Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-12
LEAGUE FORMED
TO GUIDE LAWS
Independent Republicans
at Harrisburg Organize
Steering Committee
FOR GOOD LEGISLATION
Claim Strength Enough to De-
feat Bills Not Considered
Meritorious
Bv a sto1 Correspondsat

Harrisburg. Feb, Independent
Republican members Of the House have
organized the Legislative League, with
representative Robert l.. Wallace. of
Lawrence County, as chairman and floor
leader
The object of the league is TO guide
the House on legislation for the rural
districts and third-class cities. It will
support fully the legislative program or
Governor Sproul
Representative Alan u, Miller. OF
Susquehanna County. has been elected
secretary. and steering committee mas
been selected to study all legislation in
which the league is interested and bring
out fits merits or demerits on the floor.
This committee comprises Representa-
tive c. II. Kennedy, Beaver: +. NJ.
Sweitzer. Clarion John 3. Goldsmith.
westmoreland John W Nick"rman.
Allegheny; II. NJ. Showalter. Union ;
Daniel W. lIelt, Northumberland, and
Secretary Miller. Chairman Wallace Is
a member ex-officio Of the steering com
mittee.
nounces significantly, has made some
alliances in the House and will have
strength enough to defeat any measure
which il does not consider meritorious.
He claims further that It may have sur
fcient strength to pass some measures.
Any alliance. Chairman Wallace de
clares, will be merely for the purpose OF
assisting meritorious legislation and to
bring about successful contamination
of the Governors legislative program. At.
tempts to railroad" any bill will NEE,
with determined opposition from the
league
Members Of the new league count on q
voting strength including their alleged
alliance, of from seventy-five to one hun,
dred. Ordinarily this would be a ma.
jority in the House where there are
always several vacancies.
Virtually all OF the members of the
league are "drys." and some opposition
is expected from the vets Chairman
wallace and Representative Nickerman
Moor leader of the ''drys," claim the league
will be ready to meet all opposition. No
ehorts will be made to have the organ
fzation hostile AS a whole to the liquor
forces. Views on the liquor question will
not influence the judgment OF the steer
ing committee in dealing with bills OF
"wets."
"Pro-Sproul and pro- good legislation
In the way Chairman Wallace describes
the purpose of the new body. Members
of the league dc not hesitate to declare
however. that any hostility from the
wet" forces will meet with retalatory
measures from the league.
On the sort of alliances that the league
makes in the House will largely depend
the fate of the Philadelphia charter leg
islation. II the league has formed ar
alliance with the Ware forces the com
bined efforts Of the two will be sufficien
to defeat the charter bill in the House
The Wares have begun to play for tn,
support OF the "drys." who form the bis
majority in the new league. Representa-
tive John +. X. SCOTS fight 10 recomm
the Dithrich judgeship bill for a publ,
hearing on Monday night Is regarded al
the first open move on the part of tn,
Ware fiCor leader to win the support o
Nickerman. Wallace and other potentla
figures in the dry" camp.
Vickerman n introduced the resolution 4
recommit the bill. The sponsor OF tn
resolution knew that more than enough
votes in the House were pledged TO tn
bill 10 put 1t through, but sought the al,
of Scott in supporting the resolution S
as to arouse hostility of the Pittsburg
newspapers against the measure.