Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-03
PeeIscs s~
'Ps~neqssa~ia
BY the Ex- Committeeman

MITCHELL Pa!mer as Attorney Gen-
eral Is assured it is expected that
he will resign as the Pennsylvania
member of the Democratic National
committee and the trouble will
start. Palmer and his pals have
slated Joe Guffey, whom they tried
to run for Governor, as the sue
cessor of the Monroe chieftain and
the Bonniwell faction, which claims
10 be dominant, will likely contest.
! Newspapers generally expect q re-
neWal of the brawl over control of
the jangling wreck known hereto
fore as the Pennsylvania Democracy.
The Philadelphia Press says of
the outlook: THE passing of Pal
mer inevitably brings up the ques-
ton of what is to become of the
Democratic party here. At the pres
ent moment it is pretty hopelessly
demoralized. There were so few
members of the Legislature identi-
ned with the organization element
that they did not even go through
the form of caucusing to choose
party candidate for the Speakership
of the present House and have not
since created any decent semblance
OF united party action in the Legis-
lature. The Democrats are so in
active as to be dropped from con-
sideration entirely. Will they allow
this condition to continue until
peace is declared and domestic is
sues are taken up again in prepara-
ton for the Presidential campaign
OF 1920, or will there be an effort
to revive interest at once through
the question of Palmer's successor?
III the reorganizers do not see about
answering the question pretty soon,
perhaps the old-line men will ans
wer it for them. Judge Bonniwell
might. for instance, have aspira-
! tons"
Some of the newspapers per-
sist in regarding Attorney General
A. Mitchell Palmer as an uncertain
quantity in high office, although
admitting he has political talents
or n high order. The philadelphia
inquirer remarks: "a. Mitchell Pal
mer has been named for Attorney
General of the United States by
President Wilson. Mr.. Palmer is a
Democrat of Pennsylvania. He is
Democratic politician. He is not
the leader of the Democratic Party
IN PENNSYLVANIA, but of a faction of
| 1t. That faction is the Wilson fac
ton. Mr.. Palmer is a close friend
- w iioOii N6 10 nOL KNOW
that any further comment upon the
nomination is needed-except this:
Mr.. Palmer's abilities as a Demo-
cratic Politician are known. His
| fitness to conduct the law depart
ment of the government is subject
to the test of experiment"
The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times is
very much on the watch tower as re-
CARDS second class city legislation.
1t says editorially: THE vicious
scheme to alter the councilmanic
system of cities of the second class
appears to be doomed at Harrisburg.
The Scranton Representative who
wished to abandon election of coun-
cilmen at large has met with oppo-
sition that has caused him to lose
interest in the scheme. At least so
| it is reported. But the report itself
may be but trick to quiet feeling
in Pittsburgh which was aroused by
the original proposition. The Legis-
lature will be in session for many
weeks. There is plenty of time in
which to revive the plan to cheat
Pittsburgh out of the benefits of the
Council of Nine"
James Fl. Lambert calls the con-
stitution of pennsylvania an iron
bound affair in a signed article in
the Philadelphia Press. He calls
attention to the fact that neither
Legislature nor people have any,
thing to say about changing it ex-
cept by long and tedious process
He strikes at one of the weak spots
in his conclusion when he says:
''There are some who favor a re-
vision of the Constitution for no
other reason than that they want
to incorporate still further restric-
| tive provisions Any revision, now
or at any time, which does not
! leave the Legislature free to meet
changing and new conditions in the
affairs of the State and it's people,
and which does not permit munich
palities to exercise and fully enjoy
the privilege of home rule, will be
| q failure
-Ex-State Senator owen B. Jen-
kins, of Philadelphia, has been
named by Sheriff Harry c. Ransley
to the vacancy of solicitor in his
office, caused by the resignation of
| Samuel NJ. Clement, Jr., recently
appointed Public Service Commits
sioner by Governor William C.
Sproul. The post carries with it an
annual salary of $4,000. Mr.. Jen-
kins has been solicitor to the Regis
| tration Commissioners. He was de-
feated for the nomination for Sena-
| tor in the Sixth district at last Sen
TENDERS primary, to succeed him
self, DR.. George Woodward winning
the nomination and later being
chosen at the November election.
| Philadelphia reformers won a
victory when the Superior Court dis
missed the appeal OF the Board of
Registration Commissioners from
the decision of Philadelphia Court
| No. 4, which last May ordered the
commissioners to restore to the vot
ing list nearly one thousand names.
These names had been summarily
dropped without proper notice to
the electors affected and without
giving them sufficient opportunity
to appear and certify to their quail
fcations.
A boom has been started at
Reading for Representative Norton
as candidate for mayor.
Philadelphia people are discuss
ing the speed with which Judge r.
B. Mccormick. of Lock Haven, sent
holdup artists and burglars to jail
while sitting in criminal courts in
that city. The Philadelphia BulIe-
tin commends him, while the Public
Ledger gives prominence to an in
terview with Judge c. Y. Auden-
reid who objects to "raiIroa ding >,