did not
consider the bill for League Island
Park yesterday.
-Judson Tiffany, of Monroe coun- !
ty, Palmer man, has decided he
will run against Senator Elmer f. |
Warner, who lives in Carbon coun-
ty. Palmer seems to be able to stir
up more rows against sitting Demo-
cratic congressman and legislators
than against Republicans.
-Hazleton council has passed a |
rule that policemen must not gossip |
or eat too much.
Senator Penrose's comment on
Palmer's declaration that the state
issue is "Penroseism" was that it'll
was weak
Representative F. w. Sites. of
Narberth, refuses to say whether he |
has Congressional aspirations or not.
Governor Brumbaugh wants him to |
return to the House.
DIR. John 1. Woodruff, George
w. Wagenseller and George w. Wal |
horn are aspirants for the Republic |
an legislative nomination in Snyder
county. Woodruff now claims he
is all right after some wanderingsl
in independent, insurgent and "kick-
ing" fields.
"A Bedford story is that joseph
E. Thropp, former congressman and
iron manufacturer, will be a candi-
date for congress at large.
-Berks county people are saidl
to favor reapportionment, as 1t will
give that county it's own congress-
man. Northern tier men are OBJ
jecting, as there are counties which