Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-21
MOORE men ASK
PENROSE POSITION
Administration Friends Want
Senator to Declare Attitude
Toward Combine
MAYOR READY TO FIGHT

Political speculation has been run
ming high the last twenty four hours,
based on several important confer
ences, with the result that there are
those who say that the Vare- Brown
Cunningham combination Is riding on
bcrilous waters.
Certain 1t is, according to the prog
ress Of events, that big drive is being
conducted against Senator Penrose by
friends Of Mayor Moore, with the OBJ
ject of smoking out" the big
Grizzly" on the county ticket.
Specifically, a determined effort is be-
ing made ito have Senator Penrose
declare gainst a Ware dominated ticket
for the coming primaries and support
the City Administration and the Inde-
lesentation on the county ticket
Harry j. Trainer, Administration
leader Of the Third Ward and one of
the most insistent Of the anti-Vare
group, Is heading the drive. In fact,
he has intimated in talks with friends
that II he Is unsuccessful, he will re-
tire from politics.
Started in Washington
The drive began when Trainer.
Andrew w. Frosch, Administration
leader of the Forty second Ward; A.
Lincoln Acker. city purchasing agent.
und other allies Of the Mayor called
OH Senator Penrose at Washington. No
sooner had this group left Penrose than
the Senator summoned Thomas w.
Cunningham, his Philadelphia repre-
sentative, and President Judge Brown,
Of the Municipal Court, to Washington
for a conference. While this section
of the V-B-C combination was on
its way to Washington, Mayor Moore
was in close consultation with those OF
his friends who had visited Penrose.
II is obvious that the Trainer. expe-
dition started something.
There appears to be no question
that the City Administration. in plain
terms, wants to know where II gets
OFF, with respect to the county ticket.
And it wants to know, one way or
the other, directly from Penrose
Those in the confidence of the Mayor
say he Is not disposed to sit idly by
while the combine goes ahead with
plans for a county ticket which takes
no account of the Mayors friends.
Frequently of late Mayor Moore has
strongly intimated to his supporters
that he is ready for fight against the
highest political power in the State il
independents are to be ignored in the
framing of the county ticket. And the
Mayor has been assured by his active
political allies that they will back hin
up. In such a conflict. it would seem
urged friends of the Mayor, that the
Voters League would heartily join with
| the Mayor in a battle against the res
tOration of contractor rule.
Press PenrOse for Answer
Friends of the Mayor are pressin,
for an answer from Penrose at the
earliest possible date. They point ou
that the last day for filing nomination
papers for county offices is really no
so very far off the date is tn,
23d of next month. The Admins
tration men said that in view of thi'
situation they would not be lulled int
a false sense of security by statements
that ''it is premature to discuss tn,
county ticket at this time" They
insist that they will not permit them.
selves to be caught In trap; to b,
stalled off, until It is too late to dc
effective campaigning. They want tn,
cards laid right out on the table anc
they want them laid out now.
In Administration circles most Of tn
talk centers about the Ware proposal t,
''slate" Thomas F. Watson, chairman
of the Republican City Committee, TO
the Office Of City Treasurer to succeed
! Frederick J. Shoyer. Ware leaders as
sume that Watson will be slated. The,
say that Penrose should be satisfie,
with the denomination of Mr.. Rotal
for District Attorney and the slatinl
of Magistrate Billy" Campbell. of th
fighting" Twenty fifth ward, for Reg
lister Of Wills to succeed James b. Shee
han. Campbell is Penrose leader
Ware men say they should be recognize,
on a fifty fifty" basis and conse
quently they want Watson for Cit,
Treasurer and the denomination of w
Frecland Kendrick for Receiver o
Taxes.
Moore Mems Demands
3. Administration men, however. ar
kicking up FUSS about Watson
They argue vigorously. that an ally o
the city Administration should be on tn
ticket and should get the City Treasur
ership.
If the combine is split open at all i