Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-04
moore ADHERENTS
| AGAINST COSTELLO
Northeast Followers Say They
I Will Refuse Support to Con-
gressman Who Flopped
VOTERS FAVOR "WET" MAN

Peter F.. Costello. congressman from
the Fifth district. has become the storm
center Of tcmpestuous factional dis.
turbnnce In the northeast.
Costello, who was n Ware man until
he broke up the Ware slate for city
= Council at the last primaries, lately
concluded IN alliance with Mayor
Moore. Counting on the Mayors sun
port for denomination for Congress he
went nff on fishing trip to Florida.
And now the storm has broken among
Moorc's followers in tho district who
say they will refuse to support Costello
for denomination.
To further complicate the situation
the majority OF the voters in the mort tn
east. where the big manufacturing
plants are located, are said to favor q
wet" candidate. while Costello was
one of those who voted "dry" on the
prohibition legislation.
Have "wet" Candidate
The Wares have put wet candi-
date in the field. Frederick J. Beyer,
who. like Costello. changed his brand
of factional politics not very long ago
and the Ware leaders in the district are
giving him united support.
Moore followers regard the situation
az serious. Unless they get together In
time to present a solid front TO the
Wares, trouble is forcseen not only in
the matter. Of the congressional nomina.
ton, but in connection with the may
or's fight for control all along the line,
In the legislative subdivisions of the dis
trict. and in the Republican city com
mfttee.
Mayor Moore himself Is likely to be
called in to arbitrate the difficulties of
his followers in the Fifth district.
He will face the alternative, accord
ing to the best informed of his follow
ers, of getting Costello TO withdraw his
candidacy. possibly in favor Of com
promise candidate or of forcing the re-
fuctant leaders in tho district 20 go in
for the former Ware leader.
Made Frequent Visits
Until the first rumors OF trouble were
heard q few days ago it was thought
that Costello would get the solid Moore
support His turning against the Wares
at the primaries Is conceded to have
given Mayor Moore two Counciimen he !
would not have had otherwise. Robert }.
Patton and William Il. Horn.
William j. Disston. prominent manu-.
facturer, and Moore leader in the For
ty-6rst ward. is heading the opposition
to Costello. He may later be cnndi-
date for the nomination himself, though
he is not ready to say so now.
Magistrate William +. Campbell one
Of the Penrose leaders in the district
and spokesman for the Twenty fifth
ward. himself just back from Florida.
tanned and bubb'ng over with stories of
tarpon fishing. isn't sure whether lie
will be for Costello or not.
Campbell Is Doubtful
II don't know enough about tho sit
uation to commit myself said Mngis-
tratc Campbell today when asked
whether he would support Costello or
fight him.
The row will be ono Of the big topics
for discussion when the Twenty. fifth
ward committee meets Monday evening
next. 1t will hr up for debate also III
Wednesday night. when the board of
strategy Of the district. composed OF
Campbell. of the Twenty ifth :, .Iohn
HAney, Of the Forty third. and David
II. Hart. OF the Twenty third. will meet
to talk things over.
Wares Back Him TO Limit
lie was in the state Legislature rs a
Penrose McNichol man. and at that
time was leader of tho "wets" in tho
House The Wares are now backing him
to the limit.
A similar row among the Moore FOL.
lowers is simmering in the Sixth con
sressioual district. which takes in Ger
mantown and West Philadelphia. al-
though it has not as yet broken out
actively as in the Fifth.
George y. Darrow, who is up for
denomination. used to b. a Ware man.
but lately has gone over to the Moore
camp, the Wares having turned against
him. IT is understood that Daniel +.
Waters. a manufacturcr will bc thc
Ware candidate against Darrow. Tho
active Moore workers in the district
are largely OF the wet" persuasion.
while Darrow is cmphatically "dry,"
and they arc protesting against his
xa ,lilacy