Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-07
Vdres' Candidate
to Be Surprise

Continued From Page One
tinuous career of usefulness and fame
ahead of him. He would scarcely re-
linquish his place on national pedestal
for a position in local niche.
Besides, there are other reasons.
The independent forces are at sea I'M
to the present. There is a fine flock of
names to select from, but thew are thus
far only suggestions. There is a lot of
preliminary canvassing going on in the
inner circles. but no final decision on
any two or three names has been made.
This is definite statement of one of
the leaders.
A. Lincoln Acker's name looks well
and sounds well. There is also mention
of some mysterious big man from up
town who is connected with large in
dustral and financial institution. His
name has not appeared in any of the
lists for Mayor. He is popular. wealthy
and has held public Office but once.
l believe the Wares are going to give
Philadelphia big surprise. 1t will
come in the name of their candidate for
Mayor. They are as likely as not to
select man whose reputation will be of
the highest and who will occupy
commanding position. If it comes 1t
will be an effort to redeem the past by
the glories of the future.
The regular Republican organization,
by which. of course. is meant the Ware
control, has reached the conclusion,
hali bof bor CT ha
ton. Their honesty of purpose in this
regard will be expressed in the charae-
ter of the man they nominate for mayor,
because it requires no prophet to de-
clare that the independent forces will
name man of conspicuous character to
accord with their pledges of reform.
Delegate conventions in Philadel-
phia have long been thing of the past
They belong to the old regime that was
beaten out by reform element in poll
tics. They were intimately associated
in the mind of the public not familiar
with their practical'w with row.
de- dow clubs and the roughhouse brand
of leadership. Particularly were they
objectionable to the reform element Of
Philadelphia.
And now, ammo mirabilis. under the
aegis of the new charter with adequate
election laws to protect the incompe-
tent voter and prevent the intelligentIy
careless from having his intentions mis-
interpreted, there is return in form
at least to the obsolete, unsatisfactory
and mathematical delegate convention
of our prehistoric politics.
The gathering of delegates in the
shape of committees from the Town
Meeting party, the Republican Alliance
and all other civic bodies or political
leaders who will join with them, for
the nomination of candidates is in
seality nothing but good old fash
ioned and much abused delegate CON
vention.
Docs seem funny, doesn't it," re-
marked distinguished reformer whose
name is prominent in the independent.
movement, as he grinned broadly at my
suggestion of the idea. "Of course, it
isn't n convention in the sense that
delegates were chosen at the polls he
continued, but nevertheless it will be
a delegate meeting to discuss plans and
ultimately to nominate candidates In
opposition to the Wares" "
Not all of the organizations, clubs.
civic bodies and trade organizations
that have been invited to join with
the Town Meeting party and Repub-
lican Alliance committees nave ac-
cepted the invitation. 1t is more than
probable that there will be more de-
clinations than acceptances to send
delegates.
This is not an indication either n,
lack of interest in the movement or
nonnupport. Rather it is that organi-
zations not avowedly political or fac.
tional prefer, for variety of reasons
to- permit the active reform element 10
handle matters, and they will accent
the results. There are also Others
in the same position as the Chamber
of Commerce, composed of members ~
every shade of opinion where any ac-
tion favoring any faction or cspdi-
date would meet with objection, il soe
open strife.