Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-20
THE PLOW is STILL
MOVING IN THE FURRoW
Political Reform Is Clearing the Way
for the Mayor to Carry Out
Constructive Program

Constructive Program
THE voters who put their hand. to the
l. plow in the mayoralty primaries
last year have not looked back. They
are lcngthcning the furrow which they
began.
The results Of the primary on Tues
day prove that they intend to keep at
the job until it is finished.
The Contractor Organization has met
"A second defeat. \ third defeat will
leave it SO weak that there will be
nothing left of it.
The most significant result is the
nomination of Charles Delany as the
successor of Mr.. Moore as Rcprcscn-
tative in Congress from the Third dis
trict.
II common gossip of last year is TO be
credited. it was the purpose of the
Contractor Organization to deny re
nomination to Mr.. Moore and to reward
one of its supporters. All the plans
were made to retire Mr.. Moore to pri
vatc life.
But the plans miscarricd. Mr.. Moore
became candidate for the mayOralty
nomination against the Contractor Or
ganizatiou Instead of making Il local
fight on his political opponents, he
wagCd n battle in the whole city. He
began the fight nine months before his
enemies were planning to attack him.
He hit first and he hit hard. and he
won.
He gave the Nelson touch to political
strategy in this town.
He has followed up the advantage
which he gained last year by pushing
the fight in tho Third district for the
nomination Of II man opposed to the
Contractor Organization. aud that man
is nominated.
So the plot to prevent the return Of
MIR. Moore to Congress has resulted in
the election Of Mr.. Moore to tho may
orally and the nomination Of Charles
Dclauy. u Moore supporter. TO the seat
in Congress which Mr.. Moore vacated.
If nothing else had been accomplished
this cmCrgcncC of new and aggressive
force in local politics would he sut1i
ricnt justification for all the effort put
forth by the people discontinued with
the old regime.
But the Contractor Organization has
lost its stranglchold on tho Republican
city committee. Whether it has a ma
iOrty "f on" or two in the committee
or whether tho supporters Of tho Mayor
have majority there il will bc no
longer possible to silence the opposition
10 the Narc organization in party coun-
riIS. The regularly elected members Of
the committee must be allowed to take
their seats and to stand Up for their
rights. The committee will hereafter
represent the voters Of tho party rather
than.a small group Of bosses.
The. general result ought to unite
the hands of tho Mayor and permit him
to GO ahead with his constructive pro
gram.
Hc has had to play politics ever since
he entered the city Hall. for the fight
begun in tho September primaries had
to be continued until the May pr-
marics in order that the first 2ictory
might hc Soiidihcd tY second.
The second victory ha, bccI won.
It i now poSSibI" for thc Mayor to
civ" his Who'll" attention 20 tho busi-
moss OF being Mayor wl'Lout tn" Spc-
elf" political distractions "t tn" last
four months and half.
Thcr" VIII b" political distractions,
for h" has to deal with city Council
which is almost evenly divided between
his friends and his enemies. And somo
of tho rouu"lIm"n counted on rs his
fri"ndN ar" not in position TO Civ" him
III" support Whlch h" should have, and
others. with III" best Of motives. are
failing to work in perfect harmony
with him. IT will require great po-
litiral skill 10 keep tho working ma
iority in tho Council in condition to
work.
But tho victory Of Thursday should
mako the task Of the MavOr in keeping
the Council in lin" for his ideals easier
than 1t has been.
Sufficient attention. however. has
been given to the sharpening of the
tools with which Mayor Moore must
work. Hc must now begin to use thcm
and the success Of his administration
will depend on what hc docs with thcm