Evening star., 1920-03-28
REPUBLICANS GAIN
IN PENNSYLVANIA
Democrats Switch to G. o. P.
in Many Crock Ribbed"
Rural Districts.

HARRISBURG, March 81 Especially.
and democratic, party
lists in Pennsylvania have lost very.
the new labor party in the larger
! boroughs as a result Of the spring
enrolment, but in some rural districts
or rock ribbed democratic counties
there has been considerable switching
from the democratic to the republican
side. The spring enrolment in the
boroughs and townships was awaited
with interest to furnish an Indication
OF whether there would be a separate
labor party. but the figures have borne
out previous opinions that the labor
people are going to try to elect candi-
dates favorable to their policies in
SIDE the old parties. just as the VETS
are setting up pins to do all along
| the line
The spring registration in the cities
VIII take place in April. but is not
expected to be materially different.
although there are some fears among
democrats that the swing toward
repupilcans noticed in Columb
ana Monroe counties. democratic
strongholds. for instance. may keep
on. rms changing Of democrats is
one OF the surprising incidents of a
year in which curious situations pre-
TVall in both of the old parties
Wood Second Choice.
! In the republican party partisans of
MAI. Gen. Leonard Wood are bending
| eHorts to win support for the general
as second choice. This is the first
time in a generation that such an or
ganized movement has been under
taken. The Wood peop,e, like the
Harding managers. have conceded tn.
state delegation to Gov. William G.
Sproul. who has disclaimed being a
| IaVorlte son." but whose friends have
| been working for him with as much
ardor as though he was a full fledgeo
sandidate. And the governor has not
oeen losing any opportunities to pre-
| sent his business administration views
to the nation. The Sproul speech at
Boston may be cited as an example.
Wood people claim to have found con-
siderable encouragement the las.
week. but the situation is very differ
ent from what it was in 1912, when
politics was in the air. Big gather
ings of people from all parts of the
state have been numerous in Harris
burg the last month and half and
Sproul sentiment has been noticeably
strong.
Democrats Divide ON Palmer.
While the republicans are for
Sproul. but unpledged. the democrats
Pi sent tue spectacle OF one 1acC1O1
vociferously backing Attorney Gem
oral A. Mitchell Palmer and the other
group trying to concentrate on an
enc against Palmer. week ago
some of the anti-Palmer men were
sure they could count on McAdoo as
their favorite. but up to a late hour
they had not received any encourage
ment. But inability to lasso star
has not deferred the anti-Palmer
groups under the leadership of Judge
Eugene c. Bonniwell of Philadelphia
from organizing a fight against the
Attorney General that will be as his
toric as the Guffey- -Harrity contest OF
GUS as the more recent kerr-Guffey
struggle for control of the Pennsyl-
Nania delegation. which stirred up the
Denver convention of 1905.
Wet Issue Looms.
Bonniwell people have been some
what handicapped by presence of men
elassed as wet" on the Palmer dele
gate at large slate and the chances
are they will counter by dripping
wet declaration. Theysare also more
or less at disadvantage, too, be-
cause Palmer has the state organi-
zatfon and the federal office holders
However. the Bonniwell people have
started out to build up their own or
ganization and will have considera BILE
starting purposes.
Some attempts have been made the
last week to stir up fights in the re-
publican party, but. they have not
progressed. Pennsylvania's primary
system. it may be said. affords oppor-
tunities for candidates to file papers
without consultation. but at the same
time the Pennsylvania republicans
have a wonderful organization.
A. BOYD HAMILTON.