New-York tribune., 1922-10-20

come Pinchot's way in his series of
attacks on the present state admins
tration is the indictment of a former
state treasurer. Some of his friends
have urged him to take this as a COM
plete justification for his pre-primary
attacks on the machine and turn his
attention now to other issues which
may not be SO embarrassing after cleo
tion
There is no doubt that the nomina-
tion of Pinchot saved the situation fcx
the Republican party. Instead of an
assured victory the Republicans, it is
frankly admitted. would be facing a
hard struggle if Pinchot had been de-
feated and the issue of contractor
bosses control been put in the hands of
the Democrats.
The nomination OF Pinchot also
saved good many Republican mem
bers Of the House, who would have
been defeated had the primary gone the
other way, If the judgment of shrewd
observers here can be taken. AS it
now stands the Democrats ought to
carry the Lackawanna, Luzerne,
Easton, Berks -Lehigh, Wilkes Barre
and York Adams districts, while they
have fighting chances in two or three
more. They will be doing pretty we'll,
however, If they retain five seats, as not
all Of the six named are sure for them
by any meanE.
For instance, in the old BerksLehigh
district, including Reading and Allen
town, Fred B. Gernerd, who was swept
in two years ago on the Harding land
slide, the first Republican ever to be
elected to Congress from this district,
is making. a vigorous fight. He has
Just completed spectaculsrs fight on
Thomas C. Seidcl, chairman OF the
Gernerd is from Lehigh County, and
for awhile it looked as though the
slightly iatger county of his district
intended to throw him overheard politi-
cally, but he won out. and got the
nomination handily. Indeed, there arc
signs that Seidel will come into line
and support him.
Gernerd Is Busy Official
Gernerd is the nard working tvne
of Congressman, too, and has done so
many little things for his constituents
in both counties during his two years
at Washington that after all no one
would be surprised if his Pennsylvania
German constituency would repeat
the overturn of two years ago.
Gernerd also mas .peen shYewd in
other ways; for instance, backing Pin
cnot early in the primary fight, when
most Of the organization men in his
section were bitterly opposed to the
forester.
In the Wilkes-Barre district, John j.
Casey, labor leader and former mem
Der of the House, is opposing Clarence
D. Coughlin, an old Roosevelt Repub-
licsn. Casey attained almost national
in 1919 wb ho
of the little group of acknowledged
labor leaders who railroaded the Adam
son so-called eight-hour law through
Congress to avert strike of the Four
Brotherhoods. 1t was almost a matter
of some interest in Washington that
at the election less than three months
after this feat Casey, with half adozen
OF his associates in this leadership, was
defeated, although Woodrow Wilson
was reelected.
This fight is pretty tight, with Casey
having slight edge.
Another Democrat defeated in 1916,
who has not been in the House since,
Warren Worth Bailey, is attempting to
come back this year in the Johnstown,
or Cambria, district. The chances seem
to be against him. In the Lackawanna
district. Scranton, Patrick McLane, the
Democratic nominee, is conceded a
good chance of beating Lieutenant
Colonel Lawrence II. Watres, whose
father was once Lieutenant Governor
and who has an excellent war record
Colonel Watres gave demonstration
of strength in the primaries, where
he defeated Representative Charles r
O'Connell, who two years ago defeated
McLane in the election. Shortly after
the primary Mr. Connell died.
The old Mitchell Palmer district
around Easton, which now includes
Northampton, Carbon and Monroe
counties, is normally Democratic
stronghold. Formerly it was known
as "Penrose Democratic" district, as
was the Berks-Lehigh Democratic Gil
praitar. AS matter of fact it was
known that Penrose opposed any at
tempt to elect Republican member.
from these districts. He normal,
controlled their members much more
effect'yely than he could have con
trolied Republicans. and at the sam,
Time saved himself fight.
AS matter of fact in 1918 certain
Republican leaders told Pcnrose tina,