Imperial Valley press., 1922-04-21
HOT CAMPAIGN DUE
IN PENNSYLVANIA
BY DALE VAN EVERY

HARRISBURGH, Pa, April 2l.--The
political campaign in Pennsylvania this
wear promises to be the most interesting
IN many years. With an amazing ra-
pidity, the strategic positions of the
Two great parties have been reversed.
Instead of a highly organized Republi-
can party, scornfully ignoring a weak
and divided Democratic minority, this
campaign finds united Democratic
party determined TO take advantage of
Republican lack of leadership.
The death of Vols Penrose threw into
disarray the well oiled Republican ma
chine in Pennsylvania. In the place of
the overtowering figure who controlled
the destinies of the party, there are now
a score of big and little bosses who
have rs yet failed to get together. The
Republicans are going into the primaries
with n multiplicity of elbowing eandi-
dates, attacking one another with am
munition usually used against Demo
cratic opponents.
On the other hand. the Democrats,
usually divided into bitterly warning
factions, as n result of harmony con-
ference, have arranged a complete state
ticket which has the declared support
| of all wings of the party and will there
fore need to waste no effort in pre-
primary intra-party pickering.
At the election next November the
voters of Pennsylvania will elect two
United States Senators (the successors
TO Knox and Penrose), congressman
and complete state ticket Sitting in
the senate now the Republicans have
George Wharton Pepper in the seat of
RanrnSn onl Ni11ion, l. in ha
place of Knox. 1t is evidence of Re-
publican lack Of unity that no decision
has yet been reached concerning how
these two senatorships may be preserved
| from Democratic clutches.
Grow has been sick in a hospital for
months, but persistently refuses to re-
sign. John A. Bell, Pittsburgh banker,
and Major David A. Reed, also of Pit
tsburgh, are the two leading aspirants
| for the Republican nomination in the
primaries for Crows seat but neither
has received the stamp of approval of
the organization. Pepper will undoubt-
edly be supported by most of the party
leaders. So far his only rival is Con-
gresham Burke the next labor leader
who will contest against Peppers bonus
and Newberry stand. There is some
talk of soldier to run against Pepper
in the primaries, but it is almost GER
tain that whatever happens Pepper will
be one of the Republican candidates for
senator's.
The Democrats have named Col.
Frederick Kerr to run against Pepper
and Judge Samuel S. Shull against the
Republican who takes Grow s place. The
Democratic state ticket as q whole led
by John A. McSparran, farmer candi-
date for governor, will make vigorous
attack on the Republican record. There
are few indications that Pennsylvania,
so long fixed in the Republican column,
will turn Democratic this year. How
ever, if the Republican party proves I'M
able to restore harmony within its
ranks, the Democrats will probably have
the best chance of the last several de-
cades.
The candidacy of Clifford Pinchot,
famous conservationist and former pro-
gressive, for Republican nomination for
governor is most interesting element
III the primary campaign. Pinehot has
not the support of any group of the Re
publican organization which is divided
among four other candidates, but per-
sOnally he is believed here the strongest
figure III the race. There are indications
that he will pick up most of the woman
vote and it is possible that, totally indie
pendent of the party machine as he is,
he may win the Republican nomination
| fer governor.