The Washington times., 1922-04-30
REPUBLICANS
FACE UPSET IN
PENNSYLVANIA
Death Of Penrose Disrupts
Powerful Machine in Con-
troll for Years.
BY WALTER c. MERRITT.
International News Service.


International News Service.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. April 29.-
At the coming election in Npvem-
Der Pennsylvania may see a poll
cal overturn from it's long record
Of machine Republicanism" that
may outdo Kansas at its best.
Situation Is Unsettled.
II is almost a $3.50 proposition.
as II now stands, that the next gov.
ernor will be a machine Republi-
can." Bull Moose Republican" or
State Grange Chief" who Is n
Democrat. II will be q fight with
unlimited financial backing between
the factions seeking the nomination
Of the primary on May Is.
The Pennsylvapia political situa-
ton at this time stands unique In
the history of American politics.
Democrats has been ended and there
now is harmony within the ranks.
On the other hand, the Republicans
are bitterly fighting among them
selves. 20
"Oh. that Penrose was only alive"
wall four or five factions Of the Re
publican Party.
When BoieS Penrose was alive he
was master OF Pennsylvania with an
iron hand. When the factions had
fought long enough he just flat
tened them out In short order and
there was peace. But when Penrose
died the great tron-clad Penrose
machine" also died.
Strengthening Machine.
t.
sition the Penrose machine had
came from the Wares" in Philadel-
phia. They had q powerful organ nj
zation and controlled part OF Phiis.
deiphia. at least. They were the
Pat McCarrens of Pennsylvania poll
tics.
Since Penrose died "the Wares"
are to all intents and purposes in
control of the @. o. p. organization
In this State and they are moving
heaven and earth to make alliances
to strengthen their already powerful
Philadelphia machine.
But to get back to the governor
chip. While ths various leaders
were fighting about the seat of Sena-
tor William z. Crow, State Banking
Commissioner John s. Fisher, OF
Indiana. Ia, hopped into the ring
and announced he was a candidate
for governor. He has the backing
Of Joseph Grundy, president Of the
Pennsylvania Manufacturers Asso-
citation and Of the so-cailed Oliver
organization of Pittsburgh. The
divers are worth untold millions,
Joe Grundy is rich and his Manufac-
turers' Association has money world
without end.
Not long after Fisher announced
his candidacy for the governorship
State Forester clifford Pinchot threw
his hat in the arena" and said he.
too, was a candidate for governor.
Nobody took him seriously. but Pin
chot kept sawins wood and made
remarkable headway Recently
State leaders recognized Pinchot AS
a powerful contender. Efforts We're
made to eliminate both him and
Fisher and few others. Pinchot
opined he would stick 1t out and
Fisher did the same.
Many Conferences Held.
Conference after conference was
held. mainly in Philadelphia. to pick
harmony" candidate TO be backed
by the other wings OF the Republi-
can Party to stard against the field.
Finally Attorney General George r.
Alter, of Sprinsdale, near Pitts
burgh. was chosen as the harmony"
candidate. Forthwith Lieut.. Gov.
E. 8. Beidleman and John A. Mackey.
two strong contenders. withdrew in
favor of Alter. That left Pinchot.
Fisher and Alter in the race on the
Republican side.
John c. McSpsrran. president OF
the Pennsylvania Grange. is the
Democratic candidate.
The real fight is being made now
by the Republican candidates, for
the primary Of May IS will eliminate
two Of the three candidates
The State Of Pennsylvania, which
gave Theodore Roosevelt the record
breaking plurality of b00,0O0 as
regular Republican candidate for
President. may 20 Democratic this
fall. II has been twenty-seven years
since a Democratic governor sat at
Harrisburgh. Robert f. Pattison
was the last and he quit office in
1895. He had served two terms with
an interim of oDs term.
McSparran, the Democratic candi-
date for governor, Is immensely
popular. and being president of the
State Grange u-,ll give him the
farmer support to a surprising de-
gree.