Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-12
Pse;t;ca IN
Pe~~o4eSania
BY the Ex-Committeeman

Repeal of the third class city nom
partisan law is dividing attention
with the Sproul appointments OF the
Philadelphia registration commits
sioners in various parts of the state
and while there is some criticism or
the Governor among advocates OF
the nonpartisan system many peo-
pie candidly admit that the nom
partisan system has not worked
well in certain of the cities and that
public sentiment in quite a fe"
places is in favor of return to the
old system. 1t is predicted tnat
next session there will be big de-
mand for repeal of the nonpartisan
judiciary laws.
In regard to the complaints from
Reading, Erie and other places that
return to the old party system OF
election means that the Socialists
will gain places some of the old-time
political leaders suggest that the
Republicans and Democrats cease
fighting among themselves.
Unquestionably the repeal of the
nonpartisan act will stimulate po-
litical activity and it has been well
coined by many Dem ocrats because
it will revive party spirit which has
been welcomed by many Democrats
because it will revive party spirit
which has been tagging because of
the inefficient leadership of their
party, as evidenced in recent cleo
tions and the - or showing in the
Legislature, ana the tendency or
|, some of the bosses to indulge in
nonpartisan movements to crafty
their own Desires
The Philadelphia registration
missioner appointments have
been well received and the Gov
ernor's very evident desire to estab-
lish a fair commission is commend
ed. Penrose and Ware men all eX-
pressed approval and Senator Ed
win II. Ware, although he lost two
men and the Pierre and Walsh ap-
pointments are considered by some
as more or less probationary, was
quick to say that what the Gov
ernor did was satisfactory to the
Republican organization of which he
is the head. The North American
says that everyone considers that
the new commission will be fair; the
Inquirer says that the changes "end
Ware domination;" the Press that
the appointments seemed to crafty
all who heard the Names" and the
Public Ledger that the Governor
"ended Ware control of the COM
mission. The Record says that the
appointments are IAN Improvement
on the old order of things" and then
takes occasion to wallop Charles p.
Donnelley, who secured the Quinn
appointment, and to criticise him
for not backing Fabian. 1t is said
that Fabian was not taken because
the Governor wanted a lawyer.
Quinn is an attorney. The Evening
Bulletin and Evening Ledger also
commend the appointments.
1t is one of the ironies that
Ladner and Carr. the two men call
ed Ware Democrats" by some of
the newspapers, were put on about
the time that Clinton Rogers Wood
ruff, one of the Sproul appointees,
was put off by Governor Brum-
baugh. Woodruff is one of the
authorities on election matters in
Philadelphia and it is said that he
was one of the men most strongly
urged by Senator Penrose.
The Philadelphia contests will
now start in earnest and the Gov
ernor says he expects Mr.. Fell, his
personal selection, to aid materially
in getting fair deal for everyone
regardless of faction.
There is every indication that
some of the liveliest fights in years
are going to be staged in third class
cities and that the lineups will be
old-time party battles such as used
to get out the votes and make party
leaders careful of the men they put
up for nominations. The cities
which will elect their mayors and
fEf n oil on MI Nfa1rz
are Allentown, Altoona, Bethlehem,
Bradford, Butler, Carbondale, Ches-
ter, Coatesville, Connellsville, Cory,
Dubois, Duquesne, Easton, Erie,
Franklin, Harrisburg, Hazleton,
Johnstown, Lancaster, Lebanon,
Lock Haven, McKeesport, Meadville,
Monongahela, New Castle, Oil City,
Pittston, Pottsville, Reading, Titus
vile, Uniontown, Wilkes-Barre,
Williamsport and York. Lancaster
operates under an old act of 1918,
while Coatesville is seeking to go
back to a borough form of govern
ment.
-Reorganizations of various de-
partments of the State government
affected by legislation signed or
pending will not be taken up by
the Governor until after he has
disposed of the general appropria-
ton bill and various other meas
ures in his hands. Even then they
will likely be made gradually. The
two departments where changes are
being watched with interest are
Agriculture and Labor and Indus
try, numerous changes being plan
ned in the personnel, including
scme Dauphin countians.
The Governor will take up the
general appropriation bill, which
supplies funds for the whole State